HOW LSD WORKS
Although LSD is commonly associated with hallucinations, this is not entirely accurate. When a person experiences a hallucination, he or she believes that everything they see and feel is real. LSD alters people’s perceptions of the world around them, as well as their thoughts and feelings, but it does not cause them to see things that do not exist. They perceive what is already there in a different light, and they are usually aware that the medication is causing their altered perceptions.
After taking LSD, the effects, known as a “trip,” usually begin within an hour and last up to 12 hours, with a peak about midway through. LSD affects everyone differently. Some persons have dilated pupils, high blood pressure, and an elevated body temperature. Others taking LSD may feel disoriented, sweaty, have impaired vision, and experience tingling in their hands and feet. They may feel drowsy, but not sleepy.
LSD’s major effects are visual. Colors appear stronger, and lights appear brighter. Objects that are steady may appear to move or have a halo of light surrounding them. Sometimes things leave light trails or appear smaller or larger than they actually are. LSD users frequently perceive patterns, forms, colors, and textures. Sometimes it appears that time is moving backwards, very rapidly, or slowly. Tripping can produce synesthesia, which is a confusion of sensations between different types of stimuli. However, this is not a regular occurrence. Some people have reported it as “seeing” colors when exposed to certain noises.
LSD TRIP
Happiness and exhilaration are common, and ordinary situations may appear more attractive, intriguing, and spectacular. People on LSD frequently become overly emotional, prone to crying or laughing. Large amounts may make individuals feel particularly introspective. They believe that their intellect has expanded beyond its normal limits, and they frequently claim to have had spiritual or religious experiences that have given them a new knowledge of how their world and surrounds (or, you know, their lava lamps) function.
LSD users may exhibit questionable reasoning skills, becoming impulsive or illogical. This is why some LSD users trip in groups, particularly with others who have experience, and in peaceful settings like as their house or a park.
As the drug takes effect, users may spend a significant amount of time thinking about something seemingly insignificant, such as a leaf on the ground or a stain on the sofa. They aren’t always easy to understand, but when they do speak, they speak quickly and move from subject to topic.
If everything goes according to plan, users will have a pleasant, or positive, journey. However, most people who have used LSD understand that there is always the potential of experiencing a “bad trip.”
It’s unclear what produces a terrible trip, especially since each trip can vary greatly depending on the individual. LSD users occasionally claim that it is related to the “set and setting.” This means that if you are already in a foul mood or are traveling in a highly structured environment that demands you to think logically (such as school), you may have a bad trip. This may include losing sight of the illusory part of tripping, which causes panic and paranoia, as well as a sense of death or being in hell. The lack of control is frightening, and it appears that the trip will never stop. [Source: Davis].
When someone has a bad trip, they may end up in a hospital’s emergency room, but doctors typically do little more than provide a quiet space and reassurance. To alleviate the patient’s stress, they may prescribe anti-anxiety medication or a moderate sedative. The patient may feel dizzy or queasy at the end of the journey, but most people recover with no long-term negative effects.
Some people swear off LSD after just one poor trip. Even if LSD users do not have a horrible trip, excessive usage can lead to major mental and physical health problems.
