a hidden problem? psychadelics effects?

[astralmaster]

I think that it is probable that your brain is simply not in shape. I suggest tring to practice concentration and ralxation rather than actual exit techniques.

[Shawn McCaffrey]

I havent smoked weed before or projected but I am training myself and learning how to project. But this weekend im supposed to go with my freinds and get high.  Would this altar my chances of projecting? Even if I only get high like once a month or so?

[Tom]

It is possible that the neurotransmitter levels have been affected. These would be the chemical messengers between nerve cells. They are also found in the immune system, which is one reason why someone who is feeling depressed can be more likely to get sick. The foods and medicines you use can help to raise the neurotransmitter levels. The drug 5-HTP has not been pulled from market yet. Then there are herbs like kava kava. Chicken, turkey, and milk proteins contain relatively high levels of l-tryptophan, an amino acid which used to be over the counter for a sleeping pill because l-tryptophan is used to make serotonin. Serotonin levels are raised by SSRI drugs such as prozac and zoloft. Of course, I am not a doctor. You can look up foods, herbs, and medications to increase your neurotransmitter levels or if you have good insurance and no plans to go into military service you can see a psychiatrist about getting a prescription for antidepressants. This is not to say that I think you are depressed or that you need a shrink, of course. It is just that if you want your neurotransmitter levels back and you can afford it then getting assistance from an expert can help. Drugs which can be classified as recreational are well known for using up neurotransmitter levels. It can take several years for them to go back to their previous levels on their own.

[elijah_levi]

Actually I have no problem reaching a deep trance state, I have to use meditation quite often in my practices and have been using various eastern forms of meditation and relaxation techniques for several years. It's just when I get to the point where projection should be possible I am just left in the trance state, very relaxed and tranquil. My body tingles and then I'm left there......

I assume it is possible that my heavy use of psychadelics effected my ability to AP, as I had no problem doing it prior to my drug use and projected on nearly a daily level.

I miss it.......sadness.....

[astralmaster]

Tom,
I think that ssri's could actually reduce the ability to AP. This is becuase they tend to mellow down the brain power. This is so that you don't overreact to deppresion. The thing is, this affects every aspect of your life. from joy to Loving and brain capacity. that's where AP come's in.

David

[sublime]

Hi, just a personal comment about the use of drugs and ap.... when i was younger i would always be terrified of sleep paralysis and also vibrations and feelings of projection... of course then i didnt know what they were. Anyways, from the time i was a freshman in high school to my junior year... I smoked a lot of weed, drank occasionally, and even tried E. all of the feelings i got as a child, lucid dreaming/sleep paralysis etc... completely stopped. \ Well my senior year I realized how pointless those things were and I quit everything. I'm now a sophomore and I read a lot about ap and whatnot and my dreams now are usually vivid/lucid and i'm currently working to consciously project. I dont really know if this had anything to do with the drugs/alcohol but i can say that I didnt experience anything throughout that 3 year period.

[elijah_levi]

When I was about 16-17-18 I projected quite often, even though at the time I had little knowledge of projection. I used a technique I've heard nothing about, even though logically now I can exlain why it worked at the time. I would prop myself up in my bed with the room being brightly lit and simply try to go to sleep lying on my back with the lights on. It would work every time. This effectively kept my mind awake while my body went to sleep. Since then I expirimented with multiple psychadelics and other mind altering drugs. In the past couple of years I've began studying mysticism and other such things as I stopped for no apperant reason when I was 18. after all of this and expiriencing projection many times for some reason I can no longer have consciouse exits. I have tried many techniques,from those of Crowley's to Robert Bruce's and even the one I used in the past.
I'm not sure if my use of psychadelics caused this or if it might be something else. Since last year (2001) I have stopped using any type of psychedelics. I've not read of this anywhere. Please help......