Psychedelics are experiencing a resurgence for both fun and deep healing. But there\u2019s a lesser-known and highly contested shadow lurking in the corner of the psychedelic community\u2019s conscience. It’s called Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder, or HPPD.<\/p>\n
When an expert first brought it up to me, I thought it was a myth spun by the War on Drugs. But the more I dug into it, and the more folks I spoke to who were sure they had it, I realized it wasn\u2019t something to be ignored \u2014 no matter how<\/em> enthusiastic I am about psychedelics. It\u2019s extremely rare, however, only affecting somewhere between 0.12<\/u><\/a> to 4.2 percent of psychedelic users<\/u><\/a>. But if you\u2019re someone who consumes psychedelics, it\u2019s important to know about all <\/em>the potential benefits and repercussions that come with using these powerful substances.<\/p>\n So, what is HPPD, exactly? It\u2019s hard to explain because its effects are different for everyone. But one thing is certain: it’s not a “flashback” nor is it “permatripping,” both of which indicate the feeling<\/em> of tripping again after coming down. HPPD, on the other hand, is a condition characterized by lasting visual distortions, such as visual snow, trails, auras, and seeing things move in the corner of your eye; and in some cases, experiencing corresponding depression, anxiety, and depersonalization\/derealization in the weeks, months, and even years after a psychedelic trip has ended. In other words, HPPD is purely visual and doesn’t induce any of the physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual euphoria associated with taking psychedelics. <\/p>\n \u201cI get visual trails on hands, people running, cars. Flat surfaces will sometimes look like they have a moving pattern on them,\u201d is how one anonymous HPPD sufferer describes it. \u201cLetters are sometimes surrounded by an aura which makes it hard to read. When I look at an object and then look away, I may see an afterimage of its contour. In the dark, I can see visual snow moving,\u201d a 38-year-old with HPPD tells MERRY JANE. <\/p>\n Gallery \u2014 You Can Trip Without Taking Drugs:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n