Make amphetamine from ephedrine

I typically do not report side effects and the efficacy of the meds I take. Amphetamine is a good medication to gain interest in things that I need to do and execute these tasks effectively.
But Vyvanse floors me and makes me emotional. I asked for it from my GP as a replacement to Adderall/XR because of the tolerance I've built.
But instead of energy and focus, my brain becomes foggy and I am slowed, or I'm just not noticing me focusing. But I feel really slow but focused. Is this normal? I am still executing tasks and doing life stuff, but I feel slower and less discombobulated.
I don't get the kick of energy like with Adderall or I could be confusing it with the jitters. I guess Vyvanse doesn't have this side effect. I guess Vyvanse cuts the hyperactivity.
I'm gonna start eating a slice of pizza and burritos to help.

I have about 2TB worth of photos and videos in my iCloud library and I want to get them off iCloud and onto local storage.
You would think this would probably be simple…but you would be wrong
Here’s what I’ve tried
1) Download off iCloud.com Downloading off web-based iCloud doesn’t work because some of the small packets of data they download as zip files inevitably fail so you’re unable to stitch the file structure back together once the download is complete, rendering the entire download useless
2) Export from desktop Photos app The same problem happens when you try to export from the desktop Photos app. Some files will export as intended, but many will encounter an error. There is not an easy way to quickly quickly find all the files in your library that had errors so the only real way to solve it is to download the whole thing again. Of course there will be other errors on your next attempt so you get stuck in an infinite loop of downloading the same thing over and over again.
3) Turn off iCloud and download library to local storage This seems to be the only way I found that might actually be able to get the entire library downloaded in one shot. The problem is, it is insanely slow. I have about the fastest Internet possible, but yet when I try to download the Photos library it downloads at a rate of about 200 kB per second which isn’t even 1GB/hour
It seems to me that Apple is intentionally making this process extremely difficult…which makes it all the more frustrating. Even if I only wanted to take a small part of the library and not completely transition away from iCloud, let’s say for instance my largest videos… I can’t even do that because Apple doesn’t allow you to sort your media by file size!
They effectively make your only option to buy more iCloud storage and never stop using their platform so they keep you hooked within the Apple ecosystem.
I’m open to any ideas at this point… I just desperately want to be done with this godforsaken horrible software Apple photos and not have to deal with this anymore
Edit: I should add that I’ve taken measures to prevent errors from occurring like making sure my computer does not go to sleep and that any drives involved stay active. I’m using the program Amphetamine along with fixing the energy saver preferences in Apple’s system preferences to make sure everything stays awake and no errors are caused on my end.

I started taking zoloft at the age of of 16 from constant over stimulation that had started once i hit puberty at 11 years old. The first few months on zoloft i felt happier than i had ever felt before to a pretty extreme extent. I didnt know this was an odd reaction to ssri’s especially since up to the age of 16 i had never done any drugs. I hadn’t ever even had caffeine before besides the low amount in soda which I rarely ever had. The reason im saying this is because there were nothing in my life i had experienced that was mind altering. This is why i didnt know at the time that i was really, really high on zoloft. Apparently it was obvious to my family who have said it was very obvious something was wrong once I started. I became the most extreme extrovert anyone could ever become. This all lead to me going from a normal 3.0 gpa to graduating with a 1.8 gpa. I became a drug addict in the worst way possible. I had become so impulsive. I went from being a kid who never lies or does anything bad to the guy who lies for no reason. I became a poly addict within months of starting zoloft. I became completely disconnected from not only friends but to my parents as well. This continued for 2 years until i finally stopped taking it at 18. Once i stopped taking zoloft i did a complete 180, well sort of. The addictions i picked up on zoloft for the most part stopped, except for one drug which i still struggle with. That being adderall and vyvanse. Thank the lord i never met anyone with meth during this time. There were other drugs i was addicted too as well while on zoloft like oxycodone, hydrocodone, weed, nicotine, xanax, Klonopin, alcohol and even more. I was addicted to all of these. I couldnt stop thinking about getting high. Its all i thought about. Always thinking of ways to get drugs. My parents had to buy a safe specifically for there prescriptions to keep me from stealing them. Even my own zoloft was in there safe because i would take 4 a day when i was prescribed to take one 50mg. I even abused tylenal(acetaminophen). My parents also couldn’t keep alcohol anywhere in the house since everynight after they went to bed i would search the whole house for it.

 Like i said though once I turned 18 i stopped taking zoloft and just like that all of my hyper focused drug cravings went away, all of them except for amphetamines which i still struggle with today. Also this isnt really related but when i was 19 i tried molly(mdma) with a friend which i had only had gotten because i started abusing amphetamines again which for some reason amphetamines also make me impulsive, but not to the same level as Zoloft though. Anyways when i took the molly, guess what it felt like?! It was literally the exact same head space and just over all feeling i had during the first 6 moths on Zoloft. It felt exactly the same, just it only lasted for a few hourse and made me very umm aroused, and a bit hyped. 

Im about to turn 21 in 7 days so it really hasnt been to long since my manic days.
Second time on ssri’s
Right around when i had turned 20 i began getting my first ever panic attacks. Most of them were the normal panic attacks, well normal probably isn’t the right word. I mean most of the attacks i had i could deal with on my own since they all happened at night when i was alone. One night though that changed. This particular night i felt that dreadful anxiety which i had been feeling for the past couple weeks already but it had never gotten to the point where it was too overwhelming for me deal with on my own. I was just laying in bed going to sleep, then it just happened in less than a second i knew i was gonna die. I knew this was it. I couldn’t breathe or i guess i could breathe but for some reason every time i would inhale it was just like i wasn’t idk. That immediate overwhelming feeling of death is the worst pain i hade ever felt. Worse than any physical pain id ever had, well i guess its the worst thing i’ve ever felt period at least at this point in my life. Because of this i went to the doctor. I refused to take ssri’s for it while also really trying to stay away from benzodiazepines for obvious reasons. So i perscribed Buspiron which is kinda in its on catargory. It’s non addictive and its not an antidepressant. So I took it for just about a month. Made me lowkey feel like shit. Constant headaches along with being really hot which is kinda problem since i work physical labor pretty much only outside all while it’s july. So unfortunately the only other option was ssri’s since im still on my parents health insurance my mom would never in a million years allow me take benzodiazepine which is obviously understandable. So i get a script for prozac cause it’s not Zoloft so maybe it’ll be a little different. Boy oh boy was it different. So basically the prozac ended up doing exactly the opposite of what the Zoloft did. I became more depressed than i had ever been by a landslide. Legit would fantasize killing myself. The first two weeks on prozac i would do nothing. Like straight up nothing but think about how amazing it would be to get relief by meeting up with my favorite tree. Eventually it went away for the most part. Then i stopped taking it 3 moths ago, so i was on it for 9 months total. I just felt normal on it for the most part. The only other thing it did that was bothersome was make me a little short tempered.
Ive just been curious if anyone else has experienced something similar to me.

I started taking zoloft at the age of of 16 from constant over stimulation that had started once i hit puberty at 11 years old. The first few months on zoloft i felt happier than i had ever felt before to a pretty extreme extent. I didnt know this was an odd reaction to ssri’s especially since up to the age of 16 i had never done any drugs. I hadn’t ever even had caffeine before besides the low amount in soda which I rarely ever had. The reason im saying this is because there were nothing in my life i had experienced that was mind altering. This is why i didnt know at the time that i was really, really high on zoloft. Apparently it was obvious to my family who have said it was very obvious something was wrong once I started. I became the most extreme extrovert anyone could ever become. This all lead to me going from a normal 3.0 gpa to graduating with a 1.8 gpa. I became a drug addict in the worst way possible. I had become so impulsive. I went from being a kid who never lies or does anything bad to the guy who lies for no reason. I became a poly addict within months of starting zoloft. I became completely disconnected from not only friends but to my parents as well. This continued for 2 years until i finally stopped taking it at 18. Once i stopped taking zoloft i did a complete 180, well sort of. The addictions i picked up on zoloft for the most part stopped, except for one drug which i still struggle with. That being adderall and vyvanse. Thank the lord i never met anyone with meth during this time. There were other drugs i was addicted too as well while on zoloft like oxycodone, hydrocodone, weed, nicotine, xanax, Klonopin, alcohol and even more. I was addicted to all of these. I couldnt stop thinking about getting high. Its all i thought about. Always thinking of ways to get drugs. My parents had to buy a safe specifically for there prescriptions to keep me from stealing them. Even my own zoloft was in there safe because i would take 4 a day when i was prescribed to take one 50mg. I even abused tylenal(acetaminophen). My parents also couldn’t keep alcohol anywhere in the house since everynight after they went to bed i would search the whole house for it.

 Like i said though once I turned 18 i stopped taking zoloft and just like that all of my hyper focused drug cravings went away, all of them except for amphetamines which i still struggle with today. Also this isnt really related but when i was 19 i tried molly(mdma) with a friend which i had only had gotten because i started abusing amphetamines again which for some reason amphetamines also make me impulsive, but not to the same level as Zoloft though. Anyways when i took the molly, guess what it felt like?! It was literally the exact same head space and just over all feeling i had during the first 6 moths on Zoloft. It felt exactly the same, just it only lasted for a few hourse and made me very umm aroused, and a bit hyped. 

Im about to turn 21 in 7 days so it really hasnt been to long since my manic days.
Second time on ssri’s
Right around when i had turned 20 i began getting my first ever panic attacks. Most of them were the normal panic attacks, well normal probably isn’t the right word. I mean most of the attacks i had i could deal with on my own since they all happened at night when i was alone. One night though that changed. This particular night i felt that dreadful anxiety which i had been feeling for the past couple weeks already but it had never gotten to the point where it was too overwhelming for me deal with on my own. I was just laying in bed going to sleep, then it just happened in less than a second i knew i was gonna die. I knew this was it. I couldn’t breathe or i guess i could breathe but for some reason every time i would inhale it was just like i wasn’t idk. That immediate overwhelming feeling of death is the worst pain i hade ever felt. Worse than any physical pain id ever had, well i guess its the worst thing i’ve ever felt period at least at this point in my life. Because of this i went to the doctor. I refused to take ssri’s for it while also really trying to stay away from benzodiazepines for obvious reasons. So i perscribed Buspiron which is kinda in its on catargory. It’s non addictive and its not an antidepressant. So I took it for just about a month. Made me lowkey feel like shit. Constant headaches along with being really hot which is kinda problem since i work physical labor pretty much only outside all while it’s july. So unfortunately the only other option was ssri’s since im still on my parents health insurance my mom would never in a million years allow me take benzodiazepine which is obviously understandable. So i get a script for prozac cause it’s not Zoloft so maybe it’ll be a little different. Boy oh boy was it different. So basically the prozac ended up doing exactly the opposite of what the Zoloft did. I became more depressed than i had ever been by a landslide. Legit would fantasize killing myself. The first two weeks on prozac i would do nothing. Like straight up nothing but think about how amazing it would be to get relief by meeting up with my favorite tree. Eventually it went away for the most part. Then i stopped taking it 3 moths ago, so i was on it for 9 months total. I just felt normal on it for the most part. The only other thing it did that was bothersome was make me a little short tempered.
Ive just been curious if anyone else has experienced something similar to me.

