Comment by bluntfang | Hacker News Reader

Comment by bluntfang | Hacker News Reader

Parent Full thread

Anecdata: I had a roommate/good friend with a substance abuse problem, specifically escapism via MDMA and alcohol and sometimes LSD. MDMA use at least once a week, sometimes up to 2-3 times a week, depending on how long their party lasted. Blackout level alcohol use ~5 times a week. LSD use biweekly or monthly. They knew their lifestyle was hurting our relationship and could only come to terms with that while rolling, but when sober was unable to come to terms with their problems. It was impossible to take their gushing of emotions and how much they loved and how much they missed their relationship with me and asking if what they were doing was OK with me etc while under the influence. It felt fake, because their sober experience didn't reflect their gushing of emotions. I'm sure the extreme use had something to do with this, but I really have a hard time finding MDMA valuable, for fear that I'll get vulnerable say something that I can't back up in my sober living.

It's so hurtful to hear strong emotions that don't last.

I agree. I think this is one of the hardest problems of dealing with addicts. I had a friend who would drink and go on crying jags. I took it as cathartic, & was loving & supportive, but after the same emotions & expressions came out many times with no sense of progress or change I realized there was no growth coming from it. I wasn't being supportive, but enabling. The crying stopped when I stopped participating.

I'm sorry to hear that, as someone who has had a very close family member succumb and pass away due to alcoholism, the worst feeling for me was that there is nothing you can do unless the person wants to change.

However, all substances are ultimately out there for people to try to enjoy responsibly, in the right company. As long as you understand that what you say and do under the influence isn't necessarily genuine you should be able to relax enough and let your guard down to enjoy it. Again, the company you're in matters a lot, as well as the fact that you're not excused from your actions if not sober.

It's like when watching porn, you realise that's not how real sex looks like. If you did, you would acquire some very unhealthy preconceptions. But one can still enjoy it responsibly.

Boshed MDMA weekly for a year, can confirm it fucks you up, and leaves you basically in a constant, severe comedown. If anything, when you get to that level, taking MDMA just gets you back to a "normal", unstable, but you aren't even enjoying it that much. I rarely, rarely take it now, (still love shrooms and acid once a month or so).

Anyway, with normal use, MDMA is amazing at the time, and if you remember the things you felt and the intensity of them it can be a great memory. Fucking great for music, too.

Yeah, if you use MDMA more than once every few months you're damaging your brain. Three times a week? Jesus.

It's a great drug, highly recommended, but ONLY if you can use it in a safe and sane and responsible manner.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com