The Persistent Hallucinogenic Perception Disorder (English acronym HPPD) is a neuropsychological disorder that can occur as a consequence of the intake of hallucinogenic substances. A large percentage of people with this disorder appear to develop it following their first experiences with hallucinogens, but it also occurs in drug users. It manifests itself with a wide range of visual distortions, which can be more or less intense or remain constant. It usually decreases over time and, in many cases, disappears completely. It must be distinguished from the phenomenon of "flashbacks" which are intermittent and short-lived.
It is often accompanied by disorders of depersonalization and / or derealization, a severe dissociative form in which nothing feels real and one has the impression of floating in a dream. The origin of these effects lies in anxiety or fear. You can eliminate the problem by clearing the anxiety.
Little is known about this disorder in the medical field. Therefore, there is no definitive cure, but it is completely manageable by following a few guidelines. Fortunately, the brain manages to heal, as the human mind has great adaptability.
Steps
Step 1. See a doctor immediately
If you can't understand what ails you, see another doctor. Some medications you should talk to your doctor about are as follows.
- Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax or Clonazepam, can help relieve symptoms temporarily. Do not allow your doctor to prescribe risperidone (Risperdal), as some studies show that it aggravates the disorder. There is no cure for persistent hallucinogen perception disorder, other than the general advice to live well. However, benzodiazepines reduce visual symptoms and fight the anxiety that accompanies and worsens the disorder.
- Antidepressants, such as Prozac, allow you to cope with the psychological effects. What matters are the psychological effects, not the images themselves. Visual symptoms they can't hurt you.
Step 2. Don't panic
It's not the end of the world. You can feel pretty bad, but you won't die from it and the real world is still standing, as it always has. Remember that if it seems to you that everything is slipping out of your hand and you have strange thoughts about reality and existence, these are symptoms of depersonalization. What you think is not madness, but it is not the truth either.
Step 3. If you take any illegal substance, stop and stop taking it
This is especially true for those that enhance visual perception, such as LSD, cannabis, tryptamine (for example, magic mushrooms), phenylethylamine (MDMA, mescaline) and other types of substances (such as psychedelics). If you really want to go back to seeing the world around you as you normally saw it in a state of lucidity, refrain from any substance. You should also avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco before you understand what makes it worse and what doesn't.
Step 4. Get enough sleep:
neither too much nor too little, otherwise you will aggravate the visual perception when you are awake.
Step 5. Meditate and train your brain
Because hallucinogen persistent perception disorder is a neurological phenomenon that distorts what you actually see, reading, writing, meditating and doing anything that "trains" your brain will help you heal.
Step 6. Take walks in the fresh air (not during the night, as darkness makes hallucinations worse)
Step 7. Eat healthy (vitamins, honey, fruit, salad, etc.)
).
Step 8. Exercise
You should do something that makes you feel better as a person. In return, your brain will begin to recover.
Step 9. Stop thinking about the disorder
The more you worry and think about the disorder, the worse you will feel and the more serious the situation will become. Symptoms tend to increase when you reflect on your discomfort, so avoid thinking about it. Instead, focus on something more positive.
Advice
- Be prepared for the negative reactions other people may have about the disorder, especially those who oppose drug use, which will show you little sympathy. Many addicts even believe that hallucinogen persistent perception disorder does not exist and may attempt to teach you lessons on how everything is in your imagination. However, a trusted friend can do a lot, remember it.
- Don't spend all your time reading Internet articles and information about the disorder. Few people publish the finished stories well than those who complain, as once they recover from the disorder they don't care anymore. Instead, go out and do something fun as soon as you are able. You deserve it.
- Addressing the ailment may take some big change in lifestyle, but this transformation also has its positives.
- You can try the cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy with a professional who does not judge if you are having difficulty, especially if you are also trying to fight an addiction.
- Light can affect visual perception, and after a while some people only see images at night or under artificial light. In general, the fluorescent lights are the worst ones, while sunlight is the best. However, overstimulation of the visual system can be a problem, so sunglasses will sometimes come in handy.
Warnings
- If you feel depressed or have suicidal thoughts, contact a professional immediately.
- Smoking marijuana increases the symptoms of the disorder in some individuals.
- St. John's wort appears to relieve symptoms in some individuals, as does 5-hydroxytryptophan (or 5-HTP).
- Smoking marijuana can increase symptoms, although not in all people.
