How to Deal With HPPD
A little known medical condition known as Hallucinogen Persisting Perceptual Disorder (HPPD) can cause people to reexperience the effects of hallucinogens without actually taking them. People often refer to this as a "flashback." Some people can suffer from HPPD months and even years after ingesting hallucinogens, which are drugs that distort reality.
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Instructions
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Seek an official diagnosis. HPPD can mimic other medical problems or disorders, including lesions and infections of the brain, visual epilepsies, stroke and schizophrenia.
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Recognize that no current cure exists for HPPD. People with this disorder must find ways to manage symptoms in order to minimize the impact of HPPD on daily life.
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Cope with triggers that may set off HPPD. Some of these include caffeine, alcohol, getting too little or too much sleep and stress. Some people report success with herbal treatments like St. Johns Wort and Valerian root.
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Beware of treatment with medications. Physicians report limited success with benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, antidepressants and other medications. However, there have also been cases when pharmacology treatment has worsened HPPD symptoms.
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Make an appointment with a psychiatrist who belongs to the American Psychiatric Association. Psychotherapy can help victims with adjustment and coping mechanisms.
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Surround yourself with supportive people. You don't need people in your life who believe that "it serves a person right for taking hallucinogens." Monitor friends or family members suffering from HPPD for suicidal tendencies.
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Stay current on HPPD research for new findings. For example, recent brain mapping studies show changes in temporal lobe activity in those with HPPD.
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Tips & Warnings
The medical community once referred to HPPD as Post Hallucinogen Perception Disorder. Now, it is simply "Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder."
HPPD occurs most often with LSD use. However, people have also reported HPPD with the use of ecstasy, PMA, peyote and certain types of mushrooms.
