{"id":99342,"date":"2023-04-10T16:22:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-10T20:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=99342"},"modified":"2023-04-17T15:15:40","modified_gmt":"2023-04-17T19:15:40","slug":"risks-of-psychedelics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/risks-of-psychedelics\/","title":{"rendered":"The Risks of Psychedelics & Other Mind-Altering Experiences"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What are the risks of psychedelics and other mind-altering experiences? How can you safely access altered states?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psychedelics and other mind-altering experiences have become increasingly popular, and while they can have numerous benefits, it’s important to understand the potential risks involved. In Stealing Fire<\/em>, Stephen Kotler and Jamie Wheal explore the four main risks of altering your state of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to learn about the risks of psychedelics and altering your state of mind, according to Kotler and Wheal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Psychedelics & Altered States in Practice: The Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In their book Stealing Fire<\/em>, Stephen Kotler and Jamie Wheal explore both the benefits and risks of psychedelics as they explore the world of higher states of consciousness. In the book, they explain how you can start exploring altered states in your own life, ending with their methods to evaluate and schedule different altered experiences throughout your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we’ll explain some of the risks of using psychedelics and altering your state of consciousness. Then, we’ll explore how the authors suggest you plan and carry out mind-altering experiences so you can enjoy them safely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Risks of Altering Your State of Consciousness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to the authors, responsible explorers of altered states and psychedelics need to understand the risks, rewards, and ground rules of exploration before diving in.<\/strong> Let’s explore the four main risks: extreme ego inflation, conflating altered insights with practical success, getting addicted to the highs, and completely losing yourself in the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Risk #1: Extreme ego inflation<\/strong>\u2014Altered experiences, the authors say, can dissolve your sense of self and facilitate powerful insights that dangerously inflate the ego\u2014for instance, sometimes people come back thinking they\u2019re the second coming of Christ. To avoid losing yourself in what can seem like divine revelation, remember that your experience isn\u2019t the end-all-be-all and take it with a grain of salt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: One study found that state-changing substances can cause either ego inflation or ego dissolution<\/a>. Specifically, the researchers determined that psychedelic drugs<\/a> correlate strongly with experiences of ego loss, whereas cocaine and alcohol are far more likely to cause ego inflation. As such, you may be at a lower risk of ego inflation when responsibly using psychedelics.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Risk #2: Time frustration<\/strong>\u2014Altered states distort your sense of time, so it\u2019s easy to forget that, in normal life, it takes time to deliver on the brilliant insights you find. To avoid getting frustrated by this, the authors recommend remembering that you\u2019ll need to work to turn your ideas into realities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: In addition to the authors\u2019 suggestion above, you can try framing time frustration as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. As Ryan Holiday suggests in The Obstacle is the Way<\/em><\/a>, roadblocks on the path to your goals aren\u2019t inherently good or bad<\/a>. What matters most is how you choose to see them. So instead of getting frustrated, use the friction of daily effort to grow more resilient, persistent, and adaptable. In doing so, you\u2019ll strengthen your commitment to your goals, learn what you\u2019re truly made of, and develop virtues that will serve you in multiple areas of your life.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Risk #3: Addiction<\/strong>\u2014Altered states can feel incredible\u2014specifically, the authors caution that sensations of great ease and joy can become addictive. The authors emphasize the risks of addiction, claiming that some people die chasing these states through extreme sports or lose their minds on psychedelics. The authors recommend remembering that there are no highs without lows, and they say to embrace the grit and grind of everyday life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Though altered states and some of the paths to reach them pose addictive risks, note that the classical psychedelics (psilocybin and LSD) aren\u2019t chemically<\/em> addictive.<\/a> In other words, you won’t build a substantial tolerance to a substance such as psilocybin, and you won’t experience withdrawal symptoms or cravings after use.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Risk #4: Over-immersion<\/strong>\u2014According to the authors, the richness and depth of altered experiences lure some people into going too deep, too fast. Some extreme sports athletes die by pushing too far, too fast\u2014while the risk for some psychedelic explorers is that they can lose their minds doing the same. To avoid this fate, remember that the experience means nothing if you come back broken or not at all. So take it slow, and don\u2019t discount the value of sobriety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: One popular way to ease into psychedelic use is micro-dosing, which lowers your risk of over-immersion. Micro-dosing is a practice wherein you take a fraction of a normal dose<\/a> in order to acclimate to and see whether the experience is right for you. Over time you can introduce larger doses, eventually working toward full-size “trips” if you deem it to be right for you.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evaluate and Schedule Your Experiences<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now that we understand the risks associated with psychedelics and mind-altering experiences, let’s explore how the authors suggest you schedule and carry out your experiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The authors say that you can access altered states with a variety of methods. Some people prefer extreme sports; others use psychedelics; still others find flow<\/a> in the music, dance, and community of festivals. Given this, the authors recommend that you consider every method that appeals to you and develop a schedule that spreads them throughout your year.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start with a list of the methods you want to try\u2014such as starting a yoga practice, taking LSD, or experimenting with biofeedback tech\u2014and then weigh the following three factors to evaluate each method:<\/p>\n\n\n\n