Has anyone with bipolar 1 had a recent experience with mushrooms or acid?

I have both and I am afraid to take them because I don't want to get manic or unstable.

I don't have to take them. I have taken both a few years ago. That was before I was diagnosed with bipolar 1.

[lunaticfringe]

Not recent but I did lots of acid a number of years ago and I think it permanently changed me. I would say be VERY careful...and just know that it could send you into psychosis.

[Wander]

I took mushrooms and acid many years ago with no negative consequences but that was also before I had my first breakdown (PTSD related) and later was diagnosed BP also. Now I don't think I would risk taking them as you are basically inducing psychosis and it could do all sorts of weird things to my brain chemistry. It is a risk. I must admit I would still be tempted as my previous experiences with those drugs were amazing. It is going to affect everyone differently so it is impossible to know how you will react. If you do do it make sure you are around safe, straight people who can look after you.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I think you might should have put trigger warning on this for those dealing with addiction.

When I was younger, like 30 years ago, I tripped A, XTC, and shrooms before I knew about beng bipolar. The hallucinations that I saw then was the hallucinations I normally see magnified, or is it I'm permanently drug hallucinating?

Nah, the science says no. LSD doesn't have much of a half life. Be careful, just make sure you are in your best frame of mind because paranoia is like x1000, etc.

Thanks guys. I have done these in the past also. Isn't it funny how it was all fine before bipolar? I used to do these 25 yrs ago and nothing ever happened. I think I was bipolar 2 back then and misdiagnosed as depression.

I have done shrooms once since diagnosis and it was fine. It is just tempting. I just don't like the idea of having things banned for life because of bipolar. It makes me feel powerless.

And Hallie, I think the title "psychedelics" would be a trigger!

Know what I mean?

[Chickenkicker]

Lol Bipolar 1 and hallucinogenics...what could go wrong? I don't know...I wouldn't want to be that close to the edge, myself. I've done handsfull of that stuff over the years so I"m no angel...but the biggest thing that would scare me now is dropping, and then not digging my trip or having a bad reaction between the street drugs and your psychotropic meds. That's a 8-10-12 hour or more commitment at that point...and there's no way out.

True. ^ Acid is the least tempting. I also have some hash candy that is pretty strong. I just have friends that are younger and sometimes do drugs. I just have a drawer with some and I haven't figured out what to do.

What could go wrong? lol

I know it sounds childish and silly. But I am an aging hippie. lol

PS If I do any of them, I will report here.

[Chickenkicker]

Wifey and I did mushrooms about 12yrs ago when we first met. They weren't organic and were full of strychnine, which made for an really uneasy doubled-over trip.

But yeah, I wouldn't even think of doing any of that now. After my crash and hospitalization 3yrs ago it just doesn't seem very attractive...and I never drink more than two beers at a time either, which is quite a change for me. The meds I found after hospital changed everything for the better.

Mental impressions good or bad can last months to years. Just don't freak out it'll be okay. I did my best on shrooms actually.

Originally Posted by Chickenkicker

Wifey and I did mushrooms about 12yrs ago when we first met. They weren't organic and were full of strychnine, which made for an really uneasy doubled-over trip.

But yeah, I wouldn't even think of doing any of that now. After my crash and hospitalization 3yrs ago it just doesn't seem very attractive...and I never drink more than two beers at a time either, which is quite a change for me. The meds I found after hospital changed everything for the better.

Get out to a cow paddy and get the real deal.

[jacky8807]

if you have had any psychotic break in the past i vote NO

only because you risk the chance of tipping into the dark side

[Treyfrancis21]

I did quite a bit of acid when younger, and had a period of heavy mushroom use a few years ago before my diagnosis and medication. I handled it well then, but I honestly would be pretty wary of taking any psychedelics now. I feel like it could potentially trigger a serious episode personally.

I probably won't do it. Or if I do, take just a small amount. But, I hate that I can't. Know what I mean?

There are so many "rules" or things that you must do to be stable. I just can't see following every rule to the end of my life.

I am on meds and am sleeping and eating and avoiding too much alcohol or coffee or anything too stimulating.

I am setting a bad example and being a whiner. But it is just a weird life.

[lunaticfringe]

I know exactly how you feel!!!

[Woolly Bugger]

Why take the risk when you are doing well? Flush the drugs down the toilet.

I have self-control and no problems with addictions. I just don't like being told "NO."

[jacky8807]

yeah it sux having bipolar....all the rules

see a doc, stay complient , take your meds, get sleep, not too much alcohol or caffeine blah blah blah
thats my i hate bipolar rant for the day lol

[Nammu]

I hate being told No, it's like a challenge.

[BipolaRNurse]

Nobody likes hearing the word "No". However, I'm going to say it anyway because mixing BP and medications with hallucinogenic drugs is not smart. Too many things can go wrong. And yes, I tried LSD, cocaine, and even PCP many years ago, and smoked pot for two decades. This was long before I knew I had bipolar 1. The PCP gave me a three-day freak-out; the cocaine did nothing; the LSD gave me a pleasant little trip through a green shag carpet forest complete with miniature animals. (I also saw music coming out of the stereo.)

Of course, I shouldn't have done it, and I get mad sometimes when I think about all the things I could do now that I don't have to pass urine drug screens for work. I went back to smoking weed for a bit last fall, but when I wound up IP after doing it I figured it was best to cut it out for good. Phooey. But I'd rather not take that chance again.

Completely understandable. ^ I smoke pot occasionally and have not had problems.

I will try to stay on track.

[bbTofu]

I don't have bipolar, so maybe it's irrelevant.

I dropped acid last month in a party;

Everything was fine. That being said I'd double-doubt to take acid if I was psychotic/depressed at the time.

Many years ago when I had paranoid/psychotic episodes, I was taking acid.. While I didn't have bad trips (luckily) it had a very bad affect on me associated with my psychotic behavior.

It was kinda stupid of me, to commit for a 8-10 hour trip with my mental state.

cheeRs

I understand completely. I think the part of me that has such trouble with the issue ,is the fact that bipolar requires a lifetime commitment to good self-care. It is hard to say that you are going to perfect and not slip, for your whole life.

I need to focus more on one day at a time.

And I am not a heavy user or drinker or anything. But I do drink and I do smoke pot.

If you were off meds I'd say go for it! (unless you've been psychotic)
But mixing with meds is probably a bad idea and I think you know this.

[CopperStar]

Years ago I had a rather long and heavy trip on shrooms. I remember that I was trying to figure out if I was psychotic or not, and I figured the best way to test it was to induce psychosis in a controlled environment and then compare it to what I had been going through without drugs involved.

It was easily the most significant and beautiful experience of my entire life, not gonna lie. That might not be the safe, healthy or politically correct thing to say, but it's true. I could write a small book on that experience.

However, it is extremely important to have a safe setting, because a bad trip can be extremely dangerous. You need to be somewhere, where IF let's say you were hallucinating monsters and tried to grab a weapon to fight with, or tried to go running away, that basically that could not result in a bad happening. You need an environment free of anything that you could use to harm yourself or others, free of dangers like cliffs. Put your car keys somewhere extremely difficult and complex for you to get to. Lock yourself into the house. Just make sure you are bunkered down and unable to harm yourself or others, just in case, if you decide to try it.