{"id":155142,"date":"2023-09-28T17:02:20","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T15:02:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wholecelium.com\/?p=155142"},"modified":"2023-09-28T17:02:24","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T15:02:24","slug":"jak-media-ktera-konzumujete-ovlivnuji-vas-psychedelicky-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wholecelium.com\/cs\/blog\/how-the-media-you-consume-influences-your-psychedelic-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"Jak m\u00e9dia, kter\u00e1 konzumujete, ovliv\u0148uj\u00ed v\u00e1\u0161 psychedelick\u00fd trip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ever had a dream that contained characters or elements of the plot from a TV show you\u2019d been watching that evening? Ever dreamt of a particular person after stalking them on Insta just before bed? You ever had a Simpsons character turn up in your dream, like, no big deal? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most likely, this, or something similar has happened to you. It’s pretty standard stuff really. We\u2019ve all heard the phrase \u2018I\u2019m not watching that, it will give me nightmares!\u2019 <\/em>before. The media we consume really does<\/em> get into our subconscious, and can trickle into our nocturnal lives in the most unexpected of ways.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psychedelics: A Waking Dream?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Recent studies<\/a> have found that psychedelic trips mimic the dream state<\/strong>. The same parts of the brain responsible for dreaming light up when under the influence of psychedelics, such as magic mushrooms. But even if they didn\u2019t \u2014 it makes pretty perfect sense that a psychedelic trip still would contain elements of the imagery, sounds, and stories we surround ourselves with.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by \u0418\u043b\u044c\u044f \u041c\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0447\u0435\u043d\u043a\u043e on Unsplash<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Set and Setting<\/a>\u2019 are key aspects of preparing for, and having, a good magic mushroom experience. \u2018Set\u2019 <\/strong>means your mind-set<\/strong>. Basically how you feel, how you\u2019re doing mentally\/emotionally, and what you want from the trip. \u2018Setting<\/strong>\u2019 is your immediate environment<\/strong> \u2014 where you are, who you\u2019re with, and your familiarity with each of these aspects. However, thus far, not as much attention has been paid to how the media we individually consume \u2014 its form, its content, its vibe \u2014 affects both our set and our setting.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, according to recent research<\/a> the average European spends 6 hours of their day engaging with screens. Americans spend up to 7.5 hours \u2014 or almost 43% of their waking hours. Of course<\/em> this seeps into our unconscious, our dreams, or any psychedelic expeditions we might embark upon.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How ‘Imprinting’ Affects Our Trips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Researchers have a name for this \u2014 imprinting<\/strong>. A recent study<\/a> explored just this, focusing on the effect of media consumption on the set and setting for those participating in psychedelic-assisted therapy. For example, one woman, 28, who had consumed much Disney-related media in the run-up to her ketamine assisted therapy, found that Disney imagery and \u2018stuff\u2019 kept appearing during her trip. She was not happy about this, feeling that it had dulled her experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The woman stated;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt [the Disney imagery] hijacked it!… I\u2019m just annoyed that I felt like I had the Band-Aid on. It felt like I almost ended up going to important things and then Disney frickin\u2019 covered it up.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To combat this, the study reports, the woman reduced the amount of media she consumed<\/strong> prior to her next sessions. She found that her psychedelic experiences became more personally meaningful<\/strong>, with mystical elements that aided her personal growth.<\/strong> Presumably without any appearances from Minnie or Mickey\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Pixelated’ Hallucinations <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another patient featured in the study report described the \u201cpixilated<\/strong>\u201d visions he saw. This man, 34, played video games for many hours each day. Although at first he found these ketamine trips \u2014 with Minecraft-like imagery \u2014 enjoyable, he agreed with his therapists to reduce his video game consumption prior to his next sessions, to see what would happen. After reducing his video game consumption, he, like the other patient, found his following experiences more meaningful and useful therapeutically<\/strong>. On reducing still more, he began to be able to engage with the emotional issues he had suppressed; one of the aims of his treatment in the first place.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conversely, the study shared that some participants found media-related images<\/strong> that slipped into their hallucinations actually very useful. <\/strong>Some found them to act almost as a guide, or a visual vocabulary, to express the journey they were on, and helped to project their experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Sam Pak on Unsplash<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Psychedelics Make Us More Receptive to Environmental Input<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But why does this imprinting happen<\/strong>? Why is Simba, or Dumbledore, popping up in our psychedelic realm? In the study, the researchers cited the REBUS<\/strong> (Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics)<\/em> model. This model was popularized by neuroscientist Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris. It describes how psychedelic substances might temporarily weaken the brain\u2019s ability to control sensory information processing<\/strong>, which would make it more open and receptive<\/strong> to inputs from its environment. This could increase the chance of media you have recently consumed sliding into your psychedelic experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, because of this, most psychedelic guides and therapists now advise<\/strong> their patients to be careful and moderate in their media use<\/strong> in the run up to psychedelic therapy sessions or ceremonies. If we imagine psychedelics as an amplifier<\/strong> of thoughts, feelings, emotions, and influences, it becomes important to be aware of what<\/strong> is in your mind when you decide to use the amplifier.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using Media to Influence Tripping: On Purpose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

However! What if you actually want <\/em>the influence of media during your psychedelic experiences<\/strong>? To perhaps see characters, inhabit plot lines, or have powers \u00e0 la an Avengers superhero? Not every psychedelic trip is necessarily for therapeutic, self-discovery, or trauma-healing reasons. Sometimes we just want to be, well<\/em>, amazed<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Of course, just because you binge-watch the Harry Potter series the day before you trip, it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that when you do take shrooms you\u2019ll instantly find yourself at Hogwarts. You could say it’s more of a vibe thing\u2026 but again who knows where your mind will take you? <\/strong>Research<\/a> has also found that those who play interactive video games are better at controlling their dreams<\/strong> \u2014 so maybe it’s a question of practice<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, depending on what you\u2019re after with your psychedelic experience, media can either help or hinder your trip. Let’s check out how to manage its influence…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Stop Media Influencing Your Trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are after a more in-depth spiritual trip, to get super introspective, and really interrogate <\/em>what’s up, these tips could be for you.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n