Peyote, LSD, PCP, and other hallucinogens affect your perception. This quality makes them irresistible to some users. Are they safe to use? What are the short and long-term hallucinogens effects you need to know about?
The Serotonin Connection
Hallucinogenic drugs affect serotonin levels in the brain. This neurotransmitter plays an influential role when it comes to mood regulation and perception. That said, it also connects with the direct physical reactions you have to the things around you. Not only might you see things that aren’t there, but your fight-or-flight response can also activate.
Initial and Short-Term Hallucinogens Effects
Within 30 minutes, you start to feel the first hallucinogens effects. Over the next hour, they ramp up. Depending on the drug you used, you may continue to experience the impact for about eight to 12 hours. It’s difficult to anticipate how you’ll react to the substance each time you take it.
Your stress level, surroundings, and recent experiences factor into the “trip.” Most commonly, hallucinogens start by altering your perception of reality. Colors change. Things that are standing still appear to be moving.
You may also see things that aren’t there. Some users report feeling like bugs are crawling on their skin. Bad trips are terrifying experiences. They take on a nightmarish feel that you can’t escape while the drug is in your system.
Long-Term Effects of Hallucinogenic Drug Abuse
When you repeatedly use a hallucinogen, you cause your body to respond. It may do so with spikes in heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. You sweat a lot, feel dizzy, and might dehydrate. Because your body builds a tolerance to the drug quickly, you increase the dose and heighten the physiological stress.
Over time, you have a difficult time separating reality from “trips.” Flashbacks are common. Some people develop psychosis, which results in an inability to connect with reality. Others develop a hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) that injects hallucinations in real settings.
You may not always be able to tell what’s real and what isn’t. It’s possible to develop anxiety or depression because of these conditions. You may also be unable to function cognitively the way that you used to. Addiction help from a quality treatment center provides the help you need to quit abusing hallucinogens.
Rehab Helps Overcome the Psychological Addiction
Getting help is possible at a rehab facility. Because of the unpredictable effects of hallucinogenic drugs, it’s a good idea to pick a residential setting. There, therapists monitor your progress throughout your stay. They also provide therapeutic responses such as:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy, which assists with recognizing and eliminating dysfunction
- Dialectical behavior therapy that gives you the power to control strong emotional reactions
- Dual diagnosis assessment and treatment of co-occurring psychiatric conditions such as anxiety
- Trauma treatment that helps you deal with unresolved situations from the past
- Family therapy, which allows loved ones to heal and understand how to support your recovery
Don’t suffer any more unwanted hallucinogens effects. Crestview Recovery can help. Call 866.262.0531 today to set up an intake appointment.