I started taking zoloft at the age of of 16 from constant over stimulation that had started once i hit puberty at 11 years old. The first few months on zoloft i felt happier than i had ever felt before to a pretty extreme extent. I didnt know this was an odd reaction to ssri’s especially since up to the age of 16 i had never done any drugs. I hadn’t ever even had caffeine before besides the low amount in soda which I rarely ever had. The reason im saying this is because there were nothing in my life i had experienced that was mind altering. This is why i didnt know at the time that i was really, really high on zoloft. Apparently it was obvious to my family who have said it was very obvious something was wrong once I started. I became the most extreme extrovert anyone could ever become. This all lead to me going from a normal 3.0 gpa to graduating with a 1.8 gpa. I became a drug addict in the worst way possible. I had become so impulsive. I went from being a kid who never lies or does anything bad to the guy who lies for no reason. I became a poly addict within months of starting zoloft. I became completely disconnected from not only friends but to my parents as well. This continued for 2 years until i finally stopped taking it at 18. Once i stopped taking zoloft i did a complete 180, well sort of. The addictions i picked up on zoloft for the most part stopped, except for one drug which i still struggle with. That being adderall and vyvanse. Thank the lord i never met anyone with meth during this time. There were other drugs i was addicted too as well while on zoloft like oxycodone, hydrocodone, weed, nicotine, xanax, Klonopin, alcohol and even more. I was addicted to all of these. I couldnt stop thinking about getting high. Its all i thought about. Always thinking of ways to get drugs. My parents had to buy a safe specifically for there prescriptions to keep me from stealing them. Even my own zoloft was in there safe because i would take 4 a day when i was prescribed to take one 50mg. I even abused tylenal(acetaminophen). My parents also couldn’t keep alcohol anywhere in the house since everynight after they went to bed i would search the whole house for it.

 Like i said though once I turned 18 i stopped taking zoloft and just like that all of my hyper focused drug cravings went away, all of them except for amphetamines which i still struggle with today. Also this isnt really related but when i was 19 i tried molly(mdma) with a friend which i had only had gotten because i started abusing amphetamines again which for some reason amphetamines also make me impulsive, but not to the same level as Zoloft though. Anyways when i took the molly, guess what it felt like?! It was literally the exact same head space and just over all feeling i had during the first 6 moths on Zoloft. It felt exactly the same, just it only lasted for a few hourse and made me very umm aroused, and a bit hyped. 

Im about to turn 21 in 7 days so it really hasnt been to long since my manic days.
Second time on ssri’s
Right around when i had turned 20 i began getting my first ever panic attacks. Most of them were the normal panic attacks, well normal probably isn’t the right word. I mean most of the attacks i had i could deal with on my own since they all happened at night when i was alone. One night though that changed. This particular night i felt that dreadful anxiety which i had been feeling for the past couple weeks already but it had never gotten to the point where it was too overwhelming for me deal with on my own. I was just laying in bed going to sleep, then it just happened in less than a second i knew i was gonna die. I knew this was it. I couldn’t breathe or i guess i could breathe but for some reason every time i would inhale it was just like i wasn’t idk. That immediate overwhelming feeling of death is the worst pain i hade ever felt. Worse than any physical pain id ever had, well i guess its the worst thing i’ve ever felt period at least at this point in my life. Because of this i went to the doctor. I refused to take ssri’s for it while also really trying to stay away from benzodiazepines for obvious reasons. So i perscribed Buspiron which is kinda in its on catargory. It’s non addictive and its not an antidepressant. So I took it for just about a month. Made me lowkey feel like shit. Constant headaches along with being really hot which is kinda problem since i work physical labor pretty much only outside all while it’s july. So unfortunately the only other option was ssri’s since im still on my parents health insurance my mom would never in a million years allow me take benzodiazepine which is obviously understandable. So i get a script for prozac cause it’s not Zoloft so maybe it’ll be a little different. Boy oh boy was it different. So basically the prozac ended up doing exactly the opposite of what the Zoloft did. I became more depressed than i had ever been by a landslide. Legit would fantasize killing myself. The first two weeks on prozac i would do nothing. Like straight up nothing but think about how amazing it would be to get relief by meeting up with my favorite tree. Eventually it went away for the most part. Then i stopped taking it 3 moths ago, so i was on it for 9 months total. I just felt normal on it for the most part. The only other thing it did that was bothersome was make me a little short tempered.
Ive just been curious if anyone else has experienced something similar to me.

