I disagree with everyones assessment of flashbacks. I have seen many folks here get upset when I claim HPPD in this scenario. Because "HPPD is a disorder and that would mean it bad and I enjoy it blah blah blah". HPPD = Flashbacks in my opinion.

I have a friend who has had HPPD, ie flashbacks, since the first time he took mushrooms. He didnt know anything about them and ended up eating waaaaay too much. He isn't the lying type and DOES NOT enjoy having flashbacks.

He see's walls waving and shadows running past out of his peripherals. He finds it very distracting especially when doing something important and things start to wave a lot.

If something is happening that can effect you in a bad way I suggest going to a doctor PERIOD. And suggesting that flashbacks are just a psychedelic daydream just makes me think you have no idea what your talking about.

Psychedelic daydreams CAN affect someone in a bad way, as can hiccups, drowziness, drunkenness, dizziness, and many other "disorders" that everyone experiences occasionally but that don't warrant a doctor visit. That you, anrchy, are not Nathaniel.Dread makes me think that you have no idea what you're talking about. There is value in knowing when NOT to go see a doctor, because some people can't afford to waste money on unneeded medical checkups, and in my experience most doctor visits are completely unnecessary. I'm simply trying to balance out the hypochondria that seems to occur in threads such as this one. The null hypothesis is a valid possibility that I shouldn't be personally critisized for suggesting.

Hixi, you may think that some of us are overestimating the situation (this is my impression). I think you are underestimating it. You make it very clear from the tone of your posts, the use of your hyphens, and the labeling of the situation (hypochondria), that you are against doctors and the general "western" perspective. We get that.

Now I will ask for Corpus to intervene. We may get a more experienced opinion and not let the thread run amok on debating the terms HPPD, flashbacks, hypochondriasis, and what have you. It is a thread about Nat's genuine concerns regarding a few incidents that we cannot possibly "diagnose", and we should treat it as such.

EDIT:


We are not debating existential ponderings, we are talking about someone's health. And you are not simply suggesting the null hypothesis, you are badmouthing the "experimental" one. And as an adult and a responsible individual you must already know that it is not all games and fun regarding science, your wording may have detrimental effects on the sufferer's motivation to take action.

My "null hypothesis" IS an experimental one because most times I have thought I had a medical problem in the past, be it an injury or an illness, a doctor informed me that it was not as extreme as I thought. Since then, I have strived to avoid doctors for injuries/illnesses below a certain threshold, and I have found that I heal just fine from injuries and illnesses that I would've seen a doctor about in the past. In addition to being healed, I realized that all of the medications and treatments that doctors had prescribed in the past for these injuries and illnesses were unnecessary. I have since saved a lot of money and learned to be tough, and in addition to being mentally tough I'd like to think that my immune system is tougher because I don't take antibiotics every time I get sick.

I'm not against western medicine, but I do think that doctors and hospitals will take advantage of people by prescribing treatments that are unnecessary. I also think that doctors are a modern convenience that most people take advantage of because they have a tendency to overestimate the seriousness of medical disorders. It doesn't hurt a doctor to sell overpriced advil and bandages to a patient who doesn't know any better. I may be blowing this problem out of proportion, but it is a real problem.

Please recognise that your null/experimental hypothesis suffers from sampling bias (N=1). Let us not generalise our abilities to cope with any sort of body malfunction to every single person that may require medical care. Thanks.

EDIT: We also do not know where Nathanial resides, if you do and its the US then you may have legitimate cause for concern over his financial situation. He may as well reside somewhere where healthcare is free, and the tests limited to what is actually relevant and urgent.

I get it: You don't agree with me. Since you are not a doctor either (or even if you are), please stop trying to make me feel ashamed of expressing my opinion and offering guidance just like everybody else in this thread had done before me.

I wasnt trying to be negative in my post hix. My post was more so identifying my experience as opposed to what I keep hearing people say about flashbacks.

And I agree that sometimes going to the doctor is unnecessary. But in this case I dont see that. And aside from what the OP has stated we dont really know the severity of it and the possibility of it being serious is there.

This thread will have be locked unless it gets back on track...

Let's keep the personal attacks (however veiled) out of it

The issue is flashbacks or not...since noone is a doctor here in this thread, only opinion can suffice.
Everybody has one.
Let's keep this clean folks.

Hixi, agreed. Contradiction stops now.

Back to the original concern : Hey Nat, how are you feeling?

It took so long to post my response that it might have been lost in the unfortunate sidetracking of the thread, but I hope the above helps and you feel better asap.

No one on the Nexus is a doctor? That'd surprise me, considering the collective intelligence of the members as a whole. I'd love to visit the doctor who visits hyperspace or has in the past

I sent a PM to one we have in the Nexus. You may see his response pretty soon.

That's super cool. I'm looking forward to reading not only his response, but the diagnoses Nathaniel gets. In case it wasn't glaringly obvious from my post, I'm a super nerd who dreams of going to medical school (should have gone but took the psychonaut track instead ). I started up with a new doc a few months ago and have corrected her in every single decision she's made, which is not as thrilling as it is frightening and unnerving. So Ima let it be motivating. Anyway sorry this is a bit off-topic, but the whole thread is captivating. 'Nuff said.

I'm sorry for getting offended. This thread is about Nathaniel and I'm sure he wouldn't have started it if he were not concerned for his health. The safest route IS to see a doctor, and it was irresponsible of me to suggest anything otherwise. Sorry guys.

Hey you're only human (unfortunately, we are too).

Let's just hope he replies at some point

Wow, when I posted my original question, I never expected that it would generate this much discussion.
This is actually really heartwarming

I'm doing fine, for the moment, the festival will be done on Saturday, and then I'm off to the beach. I've had two other episodes in the last week, two days in a row (although I've been fine the last few days), once after rehearsal in a Five Guys and it felt more like a panic attack then anything. I dashed outside for air and everything took on that strange, characteristic visual distortion. My friend's face (she was out trying to comfort me) started warping and doing really disturbing things.

The other one hit while I was taking out the trash. Everything became intensely interesting, and I remember thinking: "wow, I actually have a real mental condition. I'm crazy." For some reason, this was the most entertaining thought and I spent I don't know how long staring at the plants by the trashcan feeling the strangest euphoria.

I feel otherwise good, however. When I'm not 'crazy' I feel happy, upbeat and generally good to go.

Blessings
~ND

Good update, and interesting Glad you're okay.

Corpus may have a say, I suggest you keep an eye on your thread. But don't drive man. We want you safe and sound. Enjoy the beach and don't forget to post back after your break!

I'm also glad to hear it Nathaniel...

I hate to be a party pooper but knowing how much fun festivals can be I might want to say for the sake of it being said, be careful how you get down.

I doubt anyone would recommend indulging in various activities beyond the gentler types of fun. Man I feel lame saying all that, I'm sure it was a given, but I feel that it is something to strongly consider.

Glad to hear you are ok Nathaniel, try to keep the stress down and like others have said, lets not try driving! We all dont want a fellow Nexian to be hurt in a situation like that.

Take it easy with the festival, and get yourself checked out if this does not go away when the stress is lifted from you. Hope everything goes well and that it is not anything serious.

I would strongly advise seeing your doctor; from the limited info presented the thoughts running through my head are the need to exclude a seizure disorder particularly complex partial seizures.There are other possibilities as well.

It may be stress-related, but the correct thing to do is to get yourself evaluated and exclude the physical ailments first, before blaming it on stress.Avoiding driving is also very prudent until you know whats what.