Why Do Some People Develop HPPD and Not Others?

Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) is a rare condition that can develop after psychedelic use. HPPD involves persisting visual changes that cause emotional distress and/or impairment to functioning. It is not clear precisely how prevalent the condition is, although its prevalence is considered low. In one study, 4.2% of participants said they experienced continued visual…

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What Makes Someone a Philosopher?

Nowadays, it seems the title ‘philosopher’ is applied quite liberally. For instance, some fans of Jordan Peterson think he’s a philosopher (and even one of the greatest modern philosophers). This is despite the fact that he’s never claimed to be one, his training is as a psychologist, and he misunderstands and mischaracterises philosophers and philosophical…

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The Role of Memory Recall in Psychedelic Integration

‘Psychedelic integration’ is a somewhat nebulous concept. It is often broadly defined as incorporating what one experienced and learned on psychedelics into everyday life. But this loose definition raises many questions, such as how and why certain aspects of the psychedelic experience are integrated. In other words, what techniques effectively aid such integration, and what…

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Understanding the Risks of 5-MeO-DMT

5-MeO-DMT is widely considered to be the most powerful psychedelic. This is not due to the dosages needed to reach intense altered states – technically, the most potent psychedelic in that respect is LSD, with Salvia divinorum being the most potent naturally occurring psychedelic, given that active doses of Salvinorin A are as low as…

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From Hagioptasia to Anemoia: Why We Feel Nostalgic for Things Not Experienced

Hagioptasia is a term coined by musician Daniel Laidler, which he says represents “a fundamental human perceptual tendency to experience an illusory sense of extraordinary ‘specialness’ in various aspects of life.” These aspects of life include music, religious and sacred objects, art, status and glamour, and nostalgia. I wrote about expressions of hagioptasia in emo…

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