Brain shocks, While on DMT

[rollingwood]

Hey Archaic, i think youre on the right track there with your last post about serotonin trying to "catch up".
Maybe look into blood sugar as well, I get that zappy numb feeling in my face when i'm at work and super hungry but i forgot a lunch:shock:

 

[Sol loS]

Once while on LSD, I picked up a very pretty looking bud of marijuana and I swear I felt something similar to a static shock when I picked it up. Extremely weird, I've also had the feeling like someone hooked my spine up to an electric outlet.

 

[JusTShrooMinn]

JusTShrooMinn...

Some quick questions before i post anymore...

What is your posture like? Do you have any postural misalignments that you are aware of?

How is your every day movement of your fingers and toes?

Do you commonly feel any kind of joint or muscular tension or discomfort?

.. and more personally -- how is your every day digestive, sexual and respiratory functioning ?

Sorry I take a while to respond...

Anyways,

I have pretty good posture, and based on what I see and am told, much better posture than other people like me... (I am 6'6" and a little skinny)

Movement as how well do they function in a sense? All of my fingers and toes have full range of motion and what have you... I have minor shakes here and there but I am a drinker and that is what exacerbates it.

It is VERY common for me to have joint and muscular discomfort.

To help you more if you are trying to go somewhere with this (which I very much appreciate) Is I commonly have muscle spasms, whether it be in my bicep or leg... sometimes my eye but thats the least common.

Digestive - Everything is A okay there.
Respiratory - I breath fine... Every once in a great while Ill get a pain while taking a deep breath. I do question my lungs here and there... I did suffer from asthma and I still do a tad when going for a big run.
Sexual Functioning - never had a problem and have a healthy sex life.

I do have some strange pains in my body and sensations... But I usually always just attribute it to the fact my lower back really sucks and my joint suck because im so tall.

And Ive also had surgery on one of my knees and have broken one ankle...
I hope this helps and I would be happy to answer anymore questions.

I suffer from anxiety a little bit so Im also one of those people that always taps their foot while lying down or something.

My legs always feel restless and achy but I suffer from tall man syndrome

 

[space face]

Also - and this might not be the same thing -

I have what feels like a sharp zap, or twinge that rushes though my head really quick when I take a large hot hit. I found some of this was due to not airing out the final product enough.
I now let my spice sit in open air for 3 days, stiring accasionally, to make sure it is completely completely dry of any solvents.

I have noticed a huge reduction in the 'zap' in doing so.

Only happens at the start for me though, so might not be exactly the same.

....good long evap. doesn't hurt!

I have found the exact same thing^! After my first extraction I only let my spice sit for roughly an hour after scraping post freeze precipitation, and I experienced some zapping going on in my head, notably near my temples.. These shocks were most definatly caused by some solvent that still remained in the spice I believe. It felt quite toxic when it happened, very distinct from any sort of positive energy rush. After that I initially thought my spice was no good and it sat in the open for 3 days.. I then tried it again on a whim and to my surpize had nothing even resembling those nasty shockes take place. I've since came to the conclusion that drying out spice throughly will prevent brain zaps and twitches..

 

[JusTShrooMinn]

Also - and this might not be the same thing -

I have what feels like a sharp zap, or twinge that rushes though my head really quick when I take a large hot hit. I found some of this was due to not airing out the final product enough.
I now let my spice sit in open air for 3 days, stiring accasionally, to make sure it is completely completely dry of any solvents.

I have noticed a huge reduction in the 'zap' in doing so.

Only happens at the start for me though, so might not be exactly the same.

....good long evap. doesn't hurt!

I have found the exact same thing^! After my first extraction I only let my spice sit for roughly an hour after scraping post freeze precipitation, and I experienced some zapping going on in my head, notably near my temples.. These shocks were most definatly caused by some solvent that still remained in the spice I believe. It felt quite toxic when it happened, very distinct from any sort of positive energy rush. After that I initially thought my spice was no good and it sat in the open for 3 days.. I then tried it again on a whim and to my surpize had nothing even resembling those nasty shockes take place. I've since came to the conclusion that drying out spice throughly will prevent brain zaps and twitches..

Ive began Re-x'ing all my crystals since you guys pointed that out as well... And since it didnt happen during all my trips if this is the culprit it was just hit or miss finding solvent in the spice while smoking.

 

[Wax]

I think the solvent zap is something different because I dissolved my xtals in IPA and made changa with them which sat out for days until it was cracker dry. If there were any solvent in there it would most likely be IPA, I've tested to make sure it was all evaporated by hitting it with a flame and it doesn't burst into flames like one would expect a solvent to do.

