Any (psychedelic) drug users who are diagnosed with bipolar

[Genevieve]

disorder?

If so, how safe is salvia for someone with bipolar, with psychotic features? I've never had a full blown psychosis, only two that I could barely contain. I stopped smoking weed and stopped MDMA because of that, but I'm still open to some drugs and I wanna try salvia soon.

How bad of an idea is it considering my condition? Could it potentially trigger a psychotic episode?

[Kochari]

Better safe than sorry innit. Specially with salvia, cus its shit anyway. Only psychadelic I'ver had anything less than a beautiful, profound time on.

[Genevieve]

Better safe than sorry innit.

Yeah but there's a risk involved with pretty much every drug. The risk is just higher with me considering my condition so I'm curious what people's experiences with the drug are.

I've heard of some people being temporarily relieved of their symptoms after having used salvia, though. Not sure how seriously to take that, though. Or if those people were diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the first place (I don't take self-diagnoses seriously).

[lloydnoise]

Better safe than sorry innit.

Yeah but there's a risk involved with pretty much every drug. The risk is just higher with me considering my condition so I'm curious what people's experiences with the drug are.

I've heard of some people being temporarily relieved of their symptoms after having used salvia, though. Not sure how seriously to take that, though. Or if those people were diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the first place (I don't take self-diagnoses seriously).

honestly no offence meant by this but... what does being bi-polar really mean? Isn't it just an indicator that your moods may swing further to each end of the spectrum than a 'normal' or is there more to it? I have always been skeptical of some of the more modern labelled conditions as an attempt to sub-sub-categorise pretty standard, day to day, human behaviour but I would like to know more from someone who knows..

Don't link me to Wiki either, i want personal opinions mayn

[hayze99]

I'm not too sure about the answer, tbh.

But reckon you could explain how your bipolar disorder manifests itself, even through PM, if you're comfortable with it?

[noam]

he spends a shit load of money on these

[belalala]

i hated my experience with salvia so i duno if it's worth it if you're worried about it. only advice i'd solidly give is that if you go into it with any doubts, anxieties, worries, whatever about the experience, it'll be reflected in your trip. once you've figured it out 100%, go for it. or not.

[Genevieve]

Better safe than sorry innit.

Yeah but there's a risk involved with pretty much every drug. The risk is just higher with me considering my condition so I'm curious what people's experiences with the drug are.

I've heard of some people being temporarily relieved of their symptoms after having used salvia, though. Not sure how seriously to take that, though. Or if those people were diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the first place (I don't take self-diagnoses seriously).

honestly no offence meant by this but... what does being bi-polar really mean? Isn't it just an indicator that your moods may swing further to each end of the spectrum than a 'normal' or is there more to it? I have always been skeptical of some of the more modern labelled conditions as an attempt to sub-sub-categorise pretty standard, day to day, human behaviour but I would like to know more from someone who knows..

Don't link me to Wiki either, i want personal opinions mayn

Alright, I'll give you 'the common understanding' of bipolar disorder and the way I experience it (and the way I see described more and more from other people as well). I'll only link to lists of symptoms, 'cause I don't wanna forget any.

Essentially, bipolar disorder is a disorder where people experienced prolonged periods of depression, mania and 'mixed episodes'. There may be periods of a 'normal' state of mind in between these various episodes.

Mania

Depression

(Keep in mind, I don't have EVERY symptom described here, no one does, I have no motoric retardation, for example and my thoughts slow down a bit during mania compared thoughts in a mixed episode)

Mixed episodes feature both manic AND depressed symptoms (these are most common in me).

Basically, it's more than just 'mood swings'. A lot of people think that bipolar is feeling fantastic one minute and depressed the other and while people can experience pretty sudden mood shifts during their mixed episode, their overall mood through-out the day is actually pretty static.

Anyway, the way I experience bipolar is basically like this.

Someone with bipolar disorder has two lights in their body. When they're 'normal', the lights are burning normally. When they're depressed, the 'depressed light' shines a lot, to the point where it's almost blinding. While the manic light is barely flickering. When they're manic, the depressed light is barely flickering, whereas the manic light is shining brighter than the sun. During mixed episodes, the lights are constantly alternating in strength. I made up the light analogy because when one of the lights shines really bright, you're blinded by it. Like during a depression, I can be blinded by the thought that no one cares about me. Much like I can be blinded by the light that says I'm God in human form when I am manic.

Basically, things aren't as black and white as feeling 'either very good, or very bad'. You can have the racing thoughts and impulsiveness of a manic episode combined with the social isolation and feeling of worthlessness of a depression (a deadly combination). Depression itself is more than just feeling 'bad' and mania is more than just 'feeling good'. They both have their distinct symptoms that happen to be associated with a certain feeling.

