Dropping acid and your view of the world?

Question

I have been hearing through multiple people that eating acid can change your perspective of the world, and also makes you 'smarter'. I have also been told that many psychiatrists have taken it and look down on others that haven't. Also, some people have told me that scientists have done studies on the brain before and after taking acid, and it changes your brain waves. Is this just bull?

Answer 1

It can change your life. Though, I would highly recommend being prepared for the experience. Set and setting are paramount.
It would be wise to read some books first: joyous cosmology Alan Watts, doors of perception aldous huxley, be here now richard alpert aka ram dass, sex and drugs Robert anton Wilson, and anything by Timothy Leary. The day after I did acid I went to library because the trip had left me in awe of this universe. I spent the next 20 years learning about the universe and have loved every minute of it.

Answer 2

Every drug, and literally EVERY DRUG (aspirin, cortisone, etc.) has a different effect on every different person. That said, a reaction to a drug may be reported as more similar to another person's, than someone else reports (hence the brainwave comparison).
A drug does one of two things: it either illicits a response in your system by causing a reaction from it's own chemicality, or it forces your system to release something that it naturally produces.
Sometimes a non-physical reaction can be similar to a physical one. Imagine you are strapped into a gyroscope - a machine that spins you around, and mimics being in a non-gravity environment (outer space). When you get off the machine, you now know what it's like to be in a non-gravity environment, because of your experience. You could say you are "smarter" about it than someone who hasn't, because you have experienced it.
Drugs can be similar with the non-physical region. However, always keep in mind the health risks involved. LSD and other hallucinogenics always carry with them factors that can be deadly. A recent 18-year-old killed in a car crash had her brain analyzed. It was known that she was an every-weekend user of a type of ecstacy. Her brain and the crevices (or lack of them) resembled that of the degenerated brain of an 85-year-old.
So, you could say that she had more "insight" into the effects of the drug, but suffered physically for them.
So, a recent answer is accurate - try it for yourself to see. I don't condone this, as it is a physical danger. But, you can learn about the effect, and with some sense, can stop and just.... know.

Answer 3

I have heard that it alters your personality. I have seen when people have a bad trip and it was not a nice event to see, paranoia, scared, crying...wanting to committ suicide. When Viet nam was going on this was a big thing in the 60`s in our military and people in the street. I had friends that swore by it was so groovy and seen some that had a bad trip reaction. So
i can only tell you the choice is your to make. I had a bad experience someone had put 5 tabs of purple haze in a wine bottle 45 years ago and I drank some of it. I think that people spiking drugs in something that you don`t know about is about the dumbest thing a person can do. I believe if it is there at least you will be warned and not in a situation of not knowing.

Answer 4

Im not sure of the specific research on LSD, but it is out there. There is a certain perspective that comes from any state of altered conciousness that can be quite illuminating. Artists often say that this helped them "see" things differently. Others have said that they had bonding experiences with others while on it. Keep in mind that there is another side to it as well.

Answer 5

The best teacher is experience...try it for yourself and find out.

Answer 6

that depends on the individual, but you can look here to see the FDA's point of view

www.fda.gov/fdac/features/795_psyche.html

Answer 7

it makes you _feel_ smarter.
and psychiatrists are all sick.