The zaps I'm getting happen only on the come down. NOT as soon as I take a hit. They feel almost exactly like you are crossing your eyes but much more intense and very short. I have also experienced the zaps for the second time immediately upon waking from sleep the day after smoking changa.

Re-xing is not a bad idea and I am curious to see if it changes things for you JusTShrooMinn.

 

[JusTShrooMinn]

I think the solvent zap is something different because I dissolved my xtals in IPA and made changa with them which sat out for days until it was cracker dry. If there were any solvent in there it would most likely be IPA, I've tested to make sure it was all evaporated by hitting it with a flame and it doesn't burst into flames like one would expect a solvent to do.

The zaps I'm getting happen only on the come down. NOT as soon as I take a hit. They feel almost exactly like you are crossing your eyes but much more intense and very short. I have also experienced the zaps for the second time immediately upon waking from sleep the day after smoking changa.

Re-xing is not a bad idea and I am curious to see if it changes things for you JusTShrooMinn.

The more I think about it, the more Im starting to think it does happen on the last half of the trip never the come up..

My come ups are always smooth sailing then once Im fully immersed it starts sometime then.... Next time I get myself back on the saddle and it happens Ill let you know specifically... or if Re-xing changes anything...

And for all the help Maybe ill post a little porn

Wish I would of taken pictures before and after.

The off white / yellow stuff ive been smoking im not re-x'ing but I just poured out and powdered up pretty good to see if letting it dry out would make a difference... Then I had about 3grams of extra brown/orange stuff and thats what Im re'xing.. Probably going to have to go twice to get it how I want it but all my jars have a TON of white crystals all ready woohoo.

 

[JusTShrooMinn]

bump

 

[OnceKnownNowFlown]

Have you tried any since? Any better?

 

[JusTShrooMinn]

Unfortunately No. I will be this weekend though.

I re-xd some crystals they are nice and clean and completely odorless so it should be all set in that category.


I did trip this past weekend on 5 hits of clean L and and 1/8th of potent shrooms... (Ego loss experience) I never dose that high but I decided I was ready to enter the void since I had the opportunity and my head was on right.

Complete loss of reality and the like... I completely dissolved into nothingness to say the least...
When I had a moment of clarity throughout that night I smoked a prearranged bowl of 50mg of yellow spice... From what I can remember, no shocks...

I was completely gone though and I may just have no memory of it... The real test will be this weekend if I decide i want to indulge again.

But I might be on a break hiatus

 

[ॐ]

Thanks so much for posting this.
So far I have no experience with DMT yet (although I am preparing for my first extraction the coming months). I have however experienced this on most of my mushroom trips.
I was actually thinking of making a topic on it myself, since I too think it is a very weird sensation, and I have never seen this discussed on any forums or even mentioned in trip reports. It's curious that this is also widely experienced on DMT.

For me, it has a definite tryptamine like feel to it, if that makes any sense. When it first happened I was somewhat alarmed by it, since the 'zaps' make me feel very vulnerable. They seem to come in waves, and also I feel like I can somewhat "control" them. Because this most often occurs at the peak of a trip it had a foreboding ominous feel to it, and I figured the best way to move past it was to just give into whatever it was trying to do. I cannot really explain this in words but if I relax and mentally "invite it in", I often feel one of these waves of energy (or whatever it is) building up in intensity, and when it becomes too intense it just zaps for a split-second, and then that wave has passed.

I can totally relate to the utter weirdness of it, but I have since come to expect and deal with it. I have never had a really bad reaction from it, and it never seems to last all that long either. I do have to admit that it is mostly what is holding me back from taking huge doses, since I feel like the 'zaps' will become stronger and stronger the higher the dosage. Correct me if I'm wrong here if anyone has experience with this, but for me they are intense enough already on a medium dose of psilocybin.

I really hope there are more people that can relate to this, I will be keeping an eye on this topic for sure.

 

[nwosidsalp]

I experience these every night as I fall asleep. I've also seen it discussed on the internet between people who are (in all likelihood) regular or long-term psychedelic users, and I've come to see it as a fairly common thing. If I had to relate the feeling to anything, it would be the shock you get half a second after barely catching yourself from a fall. It's like your nervous system is getting flooded with signal and it works its way out from the brain/spine the same way a chill would, except it's much more intense and therefore (can be) unpleasant. I've come to terms with it, and see it sort of as my brain's "HO SHIT" mechanism, maybe where the connection to the inner ear is affected and your brain tries to alarm you so you can keep yourself from falling or whatever. It's actually not the most unpleasant thing if you don't worry about it, cheers and good luck


edit: the common term for these on forums is "brain zaps"

 

[Wax]

I cannot really explain this in words but if I relax and mentally "invite it in", I often feel one of these waves of energy (or whatever it is) building up in intensity, and when it becomes too intense it just zaps for a split-second, and then that wave has passed.

