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Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens
By: Thomas Dettmer, Delilah Mae, Chrystyan Scott, Sary Rodriguez, Kaitlyn Greenwood, Jenn
Hallucinogens have been around for a very long time, mostly as an agent that induces
hallucinogens alter moods, thoughts, emotions and perceptions of reality. Originally, it has been
seen in a religious setting in many cultures before transforming into a more recreational, and
abuse hallucinogens over women with the demographic being between the ages of 18 and 25
years old (“Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration”). In the sense of a
religious purpose, hallucinogens created a sense of unity, peace and even transcendence of time
and space, a “belief that the experience is a source of objective truth about reality” (MacLean et
al., 721); this is why it would often be used in religious ceremonies as a spiritual awakening or
enlightenment.
is found in more than 100 species of mushrooms. Studies show self-reports of mystical-type
effects that include “feelings of unity, spiritual experiences, insight, positive mood that include
bliss, peace and love, as well as an altered sense of time and space” (MacLean et al., 724). As
time progressed, hallucinogens started being used for other purposes including recreationally
and as a way to de-stress, this is even with hallucinogens becoming illegal in the U.S. in the
angiosperms (219-220). However, they can also be man made like Lysergic acid diethylamide
or LSD, which was developed by Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman from rye fungus in 1938
(Kowalski, 7). Hallucinogens can be consumed in many different ways: swallowed as pills or
liquid, consumed raw or brewed into tea, snorted or injected, inhaled or even absorbed through
There are many ways hallucinogens affect the brain chemical systems, mainly serotonin
which is a neurotransmitter that sends signals between nerve cells. Serotonin regulates many
aspects of the body including being a natural mood stabilizer as well as: sensory perception,
hunger, sleep patterns, body temperature and sexual behavior (“National Institute of Drug
Abuse” ). This accounts for the visual and auditory alterations of perception observed during the
distorted realities, it produces illusions and hallucinations that even one knows they aren’t real,
they are still experienced. Furthermore, hallucinations may come in the form of synesthesia, or
the cross wiring of sensations, where intensified sensations such as brighter colors will cause
Hallucinogens also cause the interference with the brain chemical glutamate which
regulates pain perception, responses to the environment, emotions and even learning and
memory. This accounts for the responses of users during the usage of hallucinogens. It is crucial
altered. For example, someone may think that doing an activity that causes pain normally
doesn’t actually hurt anymore, and their response may be to continue putting themselves in that
dangerous situation because their emotions are being altered. Normally, the effects of
Typical effects of hallucinogens include an increased heart rate, nausea, changes in time
perception, sleep problems, uncoordinated movement, panic, psychosis and even paranoia. It is
unknown if hallucinogens cause effects long-term but it is possible that it may cause memory
loss, anxiety and even depression as well as psychosis (“National Institute of Drug Abuse”).
As stated, serotonin and glutamate are the two neurotransmitter pathways in which
hallucinogens act upon the brain. There are at least four types of serotonin receptors that
monitor effects in the brain. 5-HT1A serotonin receptors actually are found in the limbic region
and mainly monitor responses of serotonergic neurons. Hallucinogens act on a different type of
receptor, the 5-HT2 receptors which are a type of G protein-coupled receptor or GPCR;
(Aghajanian and Marek, 16). The activation of 5-HT2A receptors on glutamatergic neurons do
not depolarize and therefore, do not cause action potentials; they simply make the cells be more
excitable. Hallucinogens generally suppresses cell firing in the brain stem either directly like
neuronal excitability are the cause of alteration in cognition (Aghajanian and Marek, 17-19)
The locus coeruleus (LC) consists of noradrenergic neurons that receives somatic,
visceral and other sensory inputs; hallucinogens increase the sensory responses in this region
via 5-HT2A receptors. The second pathway in which hallucinogens affect the brain chemical
system is by the inhibition of glutamate receptors. This results in a trance-like or euphoria state
which accounts for the feeling of detachment from the environment. This is where the line is
drawn between hallucinogenic drugs and dissociative drugs, dissociative like ketamine involve
the glutamate brain chemical pathway. Inhibition of glutamate receptors causes alterations in
cognition, emotion and some dissociative drugs like PCP cause the alteration of dopamine, a
To begin, we will start with the lowest level of hallucinogen: dissociatives. While this class
work on the same pathway as other hallucinogens, their effect leaves much to be desired This
class of hallucinogens produce a euphoric effect along with distorted perceptions of reality. The
most common effects seen with these drugs are feelings of drunkenness, floating, and visual
distortions. This would include conditions such as double vision, visual drifting, macropsia,
micropsia, pelopsia, and teleopsia. These drugs can also cause what is known as closed-eye
the eyes are closed and similar to dreaming. It is important to note that the brain is not creating
hallucinogens, this can cause pseudo hallucinations. This differs from a true hallucination in the
fact that the person who has taken the drug can distinguish what they are seeing from reality. A
person who is experiencing a hallucination believe what they see is real, no matter how
extreme.
