It’s fine to explore and experience, recreationally.
Have a clear objectives and expectations in mind for when you seek comfort or answers in chemical substances. Understand the social, physical and emotional risks of excess.
Drugs tickle our brains, by mimicking our own neurotransmitters.
When our environment calls for it, our brain produces neurotransmitters to chemically bind with neuroreceptors. Neuroreceptors tell the body and mind respond to stimuli.
- Serotonin binds to our mood neuroreceptors
- Endorphins bind to our relief neuroreceptors
- Dopamine binds to our reward neuroreceptors
- Norepinephrine binds to our survival neuroreceptors
Dopamine becomes a problem when the reward and the journey are the same.
Dependency occurs when our systems is flooded with artificial neurotransmitters, causing the brain to stop (burnout) naturally producing for the everyday, causing pain and suffering in absence.
Cannabis
It can enhance interests like movies and music. It can help one slog through repetitive work. It generally makes people a little less of assholes. People will say nothing happening on Marijuana. But that is also a problem too. It can be a major motivation killer.
There are times I feel super creative and energetic, however with high chance it amounts to nothing more than brain farts.
Cocaine
is a dose of dopamine, that feels like 10 coffees. It’s a party starter and a second wind. Just the right amount can make you feel on top of the world.
Too much can cause manic over-excitement, aggression and being a real jerk. Then the absence of it can be painful and depressing.
Psilocybin (Magic) Mushrooms & LSD
If meditation was a degree in self introspection; psychedelics would be the crash course. Primarily affecting serotonin, Psilocybin can be used to enhance cognition and treat trauma.
Too much can get very uncomfortable and scary. But it will pass. Psychedelics is hard to get addicted to; the trip will get us before overconsumption. It’s just not an everyday thing.
MDMA (Ecstasy)
can feel like an oxygen high, like a breath of fresh air after living a year in Asia. It affects our mood and can be fun. It can either enhance pleasure, excitement and enjoyability, sometimes coupled with symptoms of anxiety. It stimulates both serotonin and norepinephrine.
I’ve seen friends chew through bottle caps during. The come down is incredibly draining, and it can have long term effects on cognition— people can burn out.
Opiods & Methamphetamines
They have their place on a clinical level. But these are things I’ve always avoided. The dangers of dependency is the stuffs nightmares are made of.
Don’t create crutches from quick fixes.
Don’t try to just cope with everyday challenges. Try seeking safer, sustainable and more productive habits to improve your mindset and approach.
Treat the problem; not the symptoms.
Dr. Andrew Weil