The Power of Suggestion

[Phungushead]

Under the influence of several drugs, but especially psychedelics, my lab rats have experienced a very strong power of suggestion which led to having to fight compulsions to do some very stupid/dangerous/illogical (but also positive as well) things. Once brought into the mind, these simple whims become thought loops, obsessed over and becoming a battle of willpower.

For example, many years ago, a couple of the lab rats were tripping on mushrooms and decided to cut up some limes and lemons (they absolutely adore the taste of citrus fruits on psychedelics). For some reason, they began to ponder what would happen if they "accidently" cut themself - what would blood look like tripping? The power of suggestion was strong, and they had to walk away and do without their precious fruits that trip. From that point on, cutting up food was done before dosing, and the lab rats stay away from sharp objects because that initial memory stuck and exposure spun their minds into those loops...

Luckily the voice of reason always speaks up, and my lab rats are able to resist and overcome the potentially dangerous temptations...

But anyway, the point SWIM is trying to make is when you take high suggestability on psychedelic drugs combined with all the stupid drug myths, horror stories, etc. that everyone is exposed to all the time... perhaps throw a new tripper or someone inexperienced into the mix... just seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Anyway, has SWIY ever experienced a strong power of suggestion while on drugs? SWIM would be interested to hear experiences.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Interesting topic- comprehensive introduction.

[Joe-(5-HTP)]

Swim can definitely relate to this, but has found a way to overcome it (at least, for swim). swim was once tripping on acid, and his friend who was sober was meant to be looking after him. Anyway, around 3am his friend got tired and wanted to go to sleep, which worried swim who felt that he needed someone there to look after him.

Swim realised, however, that he was no real danger, but because he was thinking there might be, he might cause himself to get panicky, which could then lead to a dangerous situation. a self-fulfilling prophecy as it were...

Anyway, swim has felt this suggestibility many times, often constituting having to resist the urge to pick up knives and stab people. Anyway, the worry which emerges in swim's mind when this happens is that he might not be able to control himself. This worry is the only real danger, because it could, like the example i gave before, spiral out of control and result in you believing you had no choice but to stab your poor sleeping friend.

swim just approaches the feeling in his mind with a kind of mild interest and doesn't let himself become worried about it at all. Then swim just changes his activity and the thoughts fade away. I must say, however, that trying to distract yourself can make things worse: you might feel that you are just "pretending" or 'acting" like everything is normal when really everything is going crazy and going to explode! Just practice scenarios like this a few times, and you'll get the hang of avoiding such pitfalls.

[Nature Boy]

SWIM too can relate to a degree. Once, whilst tripping on LSD, he went to the bathroom for a leak. He looked out this window for a minute and wondered what it would be like to try and fly. Though this window was probably too small for him to even fit through, the suggestion was there for a split second and he started to understand why others in the past have felt compelled to do this. The dream-like psychedelic state allows for fleeting ponderings that would never even be considered otherwise. This is why psychedelics are excellent for the creative process but are somewhat dangerous when combined with precarious situations. One could call this phenomenon a momentary lapse of reason.

[ComfortablyNumb]

My friend and his 2 friends all took some extacy but they had little brown dots in them rumoured to be opium, they didnt believe the rumour and took them anyway. At one point during their high, my friend was in cu[board with a knife to his wrist and he just kept thinking what if he cut himself, could he survive? What would death be like? How would his blood look pouring out of his arm. He said to me that he had no intention of ever killing himself, he was simply curious. One of his friends was just staring at a window, wondering what would happen if he jumped out ( he was on the second floor, quite high up). He also said he had no intention of killing himself, he just, wanted to see what would happen. They now stay away from brown spotted pills and are convinced they are laced with opium.

