I don't know if it's just me, but I find it hard to remember how I thought before 'everything changed', before I got to explore my mind and find the middle of me, and before I started smoking the stuff and experienced it.

I know I was so much more anxious, depressed, confused and overwhelmed. Just generally bad feelings overwhelmed me, and ideas and thoughts that I used to have, that I don't have anymore. But I feel like these things I lost were part of the cultural programing I now see. And what I've gained is this sense of calm, peace, happiness and love. In the same way I found the negativity consuming this is almost just as much so.

I only try to remember to figure out the steps to what has changed, I know so many that struggle with anxiety and depression. I know how I feel now, but I would have liked to have noticed more so that maybe I can know what worked for me and then tell other people in practical terms. This is probably just a pipe dream though lol.

Also,
I don't know if it's happened like this for anyone else.

I'm curious to know if you intend "ego death" to reference a specific experience that is beyond a "breakthrough" experience.

...or if you mean that DMT experiences in general allowed you to move "beyond the ego."

I mean dmt definitely helps you experience ego death, but to then live with it outside of the trip. The thought processes of people before and after, were they different? is my question.

After using DMT and other psychedelics my view on reality expanded significantly beyond just physical matter and introduced me to concepts i never believed existed prior. I grew up in a strongly athiest family that believes humans are just a bunch of atoms that have no purpose to their existence and that mystical experiences are nothing more than brain chemistry and meaningless projections of thoughts. I have since realised that i was very naive to think such a thing. i do not hold the answers about reality after my DMT experiences, but the doors have been opened for deeper speculation that relies less on what we are told but more on what we experience. in conclusion, yes i have changed. I am still me, but with a new pair of spectacles to view my consciousness with

There are definitely some practical day to day differences... But I have to rewind 20 years to remember my mindset at the time. The big ones: for starters, I remember that before my first breakthroughs (acid and shrooms) I was much more concerned with what others were doing and what they thought of me. I was way more prone to wanting empty status symbols and was worried about being perceived a certain way. That part has changed completely. I'm a freer person because I'm able to make all decisions based on my own sensibilities.

I think I was also way more prone to holding grudges and stewing over my issues with people. I would spend untold mental energy having toxic conversations in my head with these folks. The psychedelic breakthrough made forgiveness much easier- made it make sense. Who needs that burden? Again, freer.

Exactly what Guyomech said!

For me the steps to peace of mind were slowly integrating my realizations into daily actions and thoughts. Having my view of reality completely shattered and realizing how fallable my mind is led me to abandoning many burdensome and destructive beliefs, emotions and thought processes. 'The truth shall set you free'!

I agree it must be impossible to tell someone how to be happy, and generally people don't respond well to telling. But much happiness comes my way via a smile and chit chat from the grocer, shooting the breeze and having a laugh with mates, being whisked off on an impromtu drive in the countryside, a symathetic and unjudgemental ear, I could go on!

If you really want to help people you're already halfway there

I think that with meditation, there is something that could be considered a though that is plugged in and something that you actually lean and be familiar with through meditation. And it will be very hard to distinguish until you fully immerse to the idea of extra knowledge that you can earn.

Meditation is one of those things that is easy to learn but very hard to master. You really have to be deep in your thoughts before stabling a good link with it.

before my first mega breakthrough or first spice experiences i was depressed all the time after my death and rebirth i havnt been depressed at all everything is so positive its hard to be negative about anything with this beautiful molecule by your side

Psychedelics show me the harmful mechanisms inside my mind. Thanks to them I get happier and happier, day after day.

Life is an incredible experience, no doubt psychedelics have aided in teaching me that. So glad a community of people on equal footing exist peace and love.