Derealization of language after using psychedelics

[Indicunt]

I'm sure we're all familiar with the strange changes in language that happen while tripping- that bizarre sound, like when you're a kid and you say words over and over again until they stop sounding like words. At least, myself and my friends all experience that language distortion even in low dose trips. It seems to be a pretty hallmark part of the psychedelic experience.
However, I've noticed that for me, the language distortion comes back often even when I'm sober. This never happened to me before I started using psychedelics. Someone will be speaking to me and for a few seconds I'll get hit with that very odd feeling that the words they're saying aren't real words. I can still understand what they're saying, but some part of the clarity of language is just lost momentarily. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this. I'm aware that derealization can persist after psychedelic use but I'm curious about the fact that it seems to happen only in regard to language, or at least mostly in regard to language. It's not exactly upsetting to me because it only happens for a few seconds and then it goes away, but it did make me decide to take a step back from my use of psychoactives for a hot minute. If you have experienced this, did it eventually go away? As it stands I can deal with it, it doesn't affect my life too much, but I'm afraid that using any more substances will make it worse. I definitely don't want to experience any further derealization. I'm not sure how I will know when it's a good idea to resume use. Any advice?

 

[Loveall]

I have not noticed this lasting effect or heard of it before. How long has it been going on? Did it turn on a after a big dose? Was it DMT or other psychedelics?

I'm pretty sure I've gone through derealization due to mushrooms, but it was not a physiological thing as it seems to be the case here. It was a mental thing. In the end I think I have come to terms with it and I think that I have a better understanding or at least I'm not as overwhelmed as I used to be when thinking about stuff like death, etc (subjects which I would just subconsciously avoid before psychedelics as I reached for a beer and turned on a pointless game). Today I saw a billboard from an extermination company with a Nativity screen celebrating the Hollydays: I smiled and thanked by derealization process for helping me see how fake and artificial that billboard was.

I'm only aware of residual tracers or visual distortions after large doses of LSD based on the information I have come across (but not experienced). Apparently it can go away after a few weeks/months and if it does not users don't seem to mind much. Some folks at the chat have been through this, so if you haven't gone to the chat already, go to the chat where you will find folks with more insights that want I can give.

Hope you feel better and/or you feel this is OK soon.

 

[downwardsfromzero]

I've noticed this phenomenon too, as a child with or without the repetition trick and as an adult before and after becoming experienced in the use of psychedelics. IME it doesn't worsen but be aware that energy follows focus, so it's your call. Sometimes words just sound like the sequentially modulated sound that they are and meaning follows later after replaying the tape, as it were.

I find the phenomenon interesting rather than worrisome, it hints at breaking of deep conditioning. It is what it is, and fear is the mindkiller.

Do you speak any other languages?

 

[Intezam]

(Some of) the ancients called it Dharani, an attainment (siddhi) -- a kind of ritualized ordinary espeak in which certain wornds or the whole has maaany layers of doorways.....

It works best in the blessed fully rooted languages, like *Arabic, Sanskrit or Avestan, but 0ne(1) can make it work in various folk languages too....we think

*nowhere does it say: 'wine'

 

[AikyO]

Psychedelics have certainly changed permanently my relationship to language. With Changa I got this thing for coming to a realization, and that realization would be encapsulated in a short sentence that I can remind myself of to stay "on path". Still relating to language, I have become fascinated with people's mouth, for some weeks I could stare all day at people speaking, if I could not hear what they said all the same (and with my headphones it was amazing). I just loved looking at them lips moving, it's very much the most active, and most expressive (as more maleable), area of the face (and the body) in the daily routine. It's also one of the first sacred tool.

I have already lived derealization of language. Sometimes when writting, I would only focus on the sounds and not the meanings anymore, so I do really think the sounds hold meaning. However I think our modern languages are not pure languages anymore, they have been consciously reworked (in practical way) and we have dictionnary. I can only imagine the likes of sanskrit or another tongue that survived from the archaic more deeply mindful time, where each words and else must have been profoundly felt, part of a vast organism, symbolical and embed with wisedom or some other magic.

