Side effects - Side effects, mood, personality, etc?

[jeepack]

SWIM has some drugs that he has experimented with in the past but has sworn never to use again, things such as mdma, exctacy, speed, marijuana, cocaine and ketamine. Other than for weed, all other drugs are drugs he would not do if on a 2 week vacation and someone gave it all to him for free. Each of these drugs seemed to leave devastating effects on his personality, mind, happiness, energy, motivation, etc... But on the other hand, he can do mushroom, and not feel withdrawl, hangover, depression, sickness (the next day)... In this sens, occational shroom consumption has absolutly no "weakening" effect on his person, over the short term, or the long term. Weakening effects could be anything from feeling down the next day, or even something as simple as a side effect of the drugs which makes you act in ways that you regret later. Shrooms are not for party, and they are a personnal experience, just like with DMT (he`s never tryed that)....

But swim has read a lot on mescaline and it leaves him imagining it as being detrimental to his personnal growth, and harmfull to his mental health. Part of that is because of the unknown of course, he`s never know anyone in person who had done mescaline. And also, many people on this forum have cited the experience as being more euphoric, extacy like, with less badtrips.

Part of what protects him with DMT and Shrooms is that fact that he can`t just take these things to do his tasks, his work, his social affairs, or just do nothing... the effect of these drugs "force" him to use them very responsibaly, in a safe an ideal environment, either whatching a movie, whatching nature, or meditating for instance....

Does mescaline`s nature as a drug protect you from the slippery slopes of drug use like shrooms and dmt do (not sure about dmt)? Can it be expected that the mesc trip regulates the use by itself or is it the type of drug that requires strong discipline in order to use very moderatly, as a therapeutic substance... see that is one of the things not mentionned in most places, mescaline seems to be portrayed more as a FUN BLASTING TRIP than a Therapeutic Psychadelic Experience...

Does it mostly alter the consciousness or the mood? Swim only does drugs to alter his consciousness, he never seeks joy, mood enhancement or escaping from the stressful reality... he only does it as a consciousness experiment, a form of meditation... He does not need to seek better moods outside reality and hence, relating to his past abuses, does not apreciate substances that decide on his mood for him....

Do you think SWIM would like mescaline?
If yes, more than his shrooms?

Of course, you can`t know for swim what he would like or not, but the opinion is asked for because maybe what my friend wants to do is not buy mescaline but just visualise it growing in a pot, and why go through that if he aint gona like what he sees right?

Mesc is one of these things that he wouldn`t buy of the streets as it would give him access to dealers that provide a bunch of shit he condones...


Thanks for your insights

[caltrain208]

Although the effects of mescaline are perhaps more euphoric than other psychedelics (I assume this is that you are comparing mescaline to) this has no relation to neurotoxicity. Anecdotally, mescaline appears to be safe, seeing as it has been used in religious settings for thousands of years without noticeable side-effects. Scientifically, even long-term mescaline use has been found to be without adverse effects. One study, Psychological and Cognitive Effects of Long-Term Peyote Use Among Native Americans (Halpern et al, 2005), concludes that "We found no evidence of psychological or cognitive deficits among Native Americans using peyote in a religious setting... these findings may not generalise to illicit hallucinogen users." Look in the "documents" section for more scientific literature on mescaline neurotoxicity.

As far as personal growth, SWIM firmly believes that no other substances has benefitted him as much as mescaline. The substance has done so much for him in terms of gaining confidence (a big issue for SWIM) and connecting with his spiritual side. Mescaline has taught him to love life and love everything about the world. SWIM has even fostered one of the strongest friendships he's ever had by tripping with a close friend.

Don't expect mescaline to be "ecstasy like" or like anything else SWIY has tried for that manner- the type of "love" that SWIM feels on mescaline is much more mellow and connected to nature. There's also much less of a "rush" and not nearly as much empathy. To SWIM it feels almost like the empathy that he would have on MDMA towards others is focused instead on plants, trees, and nature in general. However, mescaline can still be very much fun and enjoyable- at times SWIM has even felt like he's just having too much fun, if that's even possible...

In this respect, mescaline is very much like Shrooms and DMT. Don't expect to get any work done.

In terms of addiction potential- there is none. SWIY may feel compelled to take more due to the overwhelming awesomeness of a previous trip, but there's simply no addiction to go along with it. SWIM has used psychedelics more frequently than he should have in the past, yet when SWIM didn't take anything psychedelic on a particular day there was simply no drive to dose.

Concerning the issue of "fun blasting trip" vs. "therapeutic psychedelic experience," SWIM has experienced both. In his experience, mescaline taken without any other substances (weed, alcohol, N2O) is is much more of a "therapeutic psychedelic experience" than mescaline combined with other drugs. SWIM has only had the "fun blasting trip" on mescaline when taking it with a close friend. The experience changes dramatically, shifting from deep introspection to hours of laughter, depending on the setting and who it's taken with.

Does it mostly alter the consciousness or the mood? Swim only does drugs to alter his consciousness, he never seeks joy, mood enhancement or escaping from the stressful reality... he only does it as a consciousness experiment, a form of meditation... He does not need to seek better moods outside reality and hence, relating to his past abuses, does not apreciate substances that decide on his mood for him....

I believe I understand what you mean here- however just about any substance that alters consciousness significantly also effects mood. Mescaline, being a psychedelic, will NOT produce the mood changes that dopaminergic substances such as cocaine and amphetamine (speed) do. SWIY may feel euphoric, but SWIY also can feel very sad, nostalgic, and even frightened. In short, the effects mescaline has on mood will be very similar to shrooms: emotions will be all over the place and quite strong.

Do you think SWIM would like mescaline?

There's no way to know for sure until you try it, but I would guess SWIY most definitely will enjoy mescaline. It seems as though SWIY enjoys using drugs for meditation and connecting, rather than recreation, and mescaline is ideal for this (in SWIM's opinion).

If yes, more than his shrooms?

Can't say either way. Personally, SWIM enjoys both. Shrooms and mescaline are both psychedelics, so the experience will be similar in many aspects, yet different in so many ways as well. SWIM loves them both.

Mesc is one of these things that he wouldn`t buy of the streets as it would give him access to dealers that provide a bunch of shit he condones...

Good. SWIY will never find mescaline on the streets.

Hope this helps.