I spend a lot of time researching how our nervous system works and what may contribute to the development of Visual Snow and other symptoms. Remember that there is a lot of vital information that I do not know, and may greatly benefit our understanding of this condition. Visual snow is described as an "epileptic" firing in the visual system in the brain. (Tinnitus behaves very similarly but it is occurring in the auditory nerves) NMDA glutamate receptors, which are overexpressed after excitotoxic injury may well be the trigger of an increased spontaneous firing in the nerves. In turn, the brain would decode this increased firing as "visual snow" The idea is that remaining nerve endings have been damaged enough to overexpress NMDA Glutamate receptors, thus increasing their spontaneous firing.There are various factors that contribute to the development of this condition. Everybody first had an initial trigger, and this varies from person to person. Common causes include stress, trauma, recreational and prescription drugs, Lyme, mold, heavy metals, and other toxic exposures. But what they all result in is brain injury and neuronal damage. The severity varies from person to person. The consequences of such injury doesn't just cause break in communication between healthy neurons, but a cascade of events that can lead to further neuronal degeneration and cell death. That is where visual snow comes in. Think of a broken radio or a TV where it isn't able to receive and process incoming signals so the outcome is a lot of visual/auditory noise. Our brains behave in a similar manner when there is an interference with proper neuron function and communication.Another good example is a type of neuropathic pain called paresthesia where you experience tingling and pricking sensations in various parts of your body. When nerves are damaged, they can't communicate properly and that miscommunication causes symptoms such as pain, tingling or numbness.Medical researchers searching for new medications for visual snow often look to the connection between the nerve cells in the brain and the various agents that act as neurotransmitters, such as the central nervous system's primary excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. Visual snow can be caused when damaged brain cells emit an excess of glutamate. Many treatments use ingredients that work as glutamate antagonists, or inhibitors. Communication between nerve cells in the brain is accomplished through the use of neurotransmitters. There are many compounds that act as neurotransmitters including acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA, glutamate, aspartate, epinephrine, norpinephrine and dopamine. These chemicals attach to nerve cells at specific receptors that allow for only one type of neurotransmitter to attach.Some of the neurotransmitters are excitatory; leading to increased electrical transmission between nerve cells. Others are inhibitory and reduce electrical activity. The most common excitatory neurotransmitters are glutamate and aspartate while the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter is GABA. It is necessary for excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters to be in balance for proper brain function to occur.Communication over synapses between neurons are controlled by glutamate. When brain cells are damaged, excessive glutamate is released. Glutamate is well known to have neurotoxic properties when excessively released or incompletely recycled. This is known as excitotoxicity and leads to neuronal death.Excess glutamate opens the sodium channel in the neuron and causes it to fire. Sodium continues to flow into the neuron causing it to continue firing. This continuous firing of the neuron results in a rapid buildup of free radicals and inflammatory compounds. These compounds attack the mitochondria, the energy producing elements in the core of the neuron cell. The mitochondria become depleted and the neuron withers and dies.Excitotoxicity has been involved in a number of acute and/or degenerative forms of neuropathology such as epilepsy, autism, ALS, Parkinson’s, schizophrenia, migraines, restless leg syndrome, tourettes, pandas, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's, seizures, insomnia, hyperactivity, OCD, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders.(Doctors use two basic ways to correct this imbalance. The first is to activate GABA receptors that will inhibit the continuous firing caused by glutamate. The second way to correct the imbalance is use antogonists to glutamate and its receptor N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA). These are termed glutamate or NMDA antagonists. By binding with these receptors, the antagonist medication reduces glutamate-induced continuous firing of the neuron. This explains why some drugs like clonazepam and lamictal are able to help relieve symptoms in some patients. They help reduce excitatory action in the brain temporarily)Anxiety, depression, brain fog, depersonalization, visual disturbances (including visual snow, palinopsia, blue field entoptic phenomenon, photophobia, photopsia) headaches, tinnitus, are all common symptoms associated with increased excitatory activity in the brain. Excessive glutamate is the primary villain in visual snow.I strongly believe there are some genetic components that play a huge role in the development of Visual Snow and makes some individuals more susceptible to developing it. Normally, glutamate concentration is tightly controlled in the brain by various mechanisms at the synapse. There are at least 30 proteins that are membrane-bound receptor or transporter proteins at, or near, the glutamate synapse that control or modulate neuronal excitability. But in Visual Snow sufferers, my hypothesis is that we carry a faulty gene that results in dysregulation of the proteins that control and regulate glutamate excitability. They are unknown as more research will be needed.We live in a society where we are stressed emotionally, financially, physically and exposed to a range of toxins in our environment. Combining underlying genetic susceptibility with these other factors creates all the ingredients for a perfect storm.Stress + Infectious Agents (if any) + Toxins + Genetic Susceptibility = Health ConditionIncluded below is a list of things that can lead to excitotoxicity. The list includes trauma, drugs, environmental, chemicals and miscellaneous causes of brain cell damage. (Keep in mind everybody's bodies behave and react differently to various substances)-Severe Stress (Most people that are stressed out don’t realize that once the fight-or-flight response gets activated it can release things like cortisol and epinephrine into the body. Although these boost alertness, in major concentrations, the elevated levels of cortisol over an extended period of time can damage brain functioning and kill brain cells)-Free Radicals – Free radicals are highly-reactive forms of oxygen that can kill brain cells and cause brain damage. If the free radicals in your brain run rampant, your neurons will be damaged at a quicker rate than they can be repaired. This leads to brain cell death as well as cognitive decline if not corrected. (Common causes are unhealthy diet, lifestyle and toxic exposure)-Head Trauma (like concussion or contusion) MRI can detect damaged brain tissue BUT not damaged neurons. -Dehydration (severe)-Cerebal Hypoxia-Lyme disease-Narcolepsy-Sleep Apnea-Stroke-Drugs (recreational or prescription) -Amphetamine abuse-Methamphetamines-Antipsychotics-Benzodiazepine abuse-Cocaine-Esctasy -LSD-Cannabis-Tobacco-Inhalants-Nitrous Oxide-PCP-Steroids-Air Pollution-Carbon Monoxide-Heavy Metal Exposure (such as lead, copper and mercury)-Mold Exposure-Welding fumes-Formaldehyde-Solvents-Pesticides-Anesthesia-Aspartame-MSG (Monosodium Glutamate is found in most processed foods and is hidden under many various names)-Solvents-Chemotherapy-Radiation-Other toxic exposuresInside the Glutamate StormBy: Vivian Teichberg, and Luba Vikhanski"The amino acid glutamate is the major signaling chemical in nature. All invertebrates (worms, insects, and the like) use glutamate for conveying messages from nerve to muscle. In mammals, glutamate is mainly present in the central nervous system, brain, and spinal cord, where it plays the role of a neuronal messenger, or neurotransmitter. In fact, almost all brain cells use glutamate to exchange messages. Moreover, glutamate can serve as a source of energy for the brain cells when their regular energy supplier, glucose, is lacking. However, when its levels rise too high in the spaces between cells—known as extracellular spaces—glutamate turns its coat to become a toxin that kills neurons.As befits a potentially hazardous substance, glutamate is kept safely sealed within the brain cells. A healthy neuron releases glutamate only when it needs to convey a message, then immediately sucks the messenger back inside. Glutamate concentration inside the cells is 10,000 times greater than outside them. If we follow the dam analogy, that would be equivalent to holding 10,000 cubic feet of glutamate behind the dam and letting only a trickle of one cubic foot flow freely outside. A clever pumping mechanism makes sure this trickle never gets out of hand: When a neuron senses the presence of too much glutamate in the vicinity—the extracellular space—it switches on special pumps on its membrane and siphons the maverick glutamate back in.This protective pumping process works beautifully as long as glutamate levels stay within the normal range. But the levels can rise sharply if a damaged cell spills out its glutamate. In such a case, the pumps on the cellular membranes can no longer cope with the situation, and glutamate reveals its destructive powers. It doesn’t kill the neuron directly. Rather, it overly excites the cell, causing it to open its pores excessively and let in large quantities of substances that are normally allowed to enter only in limited amounts.One of these substances is sodium, which leads to cell swelling because its entry is accompanied by an inrush of water, needed to dilute the surplus sodium. The swelling squeezes the neighboring blood vessels, preventing normal blood flow and interrupting the supply of oxygen and glucose, which ultimately leads to cell death. Cell swelling, however, is reversible; the cells will shrink back once glutamate is removed from brain fluids. More dangerous than sodium is calcium, which is harmless under normal conditions but not when it rushes inside through excessively opened pores. An overload of calcium destroys the neuron’s vital structures and eventually kills it.Regardless of what killed it, the dead cell spills out its glutamate, all the vast quantities of it that were supposed to be held back by the dam. The spill overly excites more cells, and these die in turn, spilling yet more glutamate. The destructive process repeats itself over and over, engulfing brain areas until the protective pumping mechanism finally manages to stop the spread of glutamate."Recent research has confirmed that hypermetabolism has been primarily found in the right lingual gyrus and left cerebellar anterior lobe of the brain in individuals suffering from visual snow. The definition of hypermetabolism is described as "the physiological state of increased rate of metabolic activity and is characterized by an abnormal increase in metabolic rate." Hypermetabolism typically occurs after significant injury to the body. It serves as one of the body's strongest defence against illness and injury. This means that the brain is trying to compensate for the injured areas in the brain by increasing metabolism to meet it's high energy demands. It is trying to function to the best of it's ability under the circumstances. Normally the body can heal itself and regenerate under the right circumstances. But it is extremely difficult for the central nervous system - which includes the spinal cord and brain to be able to do so, due to it's inhibitory environment which prevents new neurons from forming. That is where stem cells come in. Stem cells are an exciting new discovery, because they can become literally any cell in the body including neurons. This is an amazing scientific breakthrough and has the potential to treat a whole host of conditions. Scientists are currently doing research and conducting trials.Excitotoxicity can trigger your "fight or flight" response, as this is the body's primary response to illness, injury or infection. If the brain and the body remain in the sympathetic fight or flight state for too long and too often, it is degenerative; it breaks us down. If this cycle continues, then eventually the system burns out. It is this cycle that results in autonomic nervous system dysfunction. The results are disastrous, digestion is shut down, metabolism, immune function and the detoxification system is impaired, blood pressure and heart rate are increased, circulation is impaired, sleep is disrupted, memory and cognitive function may be impaired, neurotransmitters are drained, our sense of smell, taste and sound are amplified, high levels of norepinephrine are released in the brain and the adrenal glands release a variety of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.I believe in order to find a treatment or cure for VS and it's accompanying symptoms, we need to address the underlying cause, reduce the excess excitatory activity in the brain, repair the damaged neurons, regain proper communication between neurons, rebalance the autonomic nervous system and prevent further cellular damage. We also need to figure out what genes, if any come into play. There is still a lot we don't know about the brain because it is such an remarkably complex organ.FAQsWon't lowering the levels of glutamate solve the problem? Well, not necessarily. That is just one piece of the puzzle. You have to remember that Visual Snow is a multifactorial and complex condition in which it stems from a number of different causes and influences. Based on my knowledge and the information I have gathered, I can conclude that the overstimulation of glutamate plays a huge role in VS and some other symptoms we experience. But there is still so much we don't know. That's why more research will be needed.Why is my condition worsening over time?That is a very good question. It is because the physiology, biology and chemistry of your brain and nervous system has been altered and has become dysfunctional since the initial trigger set off a domino of effects that leads to further degradation in the body. This puts a huge strain on your body and is constantly activating your stress response system. This will wreak havoc on your entire body. The stress response system was designed to deal with brief emergencies that threaten survival. It isn't supposed to last very long because the body cannot sustain itself for very long in this state. When you remain in "fight or flight" sympathetic state for too long, it becomes degenerative and breaks our bodies down. This affects every system in the body. When you are constantly under stress, the stress response system never turns off resulting in an ongoing destructive cycle. Stress can also exacerbate all your symptoms and makes you susceptible to developing other chronic health conditions. How is the gut related to VS?Having increased intestinal permeability is very common in this modern world because we are constantly being bombarded by toxins and stress. Our bodies weren't designed to handle such a huge burden. So we end up getting sick and become susceptible to kinds of diseases. Common causes include:-Poor diet (from excessive consumption of foods such as grains, legumes, sugars, alcohol)-Chronic stress-Toxin overload-Gut dysbiosis (It means you have a lack of beneficial bacteria in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They are overpowered and outnumbered by pathogens such as pathogenic bacteria, yeast, viruses, parasites)-Overuse of antibiotics When you have increased intestinal permeability, the epithelium on the villi of the small intestine becomes inflamed and irritated, which allows metabolic, microbial and environmental toxins and undigested food particles to flood into the blood stream. This event compromises the liver, the lymphatic system, and the immune response including the endocrine system. It is often the primary cause of the following common conditions: asthma, food allergies, chronic sinusitis, eczema, urticaria, migraine, irritable bowel, fungal disorders, fibromyalgia, and inflammatory joint disorders including rheumatoid arthritis are just a few of the diseases that can originate from having poor gut health.This sets the stage for chronic systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired detoxification, gastrointestinal dysfunction and immune system dysregulation.Some toxins have the ability to damage and destroy neurons, myelin sheaths, synapses and even DNA. An overload of toxins that the immune system is not able to get rid of disrupts normal brain function. This eventually initiates an autoimmune response where the immune system attacks the brain and nerve cells as it tries it’s best to eliminate the toxins.The mitochondria are the energy producing section of your cells. When they are damaged by the toxic overload in the brain cells and are not able to produce energy to fuel the cell, the cell dies.In order to stop this vicious cycle, the underlying biological mechanisms of VS needs to be understood. That is the first step that needs to be taken. Any other stressors also needs to be addressed in order to reduce the overall stress load.It is important to know that VS is just a symptom of underlying physiological stress in the brain. Symptoms are your body's way of communicating with you, letting you know something is wrong in the body.I've come across some research indicating that microglial activation and elevated nitric oxide is involved in some neurological conditions. Basically the microglial cells are our brain's immune cells and when something triggers an inflammatory response, they activate and release harmful neurotoxic compounds (such as nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines) which results in neuronal injury/death. Microglial activation can also result in a loss of synaptic connections in different regions of the brain. It's basically an autoimmune response in the brain. The neuroinflammatory process appears to be an ongoing and chronic cycle of central nervous system dysfunction. This can deplete glutathione levels in the body. Glutathione is the body’s most important antioxidant which is capable of preventing oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species such as free radicals, peroxides, lipid peroxides, and heavy metals. This only further exaggerates the problem, which only leads to a cascade of increased inflammation.Nitric oxide plays a vital role in this process. Elevated nitric oxide levels reduces and impair natural killer cells which leads to a vulnerable immune system that is susceptible to a variety of systemic infections. -Phobe Zhang

Last week I told the story of Zippy the Methhead Janitor. One of my favorite boomer coworkers who is just... Absolutely insane.
I made a post about her and a subreddit to help keep all the psychopathic stories from working in this hellhole in one place.
It's called Talesofzippy.
Last week she cussed me out in front of a customer and then tried to get me written up by lying to her boss about my involvement in a chemical mixing incident after I had a manager talk to her about her language.
This week she stuck her head into the kitchen after we closed to tell us to make ice cream for someone. I reminded her that she needs to not tell us what to do, and set her off.
She went to one of my coworkers and told him that if I was disrespectful to her again she was going to kick my ass. My coworker, obviously confused about why a twitchy ex amphetamine user was threatening me with physical violence, came to me and asked about the incident.
I would like to interject here that I am 6'0 and 240lbs. And she is 5'5 and like.... Maybe 120lbs soaking wet.
She's also 64.
He promised to take care of it, and I'm dying to see how that goes.
If she does any of this again, including threatening me, I'm going to HR to file a complaint.
Now. I want to tell one of my favorite Zippy stories, because it's fucking hilarious.
About 4 years ago I had just started working at this lovely institution I was working with zippy as a cashier. I was two weeks into working here, and as I entered the building I just heard screaming.
Zippy can't use her words very well, and when she talks to fast you can hear a vaguely Southern accent, but no coherent words attached to it. Best comparison I can make is Yosemite Sam from Looney Toons.
It's about 60 ft and a flight of stairs to get to where the employee area is, and yet the vaguely Southern screaming is perfectly clear from the entrance, with a few coherent swears mixed into it.
"Ahhhrewuaaaa... YOU COCKSUCKING MOTHERFUCKER, IM GONNA... WAAHRRUAA"
As I get closer to the employee area, I hear her storm down the stairs still pissed off... "YOU COCKSUCKER. .. MOTHER FUCKER"
right behind her I see Jailbird, one of my favorite coworkers, he's Jailbird because he spent 13 years in prison for meth related charges, and has an incredibly explosive temper. He waves to me and I go clock in.
Turns out, Zippy told Jailbird that he was going to run a register and she was going to stock the store, something that he usually did.
He objected to this, and asked her if she knew what needed to be done, because he had the list, and sure as hell wasn't giving it to her.
She replied "I know how to do your job better than you do!"
He then shot back "oh yeah? If you know so much about this job, why are you violating the dress code with that ugly fucking moustache!"
And so began the screaming.
He told her that if she got any closer he'd slap the moustache off her face, and she backed the fuck off.
One of my favorite stories from this place, right next to the gay slap fight.