For your derealization Indicut, maybe you can try to sing - alone or with people you feel alright to do so. Or play vocal games, we have a very structured way of speaking, getting out of those normal structures (may it be rhythm or going non sensical) can be very liberating. A game I had was to say one sentence that came from inspiration (it was poetic oriented therof) then the next person would take it, look at it, chew it and then think of something else and say it; and off we would go. You can wait as long as you want before saying what came to you, saying it in the way you want, it can have no relation whatsoever (it always dors though, you made the way to that new point". I'm sure we could figure some else. Also, you might want to take a step back from printed/frozen language as it does have an inherently depersonnalizing side to it.

 

[muladharma]

This reminds me of a time when I was binging on Japanese anime series (pretty much sleep -> anime -> repeat) and I'd been hearing Japanese for days in a row without pause, when I was done with it and went to listen to some native language speech on TV, if the volume was below a certain threshold I'd just hear Japanese syllables (that didn't make sense, because I didn't understand the language).

 

[BecometheOther]

On my very first high dose of mushrooms, 5 grams, i forgot how to speak english entirely. My friend was talking to me asking if i was ok and other questions. I couldn't utter a word in response. but this effect ended with the trip and did not continue afterwards

 

[Indicunt]

Sometimes words just sound like the sequentially modulated sound that they are and meaning follows later after replaying the tape, as it were

Yes, I suppose you're right! I guess there's not really anything wrong with words simply sounding like sounds. I think the experience has just been a little bit stressful on my mind as parts of it are still struggling to hold on to my pre-entheogen perception of reality.

And I don't speak any other languages fluently, although I know a fair amount of French and Spanish

On my very first high dose of mushrooms, 5 grams, I forgot how to speak English entirely.

yes, thats happened to me before on high dose trips but the first time it happened was when I mixed cannabis with a psychedelic for the first time lol: I definitely wasn't expecting it.

Thank you everyone, for the help! As I said, I'm fine with this as long as the derealization doesn't push itself in to other areas of my life. It's helpful to know that others are familiar with the phenomenon and this isn't just a "me" problem.

 

[Doc Buxin]

...often even when I'm sober. This never happened to me before I started using psychedelics...

Just a friendly note of precaution:

I have never been the same after all the thousands of psychedelic trips I have embarked upon.

I don't mind it. Most of the time I feel as though I'm fully tripping (not balls-to-the-wall tripping, but tripping nonetheless) while fully sober.

It is certainly not for everybody. I made very conscious decisions about it all along the way from my first mushroom, peyote and LSD trips as a 19 year old, all the way to the mostly micro-doses that I utilize nowadays in my mid-50's.

To always feel that "reality", as people call it, is as malleable as clay & water; to always feel that the deepest part of me (one node of pure Universal Consciousness) has always been here & now forever and will continue to be here & now forever; to always be aware that consensus reality is simply a thin veneer plastered (not even super-glued) over the vast, infinite depths of space/time which are just a peek from under the blindfold away...This is what I pretty much feel every day of my life now.

Some days, it is depressing, but I know that will pass...

Some days, I feel like the most amazing, lucky person in the world, but I know that too will pass...

I accept it all as part of who I am.

I am only telling you this because feeling like this (especially all your waking life and even in dreamtime) is obviously not for everyone and the more psychedelics one consumes, coupled with the higher the doses and higher frequencies can permanently change a person in profound ways.

Take good care of yourself.

Sincerely,

Doc

 

[downwardsfromzero]

Most of the time I feel as though I'm fully tripping (not balls-to-the-wall tripping, but tripping nonetheless) while fully sober.

Glad I'm not the only one!

On my very first high dose of mushrooms, 5 grams, I forgot how to speak English entirely.

Aha! I remember now an early acid trip where everybody else's words were just "Wobwobba wob wob. Woo wob wob. Wobba woo wobwob! Woo wob wob?" for a time, while they (the people concerned) stretched out like elastic spaghetti. I couldn't talk to them as I had no idea what they were saying!

 

[Doc Buxin]

Aha! I remember now an early acid trip where everybody else's words were just "Wobwobba wob wob. Woo wob wob. Wobba woo wobwob! Woo wob wob?" for a time, while they (the people concerned) stretched out like elastic spaghetti. I couldn't talk to them as I had no idea what they were saying!

Lol!!! That could actually be an exact quote from me too!!!:shock: