Mind Altering Substances
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 273
The phrase mind altering always made me think of acid or shrooms, hallucinogenics...but I guess it could be just about ANYTHING that affects your brain function...which could be your diet, over the counter drugs...herbs..etc etc etc
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: NYC/NJ
Posts: 431
Mind altering substance means a psychoactive drug, and its defined as "a chemical substance that crosses the blood–brain barrier and acts primarily upon the central nervous system where it affects brain function, resulting in changes in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and behavior."
Psychoactive drugs sounds hardcore, but it's really any substance you put in your body that effects the Central nervous system. This even includes OTC cough/cold and PM medicines. All "drugs" effect normal bodily function, but only a certain percentage are "psychoactive" and have an effect on the brain. Those are the substances we addicts need to abstain from, while "normal" people, say social drinkers, choose to use in moderation.
there are naturally occurring supplements, foods and vitamins as well as exercise and other activities that all can have a healthy impact on mood, without chemical dependency and other tragic side effects.
Psychoactive drugs sounds hardcore, but it's really any substance you put in your body that effects the Central nervous system. This even includes OTC cough/cold and PM medicines. All "drugs" effect normal bodily function, but only a certain percentage are "psychoactive" and have an effect on the brain. Those are the substances we addicts need to abstain from, while "normal" people, say social drinkers, choose to use in moderation.
there are naturally occurring supplements, foods and vitamins as well as exercise and other activities that all can have a healthy impact on mood, without chemical dependency and other tragic side effects.
Life the gift of recovery!
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Home is where the heart is
Posts: 7,061
I think that there is something here that is being missed. That would be mood altering vs mind altering substances.
This is just my personal experience and opinion and I realize that there will be people who do not agree with me but I can respect their opinions and experiences.
I spent many years using a mood altering drug...alcohol. The effects it had on me were but not limited to: personality changes, loss of control, poor judgement, obsession with alcohol, damage to my body and mind, the destruction of family and friends, risk taking behaviors, skewed perceptions of reality, etc... I used alcohol as an escape from reality. I believe this is a good description of a mind altering substance.
I currently am prescribed mind altering medications to manage my mental health issues such as bipolar, PTSD, chronic depression, chronic/acute anxiety. These medications along with therapy affect my brain in a way that life is liveable. They help control the symptoms of these debilitating diseases. I do not get a "high" from taking them. They do not skew my judgement. They do not cause problems in my personal relationships. With them I do not participate in risk taking behaviors. I am not destroying my body with no regard. I do not experience an obsession for these medications. etc... I do not use these medications to escape from reality but rather to live in reality and confront those issues inside of myself that make me at times want to escape from it.
I think that is the difference between a mood altering and a mind altering drug.
This is just my personal experience and opinion and I realize that there will be people who do not agree with me but I can respect their opinions and experiences.
I spent many years using a mood altering drug...alcohol. The effects it had on me were but not limited to: personality changes, loss of control, poor judgement, obsession with alcohol, damage to my body and mind, the destruction of family and friends, risk taking behaviors, skewed perceptions of reality, etc... I used alcohol as an escape from reality. I believe this is a good description of a mind altering substance.
I currently am prescribed mind altering medications to manage my mental health issues such as bipolar, PTSD, chronic depression, chronic/acute anxiety. These medications along with therapy affect my brain in a way that life is liveable. They help control the symptoms of these debilitating diseases. I do not get a "high" from taking them. They do not skew my judgement. They do not cause problems in my personal relationships. With them I do not participate in risk taking behaviors. I am not destroying my body with no regard. I do not experience an obsession for these medications. etc... I do not use these medications to escape from reality but rather to live in reality and confront those issues inside of myself that make me at times want to escape from it.
I think that is the difference between a mood altering and a mind altering drug.
Life the gift of recovery!
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Home is where the heart is
Posts: 7,061
Originally Posted by nandm 
I spent many years using a mood altering drug...alcohol. The effects it had on me were but not limited to: personality changes, loss of control, poor judgement, obsession with alcohol, damage to my body and mind, the destruction of family and friends, risk taking behaviors, skewed perceptions of reality, etc... I used alcohol as an escape from reality. I believe this is a good description of a mind altering substance.
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 100
Originally Posted by FatRat
as I refer myself to others. I've been altering my mind for 38 years. Normal, or unaltered, is not something I'm familiar with.
Anyone feel this way too?
Anyone feel this way too?
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