I tried this the other night after smoalking. I waited for the zaps to start and then I found if I could sort of clear my mind I could feel them coming on and when one would come if I kept my mind still enough I could hold on to it for a second longer. I definitely couldn't control them though. The mystery deepens..

Nwosidsalp, I know what you are referring to when you say "your brain's oh shit mechanism", but to me these zaps seem different though they are somewhat similar.

When I get them at least they feel as if my brain is stunned or zapped, not surprised like the "oh shit mechanism." It is similar in the sense that it is like a quick reflex of the brain, except it feels like my brain is forced into submission or overwhelmed rather than springing to action. It would make me cringe more likely than it would make me jump, which is how I feel every time I've had it when I am falling to sleep.

Actually the "oh shit" feel was how I felt when I took too much ecstasy once, for about two weeks I would randomly flinch and gasp if I watched tv or didn't focus my attention on something specific.

I'm interested to know how the zaps feel to everyone else that is experiencing them, is it more of an "oh shit" feel or a stunned/overwhelmed feel?

 

[cyb]

Really interesting thread...
I may have found a solution...certainly fits with neurological information I've seen.
See this:

Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

SSRI discontinuation syndrome.
Symptoms described as "brain zaps", "brain shocks", "brain shivers", "head shocks", or "cranial zings" are withdrawal symptoms experienced during discontinuation (or reduction of dose) of antidepressant drugs.

DMT does mess with the Serotonin sites...Not a good idea to mix MDMA and DMT..so maybe...^

Also This..possible cure !?:

Come back soon to PCH.com!

 

[nwosidsalp]

I suspect the intensity of the zaps for you is related to the intensity of your anticipation for and reaction to them

 

[Korey]

I get similar sensations with high doses of psilocybin mushrooms, but they honestly feel marvelous when they happen.

 

[smoalker]

yeah I get zapped nearly every time I vape.
Its usually entities peeking in and out of my vision coming right into my face and touching my head with their fingers and saying really fast " here you go" , I like it and think it feels nice , especially if its a female entity
female entities also sometimes zap me in my lower abdomen and it induces intense feelings of pleasure .

 

[flyinflyout]

I cannot really explain this in words but if I relax and mentally "invite it in", I often feel one of these waves of energy (or whatever it is) building up in intensity, and when it becomes too intense it just zaps for a split-second, and then that wave has passed.

I tried this the other night after smoalking. I waited for the zaps to start and then I found if I could sort of clear my mind I could feel them coming on and when one would come if I kept my mind still enough I could hold on to it for a second longer. I definitely couldn't control them though. The mystery deepens..

@JusTShrooMinn
I think I know exactly what you're talking about. I've never described them as zaps, i would more so say they feel like something popping in there, like energy is being released, but afterwards it kind of feels like it cleared some space. It usually starts at the base of the skull and work's its way up to the top. Once it reaches the top it's the most clear headed feeling you could imagine.
I get these almost everytime I meditate. It's to the point where I feel like I'm doing something wrong if I don't get those pops. I know it's natural because I only noticed it with DMT after a few trips, usually I'm just too blasted.

One thing I noticed is that DMT seems to open your energy ways right up and kind of flood's the gate so to speak. Usually an hour or so of meditation with earplugs in, in the dark will produce the same result, dmt does it in seconds.
I've had many experiences in meditation that were eerily similar to a dmt experience, minus the crazy visuals.

The ironic thing of course is that with my first few dmt trips, it always told me 'you don't need the drugs for this'. It's all there. These states can be accessed without the use of substance.
Hope you're not too worried, but if you are, you know your body best. Don't push it if you feel uncomfortable.

 

[SoulCrushingBass]

I've experienced a similar shock when falling asleep that made my body jump. I Googled it and many people feel it is when the soul enters/exits the body.

 

[redeadnixon]

I've experienced a similar shock when falling asleep that made my body jump. I Googled it and many people feel it is when the soul enters/exits the body.

I had a period lasting for about 4 months where I had exactly what you describe.
I always thought it was like someone poking the inside of my brain with an electrode.