Free in bold, paid in normal

1. Alfred 5 - Recently bought the powerpack but the free version is just as good
2. Amphetamine - Keeps your mac awake, use it for long downloads
3. AppCleaner - Removes apps and all affiliated folder
4. Bartender ($16) - Reduces clutter on the menubar, and the bowtie looks cool :)
5. CleanMyMac ($90, $10/month with Setapp) - Use it to free up storage and speed up my macbook
6. ColorSlurp - Color eyedropper to get the RGB/hex code of any color on your screen
7. Dato - Regular date/time but with a dropdown calendar by pressing on the time
8. Downie 4 ($20, 10/month with Setapp, $26 with Permute) - Downloads YouTube videos (also works on most other sites), has a browser extension too
9. Permute ($15, 10/month with Setapp, $26 with Permute) - FIle convertor, can convert anything into any other corresponding file type
10. FruitJuice - Customizable battery icon, incl. how long you have left till your macbook dies
11. IINA - Bassically VLC but cleaner UI, can open most video file formats
12. iTerm - Basically terminal but more customizable
13. Jettison - Automtically ejects external drives on shortcut or when you shut the lid
14. Magnet ($5) (Rectangle is a free alternative) - Window manager with shortcuts (similar to windows)
15. Mission Control Plus ($14) - Can close/quit windows in mission control with cmd-W or cmd-Q
16. ProtonVPN - Free VPN with activation from menubar
17. Shottr - Free alternative to CleanShotX, includes OCR, screenshot, screen recording, etc.
18. SlimHUD - Free alternative to MediaMate, but doesn't remove default HUD so that defeats the point
19. TextPal - Opens the emoji menu on double slash (\\) and you can type to search
20. The Unarchiver - Archive Utility but better, opens most file types except .exe
21. Wondershare PDF ($160) - PDF opener with OCR, markup, text, etc. Much better than preview but not free
22. Wine (does this count?) - Lets you open windows apps, you get the gist
23. Screen recording apps (bundle - $40 ):

23a. Cursor pro ($15) - Bassically make your cursor customizable for screen recordings (bigger, big circle around it, colored, etc.)
23b. Keystroke pro ($20) - shows your keystrokes on screen
23c. Mirror Magnet ($10) - A floating rectangle/square/circle with your camera that you can move around the screen. Nice for recorded presentations and tutorials, etc.
23d. Bundle also comes with Theine ($9 - not worth buying), similar to Amphetamine which I just preffer
edit: 24. Trying out QuickRecorder (shoutute )

Edit: Free in bold, paid in normal

1. Alfred 5 - Recently bought the powerpack but the free version is just as good
2. Amphetamine - Keeps your mac awake, use it for long downloads
3. AppCleaner - Removes apps and all affiliated folder
4. Bartender ($16) - Reduces clutter on the menubar, and the bowtie looks cool :)
5. CleanMyMac ($90, $10/month with Setapp) - Use it to free up storage and speed up my macbook
6. ColorSlurp - Color eyedropper to get the RGB/hex code of any color on your screen
7. Dato - Regular date/time but with a dropdown calendar by pressing on the time
8. Downie 4 ($20, 10/month with Setapp, $26 with Permute) - Downloads YouTube videos (also works on most other sites), has a browser extension too
9. Permute ($15, 10/month with Setapp, $26 with Permute) - FIle convertor, can convert anything into any other corresponding file type
10. FruitJuice - Customizable battery icon, incl. how long you have left till your macbook dies
11. IINA - Bassically VLC but cleaner UI, can open most video file formats
12. iTerm - Basically terminal but more customizable
13. Jettison - Automtically ejects external drives on shortcut or when you shut the lid
14. Magnet ($5) (Rectangle is a free alternative) - Window manager with shortcuts (similar to windows)
15. Mission Control Plus ($14) - Can close/quit windows in mission control with cmd-W or cmd-Q
16. ProtonVPN - Free VPN with activation from menubar
17. Shottr - Free alternative to CleanShotX, includes OCR, screenshot, screen recording, etc.
18. SlimHUD - Free alternative to MediaMate, but doesn't remove default HUD so that defeats the point
19. TextPal - Opens the emoji menu on double slash (\\) and you can type to search
20. The Unarchiver - Archive Utility but better, opens most file types except .exe
21. Wondershare PDF ($160) - PDF opener with OCR, markup, text, etc. Much better than preview but not free
22. Wine (does this count?) - Lets you open windows apps, you get the gist
23. Screen recording apps (bundle - $40 ):

23a. Cursor pro ($15) - Bassically make your cursor customizable for screen recordings (bigger, big circle around it, colored, etc.)
23b. Keystroke pro ($20) - shows your keystrokes on screen
23c. Mirror Magnet ($10) - A floating rectangle/square/circle with your camera that you can move around the screen. Nice for recorded presentations and tutorials, etc.
23d. Bundle also comes with Theine ($9 - not worth buying), similar to Amphetamine which I just preffer
edit: 24. Trying out QuickRecorder (shoutute u/Terrible-Poetry-8827)

A new review of the science around the components of marijuana says the “complex interaction between phytocannabinoids and biological systems offers hope for novel treatment approaches,” laying the groundwork for a new era of innovation in cannabis-based medicines.
Among other takeaways, the report, published earlier this month in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, underscores the potential of whole-plant cannabis medicine—incorporating the variety of cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds produced by the cannabis plant—rather than simply THC or CBD on their own.
“The plant Cannabis exhibits an effect called the ‘entourage effect’, in which the combined actions of terpenes and phytocannabinoids results in effects that exceed the sum of their separate contributions,” the study says. “This synergy emphasizes how important it is to consider the entire plant when utilizing cannabinoids medicinally as opposed to just concentrating on individual cannabinoids.”
A new review of the science around the components of marijuana says the “complex interaction between phytocannabinoids and biological systems offers hope for novel treatment approaches,” laying the groundwork for a new era of innovation in cannabis-based medicines.
Among other takeaways, the report, published earlier this month in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, underscores the potential of whole-plant cannabis medicine—incorporating the variety of cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds produced by the cannabis plant—rather than simply THC or CBD on their own.
“The plant Cannabis exhibits an effect called the ‘entourage effect’, in which the combined actions of terpenes and phytocannabinoids results in effects that exceed the sum of their separate contributions,” the study says. “This synergy emphasizes how important it is to consider the entire plant when utilizing cannabinoids medicinally as opposed to just concentrating on individual cannabinoids.”
[Using Marijuana Before Working Out Can Enhance Enjoyment And ‘Runner’s High’]()0 of 1 minute, 4 secondsVolume 0%Loading ad
Much of the 23-page report—from pharmacy researchers at Ovidus University of Constanta and the University of Medicine, Pharmacy Science and Technology of Târgu Mures, both of which are in Romania—comprises an overview of cannabinoids, including THC and CBD as well as cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THC-V)—as well as how those compounds appear to interact with the human body.
While the vast majority of research has studied THC and CBD, the new review notes that the “exploration of novel phytocannabinoids is rapidly evolving, offering exciting prospects for future therapeutic applications.”
“Beyond well-established compounds like THC and CBD, the quest for novel cannabinoids widens the scope of potential treatments,” it says. “Each cannabinoid, with its unique chemical structure, interacts differently with the [endocannabinoid system], suggesting tailored therapeutic effects for specific conditions. This exploration seeks to harness similar benefits while circumventing associated drawbacks.”
Each of the chemical components has specific effects, which the study briefly describes. The broad review, which cites nearly 100 other sources, acknowledges that some effects are bolstered by robust scientific evidence, while others are still being explored.
THC, for example, has demonstrated analgesic effects, authors wrote. “It also possesses antiemetic effects, which make it useful for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.”
CBD, meanwhile, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties and “is said to have analgesic properties and may be effective in pain management.” Some research also shows the cannabinoid may have neuroprotective qualities.
While CBD formulations like the prescription drug Epidiolex can treat rare forms of epilepsy, mixes of CBD and THC may help address spasticity related to multiple sclerosis, the paper says.
Both THC and CBD also have antioxidant effects, it adds, and both appear to be promising tools for a variety of ailments, from pain to neurological disorders and psychiatric conditions.
Further, CBD may help reduce symptoms of anxiety and PTSD, while both THC and CBD may exhibit antidepressant effects. “While some findings suggest that cannabinoids may have mood-stabilizing effects and enhance serotonin signaling, the evidence is inconclusive, and further research is needed,” the study says.
CBD may also help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms of alcohol and opioid use disorders, although authors said “the evidence is preliminary, and more research is needed to establish its efficacy and safety.”
Both THC and CBD have also been investigated as possible sleep aids, though results are still preliminary and so far are mixed, with some patients experiencing improved sleep quality while others experience sleep disruptions.
As for treating cancer, the report says that studies have indicated that “cannabinoids can exert antitumor effects directly by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis, or indirectly by inhibiting angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis.”
“In vivo and in vitro research has demonstrated the efficacy of cannabinoids in modulating tumor growth, although the antitumor effects can vary depending on the type of cancer and the concentration of the drug,” it continues. “For cancer patients, it is crucial to comprehend how cannabinoids control immune system interactions and other biological processes related to carcinogenesis, such as cell cycle progression, proliferation, and cell death. Additional research is necessary for this area.”
As for minor cannabinoids, compounds such as CBG and CBN appear to have antibacterial effects, researchers found. CBN itself also appears to be a mild sedative, which could be relevant for treating sleep disorders.
THC-V, meanwhile, may act as an appetite suppressant and a “potential treatment for diabetes.”
Cannabinoids may also be helpful in treating trauma wounds, authors noted, potentially reducing perceived pain, inflammation and secondary tissue damage.
A new review of the science around the components of marijuana says the “complex interaction between phytocannabinoids and biological systems offers hope for novel treatment approaches,” laying the groundwork for a new era of innovation in cannabis-based medicines.
Among other takeaways, the report, published earlier this month in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, underscores the potential of whole-plant cannabis medicine—incorporating the variety of cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds produced by the cannabis plant—rather than simply THC or CBD on their own.
“The plant Cannabis exhibits an effect called the ‘entourage effect’, in which the combined actions of terpenes and phytocannabinoids results in effects that exceed the sum of their separate contributions,” the study says. “This synergy emphasizes how important it is to consider the entire plant when utilizing cannabinoids medicinally as opposed to just concentrating on individual cannabinoids.”
[Using Marijuana Before Working Out Can Enhance Enjoyment And ‘Runner’s High’]()0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0% NextStay
Much of the 23-page report—from pharmacy researchers at Ovidus University of Constanta and the University of Medicine, Pharmacy Science and Technology of Târgu Mures, both of which are in Romania—comprises an overview of cannabinoids, including THC and CBD as well as cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THC-V)—as well as how those compounds appear to interact with the human body.
While the vast majority of research has studied THC and CBD, the new review notes that the “exploration of novel phytocannabinoids is rapidly evolving, offering exciting prospects for future therapeutic applications.”
“Beyond well-established compounds like THC and CBD, the quest for novel cannabinoids widens the scope of potential treatments,” it says. “Each cannabinoid, with its unique chemical structure, interacts differently with the [endocannabinoid system], suggesting tailored therapeutic effects for specific conditions. This exploration seeks to harness similar benefits while circumventing associated drawbacks.”
Each of the chemical components has specific effects, which the study briefly describes. The broad review, which cites nearly 100 other sources, acknowledges that some effects are bolstered by robust scientific evidence, while others are still being explored.
THC, for example, has demonstrated analgesic effects, authors wrote. “It also possesses antiemetic effects, which make it useful for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.”
CBD, meanwhile, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties and “is said to have analgesic properties and may be effective in pain management.” Some research also shows the cannabinoid may have neuroprotective qualities.
While CBD formulations like the prescription drug Epidiolex can treat rare forms of epilepsy, mixes of CBD and THC may help address spasticity related to multiple sclerosis, the paper says.
Both THC and CBD also have antioxidant effects, it adds, and both appear to be promising tools for a variety of ailments, from pain to neurological disorders and psychiatric conditions.
Further, CBD may help reduce symptoms of anxiety and PTSD, while both THC and CBD may exhibit antidepressant effects. “While some findings suggest that cannabinoids may have mood-stabilizing effects and enhance serotonin signaling, the evidence is inconclusive, and further research is needed,” the study says.
CBD may also help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms of alcohol and opioid use disorders, although authors said “the evidence is preliminary, and more research is needed to establish its efficacy and safety.”
Both THC and CBD have also been investigated as possible sleep aids, though results are still preliminary and so far are mixed, with some patients experiencing improved sleep quality while others experience sleep disruptions.
As for treating cancer, the report says that studies have indicated that “cannabinoids can exert antitumor effects directly by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis, or indirectly by inhibiting angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis.”
“In vivo and in vitro research has demonstrated the efficacy of cannabinoids in modulating tumor growth, although the antitumor effects can vary depending on the type of cancer and the concentration of the drug,” it continues. “For cancer patients, it is crucial to comprehend how cannabinoids control immune system interactions and other biological processes related to carcinogenesis, such as cell cycle progression, proliferation, and cell death. Additional research is necessary for this area.”
As for minor cannabinoids, compounds such as CBG and CBN appear to have antibacterial effects, researchers found. CBN itself also appears to be a mild sedative, which could be relevant for treating sleep disorders.
THC-V, meanwhile, may act as an appetite suppressant and a “potential treatment for diabetes.”
Cannabinoids may also be helpful in treating trauma wounds, authors noted, potentially reducing perceived pain, inflammation and secondary tissue damage.
“At the site of injury, cannabinoids may decrease the release of tissue activators and sensitizers, modulating nerve cells to control tissue destruction and immune cells to prevent the release of proinflammatory substances,” they wrote. “This modulation helps minimize pain and temper post-injury responses associated with inflammatory injury.”
The review also assesses the “challenges and controversies” surrounding research and use of therapeutic cannabinoids, including legal and regulatory obstacles that still vary widely across the globe, a lack of robust standardization of cannabinoid products and the potential for abuse and dependence.
THC, researchers acknowledge, is not only the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis but also the most common cannabinoid associated with problem use. “While the overall risk of addiction to THC is lower compared to substances like opioids, amphetamines, or alcohol,” authors wrote, “it is still a concern, particularly for individuals who use cannabis frequently or in high doses.”
On the other hand, CBD “is not associated with the same potential for abuse or dependence” and “may even have potential therapeutic effects in reducing addiction to other substances, such as opioids, alcohol, or nicotine.”
Social and legal obstacles, the study noted, still make research onerous.
“Despite its potential, legal restrictions and societal stigma surrounding cannabis hinder investment in research and development,” authors of the study wrote. “Complex regulatory frameworks further complicate exploration efforts. Rigorous preclinical and clinical trials are imperative to establish safety and efficacy before therapeutic implementation.”
As cannabinoids and the body’s own endocannabinoid system continue to be better understood, the researchers expect even more “potential in managing various pathological diseases.”
“Phytocannabinoids offer diverse therapeutic applications, ranging from pain management to neurological disorders and inflammatory diseases. Their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties make them valuable candidates for combating antibiotic resistance and modulating inflammatory pathways,” the study concludes. “By leveraging the synergistic effects of combination therapies and targeting multiple disease pathways, phytocannabinoids hold immense potential to revolutionize the future of pharmacotherapy and improve human health outcomes.”
The new research is part of a growing field of investigation into the entourage effect in cannabis as well as in entheogenic plants and fungi. While Western medicine typically seeks to identify and isolate a single active ingredient, the findings underscore the potentially powerful interactions of various chemical components produced by the plant.
Earlier this year, for example, a study looked at the “collaborative interactions” between cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other molecules in the plant, concluding that a better understanding of the relationships of various chemical components “is crucial for unraveling cannabis’s complete therapeutic potential.”
Other recent research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that a citrusy-smelling terpene in marijuana, D-limonene, could help ease anxiety and paranoia associated with THC. Researchers similarly said the finding could help unlock the maximum therapeutic benefit of THC.
A separate study last year found that cannabis products with a more diverse array of natural cannabinoids produced stronger psychoactive experiences in adults, which also lasted longer than the high generated by pure THC.
And a 2018 study found that patients suffering from epilepsy experience better health outcomes—with fewer adverse side effects—when they use plant-based CBD extracts compared to “purified” CBD products.
Scientist last year also discovered “previously unidentified cannabis compounds” called flavorants that they believe are responsible for the unique aromas of different varieties of marijuana. Previously, many had thought terpenes alone were responsible for various smells produced by the plant.
Similar phenomena are also beginning to be recorded around psychedelic plants and fungi. In March, for example, researchers published findings showing that use of full-spectrum psychedelic mushroom extract had a more powerful effect than chemically synthesized psilocybin alone. They said the findings imply that mushrooms, like cannabis, demonstrate an entourage effect.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/interaction-of-marijuana-terpenes-and-cannabinoids-offers-hope-for-novel-treatments-study-says/

Looking to hear people’s experience with switching from Adderall to a non-stimulant option. Wondering if going from an amphetamine to non-stimulant is going to make me sleeping beauty and I won’t wake up for the next few weeks due to lack of (synthetic) energy. Same energy levels? Better sleep? Better focus? Less side effects?
Context: been on 30mg XRs + 20mg IRs for a few years. XRs are to get my day going (7am) but my energy plummets around 1pm and I like to go to the gym after work so I needed IRs to take me back up the roller coaster. I’ve had horrible sleep for as long as I can remember.

hi everyone, i need your help, im begging u please help me u need to know a few things first: english isnt my first language so i hope i dont make too many mistakes, i (W16) went through hardcore drug addiction at the ages of 14 and 15. i still very much struggle to stay sober, mainly from amphetamines and xanax but ive been clean from amph for abt a year now and i was clean from xanax too. until 2 days ago.
i was outside and saw a girlfriend of mine who i hadnt seen in a while and out of nowhere while we talk, she said shes on her way to get some xanax and wanted to know if i wanna go w her (she doesnt know my history w drugs). i decided to do so (i only took one pill), and dumb me turned off my phone bc i didnt want my boyfriend (M17) to see my location. if he saw, then he wouldve understood immediately. i told him my battery was low, but he somehow got a bad feeling and questioned me for an entire day until yesterday where i finally admitted it. we fought really bad, i didnt want to admit it because im really fucking ashamed and wanted to tell him once i was ready. however i regret doing this and if i knew what this one lie would cause, i wouldn’t have done it. he said he lost his trust completely because “if i lie about this little thing, what else could i be hiding?” and hes not wrong, i get it that he doesnt trust me but i do think he overreacted a little bit because he said our relationship is over if i cant get his trust back. obviously a relationship doesnt work if theres no trust and im doing everything i can in order to be like we used to be. but i dont know HOW? i need your help with HOW im gonna fix things like WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO??? he’s been so distant ever since and we barely talk unless i start a convo first and if i do its just simple dry answers. i know he still very much loves me abd he also said that multiple times (he said if he didnt he would’ve already left me) but i feel like the entire relationship is in my hands and i dont know how im supposed to do this all on my own, my mental health is so incredibly fucked right now and i just want us to be like we used to be. im scared to ask him where he is when hes outside because i feel like he needs a bit of space but at the same time i want him to know that im here but i dont wanna go too far or too fast. i know all of this is my fault and i genuinely regret it from my entire heart but u cant chance the things that already happened. i just wanna fix this for our future because i know its him and me.
im begging you please help me, i cant do this anymore im so incredibly tired of this life i just want to fix this i already have so many things going on.

Last week I told the story of Zippy the Methhead Janitor. One of my favorite boomer coworkers who is just... Absolutely insane.
I made a post about her and a subreddit to help keep all the psychopathic stories from working in this hellhole in one place.
It's called Talesofzippy.
Last week she cussed me out in front of a customer and then tried to get me written up by lying to her boss about my involvement in a chemical mixing incident after I had a manager talk to her about her language.
This week she stuck her head into the kitchen after we closed to tell us to make ice cream for someone. I reminded her that she needs to not tell us what to do, and set her off.
She went to one of my coworkers and told him that if I was disrespectful to her again she was going to kick my ass. My coworker, obviously confused about why a twitchy ex amphetamine user was threatening me with physical violence, came to me and asked about the incident.
I would like to interject here that I am 6'0 and 240lbs. And she is 5'5 and like.... Maybe 120lbs soaking wet.
She's also 64.
He promised to take care of it, and I'm dying to see how that goes.
If she does any of this again, including threatening me, I'm going to HR to file a complaint.
Now. I want to tell one of my favorite Zippy stories, because it's fucking hilarious.
About 4 years ago I had just started working at this lovely institution I was working with zippy as a cashier. I was two weeks into working here, and as I entered the building I just heard screaming.
Zippy can't use her words very well, and when she talks to fast you can hear a vaguely Southern accent, but no coherent words attached to it. Best comparison I can make is Yosemite Sam from Looney Toons.
It's about 60 ft and a flight of stairs to get to where the employee area is, and yet the vaguely Southern screaming is perfectly clear from the entrance, with a few coherent swears mixed into it.
"Ahhhrewuaaaa... YOU COCKSUCKING MOTHERFUCKER, IM GONNA... WAAHRRUAA"
As I get closer to the employee area, I hear her storm down the stairs still pissed off... "YOU COCKSUCKER. .. MOTHER FUCKER"
right behind her I see Jailbird, one of my favorite coworkers, he's Jailbird because he spent 13 years in prison for meth related charges, and has an incredibly explosive temper. He waves to me and I go clock in.
Turns out, Zippy told Jailbird that he was going to run a register and she was going to stock the store, something that he usually did.
He objected to this, and asked her if she knew what needed to be done, because he had the list, and sure as hell wasn't giving it to her.
She replied "I know how to do your job better than you do!"
He then shot back "oh yeah? If you know so much about this job, why are you violating the dress code with that ugly fucking moustache!"
And so began the screaming.
He told her that if she got any closer he'd slap the moustache off her face, and she backed the fuck off.
One of my favorite stories from this place, right next to the gay slap fight.

Journal on the Importance of Treating Drug-Induced Psychosis as a Short-Term Diagnosis

Introduction

Drug-induced psychosis is a severe mental health condition triggered by the consumption of psychoactive substances such as amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, and hallucinogens. The symptoms can be alarming, characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and impaired cognitive function. Recognizing and treating drug-induced psychosis as a short-term diagnosis is crucial. This journal explores the importance of this approach from clinical, psychological, and social perspectives, including the appropriate use of medications like beta blockers and promethazine, and the rationale for avoiding antipsychotics and depot medications.

Clinical Perspective

1. Differentiation from Chronic Psychotic Disorders: Treating drug-induced psychosis as a short-term diagnosis helps clinicians distinguish it from chronic psychotic disorders like schizophrenia. Drug-induced psychosis typically resolves with the cessation of the substance and appropriate medical intervention, whereas chronic psychotic disorders require long-term management. Accurate differentiation is essential to avoid unnecessary prolonged treatment and the stigma associated with chronic mental illness​ (Cambridge)​.
2. Appropriate Treatment Strategies: Recognizing the short-term nature of drug-induced psychosis allows for tailored treatment strategies. Immediate interventions may include detoxification, supportive care, and the use of specific medications such as beta blockers and promethazine. Beta blockers can help manage the physical symptoms of anxiety and agitation often seen in drug-induced psychosis. Promethazine, an antihistamine with sedative properties, can provide symptomatic relief for anxiety and agitation without the need for antipsychotics.
Use of Beta Blockers:

• Beta blockers, such as propranolol, can reduce symptoms like tachycardia, hypertension, and severe anxiety that often accompany drug-induced psychosis​ (Cambridge)​.
• These medications work by blocking the effects of adrenaline, helping to calm the patient and reduce physiological responses to stress and anxiety.

Use of Promethazine:

• Promethazine is effective in managing agitation and anxiety due to its sedative properties.
• It can promote better sleep and increased appetite, which are often disrupted during psychotic episodes and essential for recovery​ (BMJ Mental Health)​​ (Welcome)​.
  • Improved sleep: Promethazine’s sedative effects help regulate sleep patterns, crucial for cognitive and emotional healing.
  • Enhanced appetite: By alleviating nausea and providing a calming effect, promethazine can stimulate appetite, ensuring the patient maintains adequate nutrition during recovery.

