MDMA - anti-schizoid drug

Hmm, a bit sad that this thread bleeded to death so quickly, in my opinion.

Of course, as many posters above me already said, it's not a cure. Neither should it ever be approached as a means to escape from anything. But the experience itself, when viewed as just another life experience rather than a sought-after state you want to cling on forever while sober, it can be something you could learn from. As MotherRussia stated...

MotherRussia wrote:Its good to keep in mind that drugs always create a larger than life effect. It stimulates parts of the brain at a superstimulated level, a way that is not recreated in reality. MDMA was like the happiest day of my life x1000. That type of hyper arousal can never be recreated in real life, not even in Nons.

...but although being a ''larger than life'' effect, it's still one, or maybe even one in particular, you could learn from, as it broadens your horizon, makes you aware of the extreme ends of a particular spectrum. This can help you to become aware, or to get more insight, of where you're standing on that spectrum.

zeno wrote:The main thing to keep in mind when it comes to drugs of any kind isn't whether they work, but whether they're worth it. If you're just bored, then, sure, go ahead. Even stabbing yourself in the foot will make you less bored anyway. But it can't be talked about as a treatment for anything (which is what the title of the thread implies) if it's not clear enough that the upsides consistently outweigh the downsides in the longer term. Which is obviously not the case, especially with mystery pills coming from illegal and unregulated sources.

It depends on your personal approach of it, and on what you want, or try, to get out of a particular drug experience. For example, you could use mushrooms on a psych rave and get out of your mind totally, but you can also sit down, let it happen, and think great things, and learn from it. Is the drug a means to provide you intense, but short-lived hedonistic pleasure, or is it a guide, or a teacher, that could provide you with insights you could benefit from for the rest of your life? It's up to each user to decide, and with psychedelics, you often just get what you asked for, in that sense.

UK SPD wrote:Drugs are hallucinatory.
Therefore everything we experience on a drug is delusional.

Is that so? This makes an interesting discussion. It's one discussion I hoped for when viewing this thread. Ask yourself this: even if an experience is delusional, does that make the experience itself less real? Non of us is totally sure about what's reality anyway. I think every experience, no matter how it relates to reality, whatever that is, is real as it is experienced. It's up to the user/experiencer how to interpret an experience he/she thinks isn't in line with his/her personal conception of reality. This is were the act of integration comes to play: how to translate your psychedelic experience to day to day life?

I haven't tried MDMA personally, though I would be curious to for its empathy effects alongside its others. However, I'm curious if there is anyone else who is schizoid and has seen an increase in empathy with using adderall (I suppose for recreational or medical purposes).

I've taken adderall recreationally a number of times and, while I don't feel it intoxicates or impairs me in any way, I feel like I experience at least some empathy in a way someone without SPD might. While I don't feel like I'm one prone to addictive tendencies, the difference in empathy as well as a mood boost makes it a dangerous substance for me to use too often.

boomorange wrote:I've taken adderall recreationally a number of times and, while I don't feel it intoxicates or impairs me in any way, I feel like I experience at least some empathy in a way someone without SPD might.

Are you sure you don't mean an increase in sociability though? Those are really not the same thing. One is the ability or inclination to play along with other people and to be more active at it, while the other is the ability or inclination to experience and react to emotions that reflect similar emotions in other people.

When I take my prescription stimulants, I usually do get more sociable (even if I may not be very gracious at it), but I actually get more self-involved, though not so much in thought as in action. Which isn't surprising, because it's pretty much the idea. It makes human contact more bearable because it makes my experience of it more superficial. Many people even complain that stimulants make them "feel like zombies" because of this effect.

What I experience on stimulants (both methylphenidate and dexamphetamine - I've got no experience with Adderall, which is a specific mixture of amphetamine salts that may work slightly different from pure dexamphetamine) is an increase in emotionality in general, including feeling (with specific emphasis on feeling) more empathy. It's like I'm more capable of really ''living through'' someone else's situation, rather than... yeah, to what? Hard to explain, but in some way, it's like my empathy is more lively in some way. Like I'm capable of getting more ''into'' someone's story, or go with it, instead of just empathizing by standing next to it. However, the general increase in feeling manifests itself not always in a pleasant way, or a way that always feels appropriate to the situation. It feels artificial to me at times. It feels kinda unsynchronized. I could suddenly start to experience emotion over mundane, random things, or thoughts. It creates affect that doesn't really make sense. I don't like the effect for that reason. It's too random, meaningless, empty in some way. For me, it's not something to chase after.

The love drug will give everyone that sense of connection with others but I think for the SPD person that effect could be beyond profound.I took MDMA many years ago and it was like a door opened and I could 'feel'.. These days I get a similar feeling when I am withdrawing from alcohol, for around 2 days I get momentary insights into real emotion..

zeno wrote:

boomorange wrote:I've taken adderall recreationally a number of times and, while I don't feel it intoxicates or impairs me in any way, I feel like I experience at least some empathy in a way someone without SPD might.

Are you sure you don't mean an increase in sociability though? Those are really not the same thing. One is the ability or inclination to play along with other people and to be more active at it, while the other is the ability or inclination to experience and react to emotions that reflect similar emotions in other people.

I don't know, I think you're right and it is primarily an increase in being sociable and not too much else. I know at least one time, though, I experienced a fair amount of empathy for someone I barely knew (they were having a rough time and I reached out to them about it even though I don't really like them) which I have never ever done otherwise. So that was a pretty stark difference to me.