Anyway, there's 4 types of bipolar disorder that I know of. Bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothemia and biolar-NOS. Bipolar I is the most intense and it features full blown mania and psychosis (losing complete touch of reality). Bipolar II (my diagnosis) features a milder form of mania (hypomania) and no psychosis. Cyclothemia is even milder than that and bipolar-NOS is when a patient is identified with having bipolar features, but where the combination doesn't fit with the 3 types of bipolar disorder.

I've had two 'almost psychotic' episodes, where I managed to intervene in time. It was scary 'cause I literally felt like two different realities were real (and not in the hippie 'WELL, NOTHING IS REAL' type of way... it has more to do with me having convinced myself of having done something absolutely unspeakably awful to one of my best friends, which I don't feel comfortable just posting on a message board, just think of the worst thing someone could do to someone else and keep it at that). Anyway, I knew I didn't do it even though I 'felt' like it so I called her on time to tell her what my mind has tricked me into believing. She told me to shut the fuck up because I didn't do shit and I'm the sweetest person she knows.

If I do get a full blown psychotic episode, I'll be diagnosed as bipolar I. Let's hope it's a matter of 'if' and not 'when'.

[capo ultra]

Better safe than sorry

I agree, do it

[Genevieve]

Anyway, the likelihood of me developing a psychosis is higher than it is in other people.

But, I've done shrooms and MDMA without psychotic repercussions before. Though the 'almost-psychosis' I've had took place about a week or so after my first MDMA experience and I'm not sure how much the MDMA contributed to it. If at all. Especially seeing as I've had an experience like it before I did MDMA.

In my book, shrooms are safe and from what I know, DMT and peyote are too (have yet to try either). So I'm curious how safe salvia is compared to those. I'm not on any brainmeds, by the way.

[Genevieve]

I can't see why you would think DMT, Peyote and Mushrooms are safe if you are more susceptible to psychosis than most. (especially when MDMA might have caused psychosis and you avoid weed)

From knowing others in similar positions to you I have seen where psychedelics have caused real problems.

THC and MDMA are known as possible psychosis inducing agents. The possibility of psychosis isn't linked to the 'strength' of the drugs as much as their chemical composition. The only reported cases of peyote causing psychosis is due to peyote-triggered sleep deprivation and sleep deprivation can cause psychosis in anyone. Other than that, testing in Native American populations has shown that long term use of peyote actually has positive effects on mental health.

Mushrooms have been great to me, from experience, and there's no DMT related cases of psychosis from what I know.

Don't get me wrong, I know it's a risk, but I only take drugs after studying them and their risks and possible side-effects. I mean, all of us are at risk of fucking ourselves up from drugs. Not just me. And I realize that I'm putting myself in a more vulnerable position than most, but one I take after consideration. I take full, personal responsibility for the possible consequences.

Weed has never caused psychosis in me, but spacecake recently scared the shit out of me.

[th@-pu$$y]

disorder?

If so, how safe is salvia for someone with bipolar, with psychotic features? I've never had a full blown psychosis, only two that I could barely contain. I stopped smoking weed and stopped MDMA because of that, but I'm still open to some drugs and I wanna try salvia soon.

How bad of an idea is it considering my condition? Could it potentially trigger a psychotic episode?

I think if your Bipolar you prob shouldn't be doing drugs.......

[marked]

salvia is total shit. not worth the risk at all. it tastes like crap and the trip didnt feel extremely pleasent either. especially with a condition i dont think its a very good idea

[.onelove.]

Better safe than sorry innit.

Yeah but there's a risk involved with pretty much every drug. The risk is just higher with me considering my condition so I'm curious what people's experiences with the drug are.

I've heard of some people being temporarily relieved of their symptoms after having used salvia, though. Not sure how seriously to take that, though. Or if those people were diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the first place (I don't take self-diagnoses seriously).

honestly no offence meant by this but... what does being bi-polar really mean? Isn't it just an indicator that your moods may swing further to each end of the spectrum than a 'normal' or is there more to it? I have always been skeptical of some of the more modern labelled conditions as an attempt to sub-sub-categorise pretty standard, day to day, human behaviour but I would like to know more from someone who knows..

Don't link me to Wiki either, i want personal opinions mayn

Watch the Stephen Fry documentary on Bi-polar, it's much more than some modern label for mood swings. Some of the people interviews board on delusional in their manic states, believing they were God or could perform miracles. Then in their depressive periods throw themselves in front of buses etc. Obviously they're only the most extreme cases, but it is still a serious illness in any form.

I'm not Bi-Polar but have had a couple of bouts of psychotic episodes from drug use, and I daren't really touch anything anymore. Some people definitely are more susceptible to psychosis to others, and IMO it's definitely not worth messing about with. There's mental illness in my family history which I imagine has some effect, I was psychotic from just stimulant use so wouldn't go near any psychedelics.

[christophera]

salvia's dumb

[wayoftheworld]

salvia's dumb

this. it's just not worth it man, stick to shrums.

[christophera]

srsly

[christophera]

all these drugs are just dancing around the point really