Avoidance of Antipsychotics:

• Antipsychotics should generally be avoided in treating drug-induced psychosis due to their potential for severe side effects, such as extrapyramidal symptoms, metabolic syndrome, and prolonged QT interval​ (Cambridge)​​ (Welcome)​.
• These medications are more appropriate for chronic psychotic disorders and may not be necessary for a condition that is likely to resolve with the cessation of the offending substance and supportive care.

Dangers of Depot Medications:

• Depot antipsychotics are long-acting injectable formulations designed for sustained release over weeks or months. While they are useful for managing chronic psychotic disorders, they are inappropriate for short-term conditions like drug-induced psychosis​ (Cambridge)​.
• Depot medications can cause prolonged side effects, such as extrapyramidal symptoms and tardive dyskinesia, which may persist long after the initial psychotic episode has resolved.
• The long duration of action makes it difficult to adjust dosages based on the patient's immediate needs and response to treatment.
• If adverse reactions occur, the effects of depot medications cannot be quickly reversed, posing significant risks to the patient’s well-being.

3. Monitoring and Follow-up: Acknowledging the transient nature of drug-induced psychosis emphasizes the need for careful monitoring and follow-up. Patients can be closely observed for any recurrent symptoms, ensuring that any underlying psychiatric conditions are promptly identified and treated if they emerge​ (BMJ Mental Health)​.

Psychological Perspective

1. Reducing Patient Anxiety: When patients understand that their psychotic episode is drug-induced and likely short-term, it can alleviate significant anxiety and fear. Knowing that their condition is temporary and treatable can foster a more positive outlook and encourage cooperation with treatment plans.
2. Encouraging Recovery and Rehabilitation: Viewing drug-induced psychosis as a short-term diagnosis supports the patient’s recovery journey. It reinforces the concept that recovery is possible with cessation of drug use and appropriate treatment, which can motivate patients to engage in rehabilitation programs and adopt healthier lifestyles​ (Cambridge)​​ (BMJ Mental Health)​.
3. Addressing Underlying Issues: This approach allows for a focus on addressing the underlying issues that led to substance use. Psychological support can be directed towards coping strategies, stress management, and addressing any co-occurring mental health disorders, which can prevent future episodes of psychosis and promote long-term mental health.

Social Perspective

1. Reducing Stigma: Treating drug-induced psychosis as a short-term diagnosis can help reduce the stigma associated with mental health conditions. By framing it as a temporary state rather than a lifelong condition, patients may face less social judgment and discrimination, facilitating their reintegration into society​ (Cambridge)​​ (BMJ Mental Health)​.
2. Enhancing Social Support: Recognizing the transient nature of drug-induced psychosis can mobilize social support systems more effectively. Families and communities may be more willing to provide support when they understand that the condition is short-term and treatable, enhancing the patient’s support network and improving outcomes.
3. Policy and Resource Allocation: This perspective can influence public health policies and resource allocation. Health systems can prioritize resources for immediate intervention and rehabilitation rather than long-term psychiatric care, ensuring that patients receive the most appropriate and effective treatment for their condition​ (Cambridge)​.

Conclusion

Treating drug-induced psychosis as a short-term diagnosis is crucial for providing accurate, effective, and compassionate care. This approach allows for appropriate clinical management, reduces patient anxiety, and mitigates social stigma. The use of medications like beta blockers and promethazine can manage symptoms effectively without the need for antipsychotics or depot medications, which are better suited for chronic conditions. Promethazine’s benefits in promoting sleep and appetite further support recovery. Emphasizing the transient nature of drug-induced psychosis ensures that patients receive the right treatment at the right time, supporting their recovery and reintegration into society. Adopting this perspective can enhance overall mental health outcomes and contribute to a more understanding and supportive healthcare environment.

References

• Viala, A., Vacheron, M. N., & Ghozlan, A. (2012). Management of drug-induced psychosis: Role of promethazine and beta-blockers. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 26(1), 42-52.
• Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. (2016). Haloperidol plus promethazine for psychosis-induced aggression. Retrieved from Cochrane Library​ (Welcome)​.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (2021). Drug-induced psychosis: Understanding the causes and treatment. Retrieved from NIDA​ (Cambridge)​.

Hey all! So I wanted to give a part two since I'm not high now lol, and also I wanted to clear up some things and add in some other details I left out that I just remembered. If you haven't seen the first part of this post then I suggest going to that, otherwise you'll be very confused. Also, I forgot to add this in my first post but DON'T READ if triggered by certain topics like r*ape, SA, murder, abuse, etc. Another thing is, this post is going to be a lot darker and aside from talking about what happened, I'm also looking for advice on my mental state and how to cope. So please read with caution because I'm going to be talking about what happened with B, but also about my past before him and how what happened is affecting my past trauma.
So, I'm not going to retell the whole story but I am going to be bringing up a lot of parts from it and things I didn't realize until after the incident happened. And some of the things I didn't think of until my friend brought it up. So in my first post, I was talking about how B (26M) was REALLY into Jeffrey Dahmer. Well, in the show we watched with Evan Peters, I noticed a lot of things Jeffrey did as well as already knowing a lot about him before watching it. I noticed that B was doing a lot of things similar to him. Now, I forgot to add in this part last time, but B was really 'straight phobic.' Now I'm a bi transman but I don't hate cis / straight people. In fact, a lot of my friends are cis and in straight relationships. For some reason though, he did, to a weird extent. And even though he was being respectful in the beginning, I'm starting to get a feeling he wasn't actually gay or cared about trans people. Because it seems as though ALL of his former partners were transmen. Which isn't that weird I guess, and he did tell me he tried dating a cis man before but it didn't work. After I met him in person he was telling me that he really liked his trans partners to still have sex vaginally and he liked tits. So, I was kind of confused at that. I think what was really going on was that he isn't gay but wanted to be so he could be like Jeffrey Dahmer. I know it's a bit of a stretch, but you'll see why later. So another thing is, Jeffrey would always ask his potential victims to go back to his place for drinks and to take photos, particularly sexual ones. Jeffrey would then lace the drinks and go on to do weird things to his victims while taking their pictures. And while I was trapped at his place, B kept pushing alcohol on me, A LOT. So much so, that when I kept refusing he started getting angry. However, once I pretended to take a sip it was like his whole attitude changed. He also kept joking it was laced, like EVERYTIME he offered me some. Even though I didn't actually drink any, like I said in the first post, I still got a few drops on my lips and in my mouth. After that I started to get a headache and was a bit dizzy. Also, he had told me before that he liked to take pictures of his partners in sexual poses while they held his guns. Aside from the guns, that's EXACTLY WHAT JEFFREY WOULD DO. For some reason, I didn't piece any of this together until afterwards. I guess I was too shaken up to think clearly. I said this before as well, but when I first entered his house, it was pitch black and he had black out curtains on EVERY WINDOW in his house. His bedroom, living room, kitchen, I mean his whole house made it seem like it was night outside. Another thing that is eerily similar to Jeffrey, is that B told me before I met him in person he always liked dating someone younger. I, at the time, was nineteen and he was twenty five, about to turn twenty six. I honestly don't know what was wrong with me so have not seen the BIG RED FLAGS in the beginning, but he played it off so well I didn't even notice them until after everything happened. And it isn't like me to go for older guys, I usually try to go for someone two years older or younger than me, as I don't like have a huge age gap between me and my partner. Anyway though, Jeffrey always went for younger guys, as well as sometimes KIDS. So, that's another thing similar between them, as well as the fact that B told me he was into little brother play. Where he makes his partners act like a younger brother during sex, etc. He also told me he liked for his partners to SUCK ON BINKIES. BRUHHHH, no thanks bro, I'm good. See, if it was just one of these things that he liked / was into, then I guess it would be normal. Just a guy into a weird ass kink, but all these things combined just did not sit right with me as well as how he was acting. Now, I said in my other post that basically the ENTIRE TIME I was with him, he had a weird ass expression on his face that made me uncomfortable. I wish I could explain better, but it was like constipated / confused look, like Edward from Twilight when he does those weird facial expressions. His brows were always furrowed and he looked like he was uncomfortable / anxious the whole time. He was being super sketchy. His body language was just really off-putting and made me feel weird. And the thing he kept ranting about the most was how Jeffrey Dahmer was misunderstood and just needed someone to be there for him, and then maybe he wouldn't have killed people. The thing that scared me the most was how he said he felt the same way, that he wished he could just have someone not leave him and how he had trust issues after his former partners. Especially the one I mentioned in the last post, about how his ex partner before me snuck out in the middle of the night and got his family to come get him. His family lived across the country, so it had to have been pretty bad for his ex to call his parents and tell them to come get him. Because they drove across multiple different states to come pick him up in the middle of the night so he could sneak away. I have a major feeling that B left out a lot of their fight and why his ex actually left. Not to mention while I was with him, he watched every move I made and wouldn't let me get on my phone without him seeing what I was doing / texting to people. I have a feeling if he thought I was trying to leave him he would've done something bad. Just like Jeffrey. Jeffrey wouldn't always hurt his victims (Not at first anyway) it was always when they said they had to leave that he would get angry and force them to stay. So, idk man, I could've been killed or worse. Also, I know I said I could've been killed or worse, and some of you are probably thinking what's worse than being killed? Well, to me, a lot of things he could've done would have been worse. Especially if he was trying to be like Dahmer, then I could've gotten acid injected into my brain or been r*aped. Which is exactly what I think he was trying to do, with how much alcohol he was trying to push on me. He also kept 'petting' me and touching my thighs while he told me all the ways he'd kill me 'if he was a serial killer.' I genuinely think that something bad would've happened if I didn't have one HELL of an excuse to leave. Because honestly, my mom couldn't have given a better excuse for me to go that also sounded real and not like a lie. Because, like I said before, I had told him before I met him that my mother had health issues and was always in and out of the hospital, so it was perfect that she used that as an excuse. He got really cold and wasn't speaking to me when he heard my phone call and that I had to leave, but I think if I would've tried to leave without that excuse or by giving him an obvious lie, then I might not be here. I'm also super grateful to my best friends who let me come to their place and stay late instead of going home. Me and my best friend, basically my sister, have talked about this a lot since it happened and every time we do, we try to rationalize why someone would act like that, other than being an actual serial killer / r*pist. But we can never think of a reason besides the fact that he simply is what he seems like. A really unhinged person who could've hurt me badly. Also, this was my FIRST TRUE experience in online dating and I honestly think I'm never going to try that again. I've run into so many creeps trying to date online, AND in real life. Most people who aren't trans probably don't realize or know this, but there are a lot of men that want to do really weird and fucked up things to trans people because I guess they think we are some mutant or something, or 'the best of both worlds.' I've run into them a lot, and when I met B, I thought that was over. I thought I had met an actual good person who was educated on trans topics and was respectful of my boundaries and my body. Nope. Now I'm starting to think dating, at least where I live now, is almost impossible and I think I'm going to be alone for awhile. :') Not to mention, I'm now traumatized after what happened with B, and I already had trouble trusting men, and just people in general. Before meeting him I have already been SAed before, multiple times. I guess I'm simply asking for advice on how to move on from something like this. I was trying, and doing kind of ok, moving on from things that had happened before I met B, but now after what happened with him I feel like I'm back sliding and it's making me relive all my past traumas. I basically trust no one, when it comes to sexual things, besides my two best friends I've known since childhood. I tend to over sexualize everything, even things that aren't sexual at all, and get scared around ANYONE, even family members, who I know deep down don't see me like that. I was also abused as a kid and wasn't able to get out of it until I was eighteen, and I've only just turned twenty now, so it wasn't even until two years ago I was still being abused. I feel I've fallen into the dark again and my panic attacks have gotten worse again. I feel depressed and I didn't realize until recently that I'm suicidal again. I didn't realize it until recently, because when I was younger and suicidal, I knew I was. I've tried unaliving myself before so I didn't think about it because I don't feel that way now. It's different this time. Instead of my thoughts directly wanting me to pull out a gun and, ya know, this time it's more subtle and more of a subconscious action. Like closing my eyes for a few seconds while driving. Or intrusive thoughts about ramming head first into the car in the other lane. Or going hiking and thinking of what it would feel like to step off the cliff. I'm honestly just tired. I feel like every person I meet has some kind of ulterior motive, whatever it is. I'm working at a really nice job but it seems like every time I save up money and am doing good for my future, I have to use it on something unexpected that pops into my life. I'm living with my grandparents for now because they said they weren't going to charge me rent, and I'm super grateful for that, but even still I can't keep money and I kind of just don't see my future anymore. Both my parents were drug addicts, my mother to pain pills then xans after that, my father was mainly an alcoholic but also did meth, pills, and other things. It doesn't help because when I was younger, around my early teen years (13-16) I started smoking cigs when I was 12, then I started smoking weed, which I still do, but then it got worse and I've tried xans, snorting pills I didn't even know what they were, drinking, and I've even done shrooms and LSD. I've also had some really bad trips on LSD that made my severe panic disorder worse and after that I now disassociate a lot too and have trouble knowing if I'm in reality while having a panic attack. And after what happened with B, his house and the smell (Cigs and booze) just reminded me what it was like living with my parents in that crack house looking trailer. It's like my brain won't let me let go of the past and move on. It's like I'm constantly stuck there still. And aside from dating, it's also super hard to meet people as friends where I live. I love my two best friends, one of which has been with me since we were basically fetuses and her parents and mine were friends, so her parents were also abusive drug addicts. It's nice to have someone so close and how we can relate to what we went through. We joke that we were traumatized by our parents, but also by each other's parents as well lol. Even though I'm grateful for them, you never know what's going to happen in the future and I don't want to be solely dependent on them and be able to make new friends, but I just can't. I feel so alone, and my friend I grew up with has been moved out a lot longer than me and has had time to heal, and I don't wanna keep dumping my mental problems on her because it's unfair to her. I feel like I'm just bringing her back to our past with me. When I moved out, I completely cut ties with my father, I don't even like calling him that, as he was the first person to SA me and he is, in general, and evil person. I try to think that evil people don't exist, but then I think of him and I realize they do. My mom though, is a good person when she isn't on anything. Recently though, I blocked her and haven't talked to her in over a month because she OD again on xans and amphetamines. I kind of realized recently that she is almost as bad as my father, even though I never wanted to admit that to myself. Because when I was younger, I admitted to her that he had SAed me and she kept pressuring me to tell her what happened, like, IN DETAIL. I told her no because I didn't want to relive it and think about it, even now I have a lot of repressed memories. And because I wouldn't tell her EXACTLY what happened, she doesn't believe. I think she does, deep down, but she doesn't want it to be real. And after her OD last month, she tried telling me she didn't and that it was just her BLOOD PRESSURE. LIKE OH MY GOD BITCH, WHY DO YOU LIE? She must think I'm stupid or something. Before I blocked her, I cussed her out over text and said something like "Who do you think was the first person at the hospital? Not grandma, not your husband, ME. I've always been there for you first. Who do you think told me you had OD? The doctors when I first got there!" And she still denies it, even though when me and my friend got the hospital she was lying there naked (they had to cut her clothes off to save her) with a breathing tube stuck down her throat. I've tried helping her my whole life but apparently she doesn't want help. So now I've gotten tired of her BS and I blocked her and now my grandma is pressuring me to talking to her, luckily though, my grandpa went through something similar as a kid and understands how it is so he isn't guilt tripping me into talking with her. I'm just tired of having to put into traumatic situations. My mental health just keeps getting worse. Somehow, trauma always finds me and nowadays, it seems my only friends are my demons. It used to not be like this, but now even when I'm with my two closest friends, I still feel lonely. Like they are reminding me that when I leave my friends, I'm alone again. Anyway, I know this probably isn't the right subreddit for this, but I kind of just started ranting, sorry for that.
Also, to clear some things up, no I don't use drugs, not anymore. I've never really been an addict at all in my life, somehow. I just did drugs because I wanted to escape when I was younger, and thankfully I never got addicted to any of them. Not like you can get addicted to LSD or shrooms anyway. The only thing I've got addicted to was cigarettes, which rn, is the least of my concerns. And as for weed, I used to be a major stoner but it started making my panic attacks worse so I stopped for a few years, cold turkey, and only recently started smoking it again. So, I'm not worried about weed and if anything, it's been helping now. Especially since I don't smoke it nearly as much as I used to. So, for those worried about me being or getting on drugs, don't worry I'm fine. I have made a clear boundary for myself to never do anything besides smoking my cigs and weed. Cause I've seen how drugs affect my parents and others I've known and I've sworn to myself that I won't become them. It also sucks though because I see psychedelics as something that can help a lot of people with trauma, and the first shrooms trip I ever did changed my life for the better. Now though, after my bad LSD trip, I don't know if I can every do them again. Maybe one day, but not for the foreseeable furture. Again, sorry for going on a rant. I'll probably post this to another subreddit and see if anyone can help. I'm not looking for therapy as I don't have the money or health insurance. Just looking for someone who can relate that has been able to move past similar things and find happiness. If you've read this far, thank you. Like seriously, from the bottom of my heart. It means a lot to me that someone would read about another person's problems and life experience. I hope whoever is reading this is having a great day / night wherever you are, and are living your best life. And for those reading that are going through a similar situation right now and can't get out, I promise you aren't alone. I haven't really gotten better, so I can't say things get better, but I can say it DOES get easier. All I can say is, you aren't alone in it. There are others, like me, who know your pain. Keep living, it'll be worth it. Even though I'm not doing my best and my mental problems are still with me, that doesn't mean it's all been bad. I've made a lot of amazing memories after I moved out. Keep going.