[Horiz]

Originally Posted by ComfortablyNumb

My friend and his 2 friends all took some extacy but they had little brown dots in them rumoured to be opium, they didnt believe the rumour and took them anyway. At one point during their high, my friend was in cu[board with a knife to his wrist and he just kept thinking what if he cut himself, could he survive? What would death be like? How would his blood look pouring out of his arm. He said to me that he had no intention of ever killing himself, he was simply curious. One of his friends was just staring at a window, wondering what would happen if he jumped out ( he was on the second floor, quite high up). He also said he had no intention of killing himself, he just, wanted to see what would happen. They now stay away from brown spotted pills and are convinced they are laced with opium.

Why would opium cause such crazed thinking? It's not opium.

[Nature Boy]

I doubt those pills would have contained opium. Opium is expensive and counters the energetic effects of ecstasy. Why would anyone put it in pills? Chances are the pills contained something other than MDMA, a research chemical perhaps, but I'd be willing to wager it wasn't opium. And yes, opium doesn't cause crazy thoughts as such.

[ComfortablyNumb]

What could of it had been, anyone have any ideas?

[Phungushead]

SWIM would lean toward some kind of research chem on that one... really no easy way to know for sure now though...

Interesting stories though, and SWIM can relate... especially to the feelings that even though there is a compulsion to do something pretty dangerous, you really don't want to hurt yourself.

Like Joe's definition of self-fulfilling prophecy... just the word SWIM was trying to think of.

All the bullshit your fed going through school, the media, and all ("You'll think you can fly", "You'll become homicidal/suicidal", etc... etc...). It all gets stored in your memory. Take drugs, somehow the memory gets triggered, and bam...

Neat little mind tricks of society.

Dunno... just some random thoughts SWIM's been stewing over the last few days.

[Corksil]

some form of research chemical, like 2-cb, 2-ce, 2-ct-7, etc etc.

Back on topic..

Yes SWIM has had these 'momentary lapses of reason' before, many times. NatureBoy summed it up quite nicely when he said psychedelics often give way to ponderings or thoughts that ordinary would not find themselves in one's brain.

SWIM tries to trip w/other ppl - this helps him focus on keeping everyone's trip nice and comfy. He sees himself as somewhat of a shepherd, along for the ride and making sure everyone has fun. SWIM thinks there would be a degree of akwardness involved if one of the trippers started rationalizing how he could fly or how he was impervious to knives or bullets etc. This may cause other trippers to bring their awareness to death/less than ideal hallucinations or thought loops.

[yaba]

Originally Posted by Phungushead

Under the influence of several drugs, but especially psychedelics, my lab rats have experienced a very strong power of suggestion which led to having to fight compulsions to do some very stupid/dangerous/illogical (but also positive as well) things. Once brought into the mind, these simple whims become thought loops, obsessed over and becoming a battle of willpower.

For example, many years ago, a couple of the lab rats were tripping on mushrooms and decided to cut up some limes and lemons (they absolutely adore the taste of citrus fruits on psychedelics). For some reason, they began to ponder what would happen if they "accidently" cut themself - what would blood look like tripping? The power of suggestion was strong, and they had to walk away and do without their precious fruits that trip. From that point on, cutting up food was done before dosing, and the lab rats stay away from sharp objects because that initial memory stuck and exposure spun their minds into those loops...

Luckily the voice of reason always speaks up, and my lab rats are able to resist and overcome the potentially dangerous temptations...

But anyway, the point SWIM is trying to make is when you take high suggestability on psychedelic drugs combined with all the stupid drug myths, horror stories, etc. that everyone is exposed to all the time... perhaps throw a new tripper or someone inexperienced into the mix... just seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Anyway, has SWIY ever experienced a strong power of suggestion while on drugs? SWIM would be interested to hear experiences.

Swim knows what swiy means ! Swim even can play games if thats what people want ! But he feels vulnerable on cannabis (skunk) he is alright on anything else and he is a normal friendly person.. But doesn't take any shit ! He only smokes a joint alone or with trusted people ! And he told people before if you want to play games... Don't do it on weed, lets take acid !!!

[Mr. Bob]

Only when SWIM was a teenager and new to LSD.

These days nothing gets in the brain from without. SWIM'S immune to outside bullshit, and what is within is known well. Perhaps a bit jaded even.