Combinations - Friend's psychosis after LSD, Alcohol and Benzodiazepines

[doubledama]

SWIM saw an old friend yesterday who used to accompany SWIM in grand adventures through psychotropic playgrounds. SWIM met his buddy the first week of college in the dorms and for a few years SWIM found himself, his girl, and his friend together at all times. SWIMs friend began to develop habits of excess with a great many things over the years and it was hard to watch such a talented young person's mental stability and passion for life diminish so rapidly. Although SWIM partook in many things, SWIM doesn't feel he followed the rabbit as deep down the hole as his old friend. SWIMs friend stopped going to school, began working in the restaurant industry and drifted away from SWIM and SWIMette as he found new aquaintances more accepting of his new direction.

SWIMs friend eventually made a poor decision involving crystaline LSD, half a bottle of xannax and god knows how much whiskey. His dear friend entered into a prolonged state of psychosis following an epicly bad experience from which he has never fully recovered-- forgive SWIM if he finds this hard to explain, but that youthful fire in his eyes has never returned. SWIM is very thankful that his amigo had a supportive girlfriend and parents that would absolutely never give up on him. SWIM only wonders now had some of us been better friends, could we have steered him in a better direction? On a happy note, SWIMs buddy went through drug and alcohol rehab, finished college clean and sober and now works to help other youngsters as a drug rehab counselor.

SWIM just wanted to take a moment to ask everyone reflect on those whose paths we have crossed in our lifetimes. Those that are still with us, and those who have chosen different paths, and those whose paths have ended all too early. SWIM feels it extremely important to be ever-grateful of what we have been given, but even moreso to be aware of what all we risk losing. The majority of swimmers out there have no problems partaking in a responsible manner, but SWIM knows all too well that everyone can go through rough patches in life and isolate themselves into making poor decisions.

SWIM urges everyone to be responsible about their drug habits (unfortunately there's no guidelines for responsible usage-- but everyone who parties knows 'that guy'), to be honest about one's own mental health, and to have the courage to seek guidance when/if you find yourself in a darkening cycle. But further more, fellow swimmers, don't stand idly by and watch someone you know self-destruct when you know that you should say something to that person or inform someone who will. Good friends are hard to come by, and everyone needs to be picked up and dusted off from time to time. You may feel awkward confronting someone about habits you yourself are not ready to give up, and you will likely lose a friend for atleast a period of time as it is often necessary for these folks to seperate themselves from negative influences of the past, but in the long run you will both be thankful the topic was raised.

Reading this probably doesn't give you warm fuzzy feelings all over... There's no doubt every situation is different and SWIM certainly doesn’t have all the answers, but he wanted to get some things off his mind. Now another short story--

SWIM ran into a girl at bonnaroo who had a head full of acid and was headed towards a nightmare she would likely never forget as her boyfriend of 2 years broke up with her just after dosing so he could go run off with another female and a bag of moli. SWIM was pretty spun, halfway lost, trying to find his way back to his campsite so he could ditch his sweatshirt when he came upon her. SWIM recalls seeing sadness in her eyes as if she had just lost her best friend in the world. First instict was, 'damn that sux', but suddenly a wave of empathy came over SWIM as he remembered all of his friends who had their first "bad one" and he took a seat next to her without speaking a word. Babysitting someone on a bad trip is not necessarily the funnest thing to do, especially when you are having a perfectly wonderful time yourself, but SWIM feels he helped turn a pile of shit into something very productive as we discussed philosophy of life, relationships, and the need welcome change. SWIM tried to keep the emphasis of the conversation away from the events of that evening and more towards where she had come from, where she wants to be going, and how speedbumps along the way play an important part in shaping who we will become. Eventually the drugs really wore off as the sun began to rise. We shared a few beers and SWIM remembers catching a glimpse of her beginning to smile as the sun rose over the tent city. She joked that she hoped he enjoyed his time last night because walking back to vermont wasn't going to be nearly so fun-- funny thing is she wasn't joking. She was now aware of her own worth not only as a beautiful girl but an awesome person who deserves more. SWIM helped her pack up her jeep, gave her a hug and as she drove off the thought of a buttefly emerging from its coccoon filled SWIMs mind.

Although you may not know someone well, it never hurts to extend a friendly hand. Oftentimes you never know how appreciated your actions will be. In past lifetimes, SWIM must admit that his reaction to similar situations was to turn and run and he feels guilty for what he sees as his own selfishness.






SWIM feels emotion pouring from his fingertips as he writes this and could likely continue to ponder the matter much further, but is honest about his writing skills and knows most of you are probably looking for an abridged version already :P


Please feel free to discuss your thoughts on the matter, critique SWIM's point of view or actions, and perhaps you will take a piece of this with you and continue to spread love to all our fellow human beings.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Nice post, full of emotions and good advices.
	beautifully written and heart felt.

[scimor]

Double-D - I think you must be a person with a big heart. I hope you never grow jaded and cynical, for it is all too easy on this crazy planet!

[Alias: V]

Thanks for that. Strangely powerful.

I would say more, but I really just have to go sort some emotions out...

[cra$h]

This is almost bringing swim to tears..... A little different than the aformentioned story, but still involves psychedelics, but how they relate to swim. For the last year or so, swim has become a happy-go-lucky hippie. Not a care in the world, and the world by the balls. He had (almost) everything he wanted, and had everything he needed. Swim figgured out life, and tried to spread his peaceful attitude across the world, preaching about how to fix everything. Opiates ended that way too soon. Of course swim was always a sucker for opiates, but never really sought to look them out due to the price. Either $30 for a 3-4 hour dope high, or $20 for a great acid trip, obviously the acid won. Swim started dealin to pay just about every bill from gas money to mushrooms to more oxy, became a sketchy charactor, and now doesn't even speak unless giving generic responses, or talking about drugs wether it be clearing someone's ignorance (swim has a nasty tone) or trying to get drugs. He's a zombie and needs a good trip to bring him back to life. Hopefully it's not too late.....

[Songcycle67]

Alcohol, Xanax, and LSD. What a stupid,terrible combination. I know there are many people on this forum that would do stupid shit like that if they had half a chance.

That's why this forum is here, really--I mean all the talk about blotter art and 60's acid versus modern acid, trip reports, etc.--but for the most part, the threads that get the most responses/readers are those which talk about things such as this.

Places like this forum are really just the closest thing that one can get to a "directions" section on the back of any prescription. There are people who have very low reputations and few posts who try to talk like they know it all and end up giving out terribly horrific advice--but there are many people on this forum who are very knowledgable about LSD, and its true nature and proper set/setting (tons of factors), and more often than not the moron threading about how one should take 500ug their first time and drink a bunch weed beer and take all kinds of scripts, is quickly remanded and given a bad reputation.

Unfortunately it seems like your friend knew nothing about what he was getting himself into (most people who are regular LSD users know that beer doesn't mix, and benzos just bring you down--a bottle of them would elicit the absolute strangest trip), if only more people would do research.

Hang in there man,
the guy might eventually realize what he's done to himself, and with a little therapy or meditation he may be fine.


I'd also like to note that most "pseudo-psychosis" trips are triggered by blocking out the things that are brought up in their mind that need changing. Some people just tune it all out, they want to have no critique or change in their lives, they're really only in it for the skyrocket visuals and heavy sounds.

If I were you I'd study up on LSD Psychosis and LSD in general to see if there's anything you can come up with to help him out.


All the best wishes to you and your friend!