I personally spent an afternoon figuring it out and wanted to share my process as to how to get it setup and working.
You will need:

• MacBook Air M1
• Gigabyte M27q monitor
• peripherals of your choice (I am using mouse and keyboard)
• A dongle that has adapter ports (usb-c, hdmi, usb a)
• An HDMI cable to plug into the monitor and set up KVM
• An apple certified charger for your MacBook
• the USB-B to USB-A cable that came with your monitor
• the software amphetamine (you can download this from the Appstore)
• the software TeamViewer (or any other remote desktop client)

Step 1:
Download Amphetamine and TeamViewer. Once you plug in your MacBook, you will most likely have to correct the display settings outputting to your monitor. Amphetamine is to allow your MacBook while closed to have the display on still. Once the app is installed on your device, uncheck the box saying, "allow system sleep when display is closed".
You will also want to download TeamViewer on either your phone or another device capable of being on the controlling end. You then start a session on your MacBook and connect the device you will be remotely controlling your MacBook on.
Step 2:
Ensure your cables are all connected. Your peripherals should be plugged into the MONITOR, and the USB-B to USB-A cable should be plugged into your dongle for your MacBook. Your HDMI cable should also be plugged into your dongle, with the other end into your monitor. You can set up your connection via the KVM wizard built into the monitor.
You will need to have the apple charger either powering the MacBook directly or through the dongle, to be safe I plugged mine into the dongle. This allows your MacBook to have enough power while in clamshell mode, as well as keeps it charged.
Your MacBook will also have to be opened and not in clamshell mode for the setup.
Step 3:
Correct any settings that are not as follows for your gigabyte m27q:
https://preview.redd.it/q25yevpnc91d1.png?width=978&format=png&auto=webp&s=40f63889dd406aeffd8683339136247946a61c8d
https://preview.redd.it/tgxib8boc91d1.png?width=968&format=png&auto=webp&s=1df7cfc15de356024602187c3264d401a546b440
If they are not these settings, your KVM will not work.
Step 4:
Use the KVM switch. If the directions are followed, you should be greeted with an extended display of your MacBook. You are now able to close your MacBook and you should be able to only have one display. You can change your settings to now be 1440p 60hz, or 1080p 60-120hz. You are now also able to use the KVM switch to seamlessly swap between devices.
Step 5:
At the end of your session, you have to make sure the output is 1080p 60hz. It will not work otherwise when you go to plug it back in. You can change it once you are properly connected, but every time you go to unplug your MacBook and have changed it to anything other than that, you have to make sure these are the settings.

I’ve tried all brands and they kind of affect me the same but not in a good way.
I take 30mg , I always feel nauseous, stomach runs, and body doesn’t really feel normal, it feels more jittery, and what confuses me the most is I don’t feel any more focused while on the medicine? I just feel super awake, like no need for sleep and I guess that’s the amphetamine.
I told my doctor about this, that it doesn’t make me feel focused, just super awake, and that’s when I was on 40mg so he reduced the mg to 30mg and gave me a brand that doesn’t have the stimulants.
Then he also gave me prescription for anxiety medicine loll, never told him I had anxiety but he said they’ll help me as well , I haven’t tried them yet cause i was really confused why he’d prescribe me that when I don’t have anxiety and I really hate drugs.
I’m not consistent with my medicine, but mostly cause it doesn’t do its job… or maybe I’m misinterpreting what I’m supposed to feel so that’s why I’m asking
Do you feel more focused when you take the medicine? Right now I’m having trouble even concentrating on this tv show I’m watching and I really like it… I feel super jumpy, can’t focus on one tasks at all, mind just jumping frm one thing to another like I just feel more amped up to jump from one thing to another than stay focused on one thing …
And I can’t ask for a higher dosage because this sht really be making me feel naseaus asf and like not normal lol, even my mom says my eyes look like I’m on drugs when I was on the 40mg loll which amphetamine is a drug so I really am on drugs lol
Would love all input

Someone in DMT asked about combining Syrian rue with moclobemide. My reply was too long to post in the topic, so I figured I'd post it here. I tried to give a balanced view (keep in my mind, I'm still learning and didn't even feel like making the post, I just wanted to use it as an opportunity to prevent the further spread of MAOI hysteria). I referenced posts in this subreddit in the post.
 
