Downvoters: explain why that's a good idea, and if you do that too! And if you have any pro tips on mitigating your Ketamine Bladder and Heil Hitler Arm symptoms:

Urology & Continence Care Today: Ketamine bladders: what community nurses should know:

https://www.ucc-today.com/journals/issue/launch-edition/arti...

>KETAMINE AND THE URINARY TRACT: In recent years, the link between ketamine use and damage to the urinary tract has become apparent, with estimation that at least 26–30% of users experience at least one bladder symptom (Winstock et al, 2012; Misra, 2018). Using ketamine at least three times a week over a period of two years has been shown to result in altered bladder function, with some patients complaining of severe urological problems (Mak et al, 2011). This syndrome is often called ‘ketamine bladder’ or ‘ketamine cystitis’ in the literature (Jhang et al, 2015; Misra, 2018)

On the Campaign Trail, Elon Musk Juggled Drugs and Family Drama: As Mr. Musk entered President Trump’s orbit, his private life grew increasingly tumultuous and his drug use was more intense than previously known.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/us/elon-musk-drugs-childr...

>Mr. Musk’s drug consumption went well beyond occasional use. He told people he was taking so much ketamine, a powerful anesthetic, that it was affecting his bladder, a known effect of chronic use. He took Ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms. And he traveled with a daily medication box that held about 20 pills, including ones with the markings of the stimulant Adderall, according to a photo of the box and people who have seen it.

Edit: I'd say it's the ketamine abuser who's throwing Nazi salutes and pissing his pants who's the one perpetrating polarizing politics. I'm just using him as an example of why it's idiotic to abuse ketamine, which is quite on-topic. I'm not going to walk on egg shells to avoid triggering thin skinned MAGA "fuck your feelings" snowflakes.

Psychs are just drugs like any other. I think people get too wrapped up in the mysticism of them, or think the debilitating effects of heroic dosing is unique to them. How many uncs in the chat can't smoke weed anymore because it makes them have an awful time emotionally? How do you think dabbing a gram of wax would work out?

I needed this phrase 20 years ago. Very well put.

The acronym WEIRD stands for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic, a term used in psychology and behavioral sciences to describe the populations that have historically been the subject of research.

I'm willing to believe, though, that some people might know how to guide a person through the experience in such a way as to drastically reduce the risk of PTSD and to increase the probability of beneficial effects.

Also, I'm willing to believe that they can help a person recover from PTSD, too, but that is not what usually happens when they are taken without supervision.

The reason I took psychedelics the first time was also some combination of curiosity, recreation, and frustration at feeling like I'd fallen into a local min. As a cousin comment mentions, their power is giving you a different perspective which you quite literally cannot conceive of in your current mental state.

Those who have been to therapy (and had a good therapist) know the value that an honest and different outside perspective can have on your life. But there's also a barrier between you and that other person - they don't really have the full context of what motivates or worries you. Psychedelics are a new perspective on the thoughts going through your head, the sensory experience you're having, the emotions you're physically feeling.

That's not to say it's all good and no bad, but I'll leave that to the droves of comments exaggerating their risks. If you're looking for an altered mental state, mushrooms / LSD / MDMA pose far less harm than alcohol or cannabis.

I’ve been taking doses of around 600mg ibogaine TA, every 6 months or so, bought online at the first place that comes up in google. You can experience cardiac arrest from taking it, which will quickly kill you, and I based this (IMO) safe dosage on some papers I read. Don’t consider me an authority! And there’s also certain gene mutations that can raise or lower your risk of heart problems, related to how you metabolize ibogaine/noribogaine.

(I have also tried microdosing, based on another paper I read about a woman with bipolar depression. But I don’t have much to report there.)

It’s tough to describe any altered state. But for someone who’s thinking it’s like acid or mushrooms, note that it’s not really fun or pleasant. Your heart beats slower and softer, your body feels weak and uncoordinated, and there’s little to do besides rest.

But the mind is so, so active. And it’s like an excavator. Just pulling things from wherever and throwing them into your mind’s eye. I don’t like therapy and find it tedious and unhelpful, but this feels like years of therapy squished into a 12+ hour trip. Has helped me a lot with my relationships, especially with my mom.

You see a lot of yourself. What’s ugly, what’s beautiful, what’s neutral. You feel somehow distant from your problems but close to your “self”, which makes it more comfortable to face things.

After it’s over there’s a glow and calm that lasts a while. Days, or weeks, or months sometimes. Sleep feels a little more restorative, laughs come a little easier, the dusty baseboards of the mind feel cleaner.

So these are the effects of the lowish doses I’ve been taking. Some day in a safer environment I’d love to do a real full dose. But even at this “low” dose, it’s by far the most powerful drug I’ve ever taken, in a positive way.