Alice—
I want to know what it is when you spontaneously trip without dropping
tabs or anything. I've never had any drugs except marijuana. It is weird.
I know that tripping is an induced psychosis, so am I psychotic or what?
I was seeing a shrink and will be going back into treatment next semester.
I think substance use is boring and a complete copout on life. I've made
a lot of discoveries without needing to trip. Why does this happen? Tell
me what you know.
Signed,
Gandhi admirer
Dear Gandhi admirer,
Opening one's mind is a very personal experience, and without knowing more about what the spontaneous tripping entails, it's difficult to say what might be bringing it on. Are these hallucinations? Daydreams? Mind wanderings? Mystical or spiritual experiences?
Possible causes for non drug-induced, mind-altering moments, beyond a healthy, productive imagination, include conditions such as post-traumatic stress and the early onset of psychosis. Marijuana has been known to produce recurrent psychotic episodes in those vulnerable to psychotic disorders. It has also been shown that certain doses of drugs, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, antibiotics, tranquilizers, and steroids, can all cause hallucinations. Only a health care provider can correctly diagnose whether you may be experiencing the symptom of a mental illness, or the side effect of a drug you may have been or are currently taking. The next time you see your therapist is a great place to start in figuring out the far reaches of your mind.
- Alice
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Spontaneous tripping
