The Risks of Unlocking Mental Imagery with Psychedelics
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For those blessed (or cursed?) with vivid imaginations, the mind's eye can be a breathtaking landscape of colours, shapes, 3D rotations and then there are all the other senses. However new research suggests those with intense visual imagery abilities may be more prone to certain psychological challenges/disorders. And the rising use of psychedelic therapies could be opening an entirely new Pandora's box of risks and revelations.
In this issue, we peel back the layers of the potential links between strong mental imagery and mental health risks. From the haunting intensity of PTSD to the hallucinations of schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease, we explore how the wonders of the visionary mind can potentially push someone to anguishing extremes.
For those with aphantasia (the inability to visualise), substances like psilocybin offer the tantalising prospect of unblinding their mind's eye. However, blasting open the mind’s eye may expose people to new challenges they've never encountered.
Is having a powerful ability for mental imagery truly beneficial? Can someone's visualisations become too vivid and feel uncomfortably real? And do psychedelics offer potential benefits or risks for those unable to visualise mental imagery? We'll take an honest look at the latest research into the complexities and debates surrounding mental imagery, consciousness, and chemically induced imagery.
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