ELI5..’Ego death’ on a psychedelic.
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Psychedelics alter your brain chemistry and change your perception of the world. Sometimes it’s simple perceptual changes like brighter colors, wavy patterns, or audio hallucinations.
Sometimes it’s very abstract, like changing your perception of your surroundings. You can be in a room and get the sudden sensation that there is absolutely nothing outside of the room. You may intellectually understand that there’s more world outside the room, but it *feels* like there’s nothing else beyond the walls of the room, as if you’re in an isolated pocket of spacetime.
Similarly, psychedelics at high doses can break a person’s sense of self. A normal functioning brain understands that itself and the body it’s controlling is part of you, a singular unit with an identity, a sense of self. A person under a high dose of psychedelics may reach a point where they lose their sense of self. “I” ceases to exist for them, leaving a mind without an identity. They may look down at their body, or at a reflection in the mirror, and they no longer get the sensation of looking at themself. They may be able to look at the world from a neutral point of view, free from the baggage and biases that come from relating the world to the self.
The change in perception is one of the most powerful aspects of psychedelics. It can be enlightening to see yourself, your surroundings, our society, and the universe from new angles. It can also be frightening or traumatic, depending on the shift in perspective and your reaction to it. If you do choose to engage with psychedelics, tread carefully. Start small, in a safe and controlled environment, with people you trust. Once you have your footing and understand how it affects you, you may begin to push the limits.
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