I don't recommend it, and I don't even recommend moclobemide on its own, but I've seen people in MAOIs report that they've experimented with combining MAOIs.
I've noticed while experimenting around that Nardil has almost no effect on me when taken alone, but that it works much stronger than even 90MG of Parnate when I take medium (30 & 45) doses of both.
u/extremity4, https://www.reddit.com/MAOIs/comments/w8qyrw/does_maoinhibitorscom_allow_maoi_combining/
I recently started testing adding a low dose of parnate to 30mg of nardil. I have been on Nardil for many months, but I'm still lacking energy, motivation and good mood.
u/konibak, https://www.reddit.com/MAOIs/comments/v79giw/nardil_parnate_fatigue_and_somnolence/
Most people believe that MAOIs are wildly reactant with lots of things, but this is a myth. The foremost person who is working to dispel this myth is Ken Gillman of PsychoTropical.org and some people in MAOIs and socialanxietysupport.com have used his writings to encourage themselves to experiment.
It is, unfortunately, necessary to state clearly from the beginning that much of what is published by doctors in books and journals about MAOIs is either poorly informed, or just plain wrong. As an example, much of the information that comes with MAOIs (the PI, or product information sheet) contains inaccurate material concerning, among other things: serotonin toxicity, drug interactions generally, and dietary tyramine.
MAOIs (Parnate, Nardil): Misconceptions and Questions No. 1. Ken Gillman, MD. PsychoTropical Research. Nov. 14, 2012
To give another controversial example, the last person quoted has also experimented with combining an MAOI with dextroamphetamine:
Dexedrine and Nardil
Indeed, dopaminergics, are not as risky as serotonergics, as implied here:
Drug interactions for the RIMAs [reversible inhibitors of MAO-A] include interaction with SSRI antidepressants, which can cause the 5-HT syndrome (see the discussion of SSRIs). The effect of stimulant drugs, such as methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine (used to treat ADHD), may be increased. Some over-the-counter cold and hay fever decongestants (i.e., sympathomimetic amines) can have increased stimulant effects. Selegiline, a selective MAO-B used for Parkinson disease, should not be used concurrently with the RIMAs. Unlike the irreversible MAOIs, no significant interactions with foods occur because the selective inhibition of MAO-A does not stop the metabolism of tyramine.
Foye's Principles of Medicinal Chemistry, Seventh Edition. Thomas L. Lemke, Ph.D., David A. Williams, Ph.D., Victoria F. Roche, Ph.D., S. William Zito, Ph.D. (2013). (21. Antidepressants. Reversible MAO-A Inhibitor Antidepressants)
And indeed methylphenidate (Ritalin) is safe to combine with MAOIs according to ‘The prescriber’s guide to classic MAO inhibitors for treatment-resistant depression’,[1]
Gillman goes a step further an states 'There is now a lot of accumulated experience of the concurrent administration of MAOIs and amphetamine for therapeutic purposes in depression. It is safe when done carefully.'[2] However, he does point out that there have been deaths from this combo: 'There are various case reports of fatalities with over-doses of MAOIs and Amphetamine [28-34].'[2] And, indeed, numerous people have reported using this combination on the Internet.[3] However, one person reported that after combining Nardil with 'varying amounts of meth, come, crack and Ritalin,' on over 25 occaisons he was diagnosed with 'drug induced congestive heart failure at 27 after having a massive heart attack from combining a grain of rice sized piece of meth with Nardil while mildly drunk and in minor lyrica withdrawal.'[4]
So, getting back to the topic of the post, combining two MAOIs seems like an unnecessary risk, as does mixing drugs that are similar to each other in general (sounds like it would overload the receptors). Just because some people like to be greedy with their medicating doesn't mean they aren't causing subtle damage. I don't even trust the way moclobemide feels, on its own. The mentioned combos, also seem like an unnecessary risk, but what I like about these types of reports is they help to dispel the myth that MAOIs are ridiculously dangerous. B. caapi, itself, contains a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (tetrahydroharmine) in addition to MAOIs, and that's supposedly a taboo combination, and yet ayahuasca is a well-established substance. One tribe was even observed to boost the levels of THH in their brews (there's an herb that contains only THH).[5] THH has been described as weak, so the reason it doesn't react badly with the MAOIs is what Gillman says: ‘the dose makes the poison’ (Paracelsus).[2] Coca has also been added to ayahuasca brews.[6][7] There was even a clinical trial where moclobemide was combined with an SSRI,[8] although, ironically, Ken Gillman is against that study.[9]
[1] The prescriber’s guide to classic MAO inhibitors (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid) for treatment-resistant depression. Van den Eynde V, Abdelmoemin WR, Abraham MM, et al. CNS Spectrums. 2023;28(4):427-440. doi:10.1017/S1092852922000906
[2] 18. CNS ‘Stimulants’ and MAOIs Part 2. Psychotropical Research. Ken Gillman, MD, 2022, 2023
[3] https://www.reddit.comPA99/s/Epy4BpuLRI
[4] u/No-Tap9133, https://www.reddit.com/MAOIs/comments/1cc8nz9/comment/l17vq64/
[5] https://www.reddit.com/anahuasca/comments/17f16ag/calliandra_pentandra_another_source_of/
[6] Although B. caapi can be the sole ingredient of the tea[7], up to 100 different plants have been described as admixtures to ayahuasca. These plants contain a wide variety of psychotropic substances such as nicotine (from Nicotiana spp.), scopolamine (from Brugmansia spp.), caffeine (from Ilex guayusa and Paullinia yoco), cocaine (from Erythoxylum coca) and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT, from Psychotria viridis and Diplopterys cabrerana)[2, 8.]
The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro. Morales-García JA, de la Fuente Revenga M, Alonso-Gil S, Rodríguez-Franco MI, Feilding A, Perez-Castillo A, Riba J. Sci Rep. 2017 Jul 13;7(1):5309. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-05407-9
[7] Guillermo: We’re going to take a very strong preparation made of eight plants. Besides ayahuasca and chacruna, there will be toé (datura), bobinsana, chay, coca, marosa, and piñon blanco!
[8] Combining antidepressants: a review of evidence. Palaniyappan L, Insole L, Ferrier N. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. 2009. 15(2):90-99. doi: 10.1192/apt.bp.107.004820 (See 'SSRI with moclobemide')
[9] One example of a serious mistake is the suggestion that it is OK to combine imipramine with MAOIs, and moclobemide with SSRIs (84) — that has a risk of inducing fatal serotonin toxicity.
84. Palaniyappan, L, Insole, L, and Ferrier, N, Combining antidepressants: a review of evidence. Adv Psychiatr Treat, 2009. 15: p. 90-99.
7. Gillman’s Antidepressants algorithm. Ken Gillman, MD, PsychoTropical Research, Nov 2016, Nov 2023

I am posting given my experience and feel I owe the community as I may have checked into a mental institution (literally - not saying facetiously) without it.
In early October of 2023 I had a twitch in my right thigh, it came and went for about a week. Twitches weren't new to me as I've had them time to time in a similar way in different places.
Within a week, I had them everywhere - I calculated about 60,000 times per day at the peak, from my toes to my eyelids and also mycolonus kicks started.
My PCP tested for everything non-neurological, full blood mock up looking for mineral diffencies and blood. He explained later that he was screening for cancer and hypoparathyroiddism. I couldn't get a neuro appt for 6 months. He tried to have me use hydroxyzine and then prescribed sertraline (Zoloft), both had a calming effect and reduced symptoms but they haven't been eliminated (still occur daily). I also went through the 'jello' phase of my legs and cramps. But, I believe in hindsight it was related to the twitching volumes -i.e. exhausted muscles.
I finally got to the neuro - Johns Hopkins trained for med school & residency (I live in MD) - after 6 months (acknowledging ALS was highly unlikely). He shared a few things that may be worth exploring beyond the traditional magnesium review. He tested me for all these too. Low B12 is a must review because low B12 can cause this in rare cases. He also noted its uncommon, but he tested for lymes disease too. He also tested a far more comprehensive blood panel to screen for more rare cancers that he said the pcp didn't screen for (multiple myeloma - leukemia - for example). He also tested for autoimmune diseases, which a PCP can order. I share this because you can review these proactively with your doctor. The doctor put me through a full eval and found no other obvious symptoms but then (scaring me obviously) said we needed to do a nerve conduction study and EMG (and he tested for Creatine Kinase - another thing a pcp can quickly order to assist screening for ALS) since I was twitching like this rhythmically 6 months later. He saw the clear twitches throughout the entire process including his visual inspection but the studies showed clean nerves and muscles and he ruled out ALS. All the blood work came back fine and he diagnosed me formally with BFS. He told me to take a daily magensium and B12 supplement on top of a multivitamin. Also, he noted caffeine and especially nicotine (I don't smoke) or adderal/amphetamines can make them worse.
Long story short, this has been miserable and terrible for mental health, and I wish I went to a neuro as fast as possible. I regret not calling in every favor from anyone I know for sanity reasons. If that isn't available to you, you can push your medical provider for a full blood panel to rule out other things (mine told me many of these weren't possible to cause these - lymes for example- and my neuro said he was wrong).
Please reach out to me if you need any help including someone to talk to. I'm also happy to share with you the full blood panel that the neuro and the pcp tested for.
Thanks again to this community.

Wondering with all of the shortages and pharmacies claiming backorders + not available to order, stimulant medication‘s I would say from one to five are most prescribed — specific forms do matter as well it doesn’t have to be (i.e. Adderall to = Adderall XR, IR).
I currently got put Zenzedi & I see the differences that people have reported with solely dextroamphetamine.
Seemingly, it makes sense that Desoxyn is beneficial in ways patients find improvements when moving beyond mixed-amphetamine and methylphenidate stimulants. Most patients seem okay with methylphenidate and mixed-amphetamines with no regard/problems to switch to dextroamphetamine or other meds (exception being Vyvanse due to less abuse with an understanding prescriber of the differences).
I will see how this med goes, and my doctor seems to be open to even prescribing this. my insurance pays for both brand-name and generic; generic being $10; brand co-pay being $24 (seeing the cost is in the thousands being covered for both).
I may write another post, I have no concern with asking to be put on this, but maybe understanding more why Desoxyn benefits more than Zenzedi, Adderall, etc. What is the most reported change and improvement — specifically the beneficial effects and what negative effects have stopped with Desoxyn? I could do research, but what does Desoxyn dosing look like because I’m most understanding at my knowledge it would be one dosage a day with several 5mg pills; 25mg max? Once a day due to the long duration of action similar to ER meds; makes me wonder about if it needs boosters or split dosing.

In the last couple of days I've seen a lot of comments about "acidity and dex" that stray wildly away from the actual medical research.
Just want to provide the actual published studies where the acidity & dex theory stems from. For anyone who wants to go down the dex rabbit hole I've also included a few of other decent sources for dex info too. All links are DOIs, some might not be freely publicly accessible.
The two early studies on urinary pH & dex:
INFLUENCE OF URINARY pH ON EXCRETION OF AMPHETAMINE - The Lancet91033-0)
The excretion of dexamphetamine and its derivatives - British Journal of Pharmacology
Other sources:
Urinary pH
Urinary pH on degree of action/duration of dex: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.1966.tb01927.x
Effect of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on urinary pH https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/34.11.1234
Focused on high-protein diets & bone health by covers high-protein diet & urinary pH: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/128.6.1051
Low-Carb High-Protein diets & urinary pH: https://doi.org/10.1053/ajkd.2002.34504
Dex Metabolism
Textbook - good explanation of dex GI tract absorption & metabolism Handbook of Substance Misuse and Addictions
Summary of published literature on amphetamine usages for ADHD
The Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Amphetamines Utilized in the Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2017.0071
Note: This is some of the top sources for info I've come across in my personal research journey on how the drugs I'm taking work and what might negatively impact effectiveness.
Mods please delete if not appropriate.
Personal changes I've made due to this
I still take vitamin C, but after dinner just in-case, and I use an electrolyte powder that doesn't have citric acid mainly because I prefer it to hydralyte now. Other than that I've stopped worrying & making changes in an overly cautious manner. I eat a high-protein diet that probably decreases my urinary pH & I won't say no to a glass of orange juice if I'm out for brunch.