As seen with other hallucinations, dissociatives work by being the NMDA receptors as a
glutamate agonist. As this pathway controls learning and memory, it is not surprising that some
of the side effects include memory loss and ego death in with short term as well as long term
memory begins to deteriorate. As this is also involved in the brain's reward system, these drugs
can be addictive. Because their effects seem harmless compared to heavy hitters such as PCP
and LSD, these drugs are widely unregulated and regarded as an ‘easy high’ by teens and young
adults.
With dissociative drug there are typically three common characteristics: large doses are required
for the desired effect, side effects are often immediate and unpleasant, and the cycle of effect
lasts for several hours. To better explain this, we will look at the example of DXM or
Dextromethorphan.
euphoric effect and altering perception. Often drug users will take this drug as it is a cheap way
of ‘expanding their mind’. This causes it to be popular among teens and young adults that are
looking to experiment with drugs for the first time. As it is found in cough syrup experts say
“Adolescents intoxicate themselves at parties and even before or after school since the drug is
legal, relatively inexpensive, and easily purchased or shoplifted at drug or convenient stores”
(Grattan 1995), and the steady record of DXM abuse proves it so. Because of these reasons drug
is easy to get a hold of and can become easily addicting. To achieve the psychoactive effects,
100-300ml doses of cough syrup are required, 4-10oz, or 60-120mg of DXM proper. However,
the side of effect most dissociatives is tolerance. This is caused by the down regulation of
NMDA receptors in the brain. This increase competition for receptors between glutamate and
DXM. Ultimately, the user must take larger and larger quantities to achieve the desired effects,
Much like drinking, the line between a good time and too much is thin. Large quantities of
DXM result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and urinary dysfunction. As the receptor is blocked,
this causes a feeling of restless which then leads to fatigue and insomnia. Long term users can
also suffer from side effects of withdrawal such as dysphoria and depression. (Wolfe 1995)
People suffering from DXM dependency, or dependency on another dissociative drug are often
easily irritated due to a lack of sleep and a decreasing attention span. The National Institute of
Drug Abuse Recommends 21-day inpatient rehabilitation and counseling for people who have
become addicted to DXM and similar dissociatives. After this period the DXM will have
completely left the user’s system, and with a proper support system they should be able to
recover from their addiction with little lasting damage. However, this is both a blessing and a
curse.
In the article Dextromethorphan: an Overview of Safety Issues, J.L Bem and associates state
“dextromethorphan is a very safe drug; adverse reactions are infrequent and usually not severe.
Although a few cases of toxicity have been reported, doses in excess of 100 times the usual adult
dose have not been fatal,” (Bem 1992). It is because of this that DXM is an unscheduled drug
and it is not illegal to possess or take, making it widely unregulated. Unless the child or young
adult has become unruly, the court system will often not intervene. The few that do become
addicted are often put through treatment by their own accord or by way of parents or guardian.
This makes it difficult to reinforce treatment as it gives abusers a sense that the drugs are
relatively harmless.
PCP and Ketamine
1926 (CESAR, “PCP”) as an alternative anesthetic due to its ability to avoid promotion of
respiratory depression (Meyer, 2005). Tested by Parke, Davis and Company in the middle of the
1950s, they noted that although the patients displayed no response to painful stimuli, they did
display an altered consciousness not associated with other anesthetics at the time. This altered
consciousness was defined by fixed eyes, maintenance of muscle tone, and unresponsive facial
expression. Soon, they began using it clinically under the name of Sernyl. Eventually, PCP was
adopted as an animal tranquilizer (CESAR, “PCP”). Over time, this clinical use of PCP mapped
out a variety of its severe hallucinogenic-associated symptoms. In turn, this caused clinical use
of PCP to become illegal in 1965. However, illicit use of the drug began running rampant
among the drug culture of the late 1960s. PCP eventually became known as angel dust, amp, or
even the PeaCe Pill (Barker, “PCP History and Statistics”). One of the most appealing
properties of PCP was its ability to be administered in a variety of ways. Administration of PCP
is often injection, snorting, smoking, or swallowing a pill form of it (Borke, “Substance Use -
Phencyclidine (PCP)”). Its popularity never came close to that of cocaine, heroin, or marijuana,
but PCP is still recognized as a schedule 2 drug (Meyer, 2005). The derivative of PCP, ketamine
hydrochloride, however did have a sizable following as a club drug as well as a clinical
anesthetic.
Ketamine hydrochloride, commonly just known as ketamine, was synthesized in 1962 by Parke
and Davis. Primarily designed as a softer alternative to PCP so that it could be used clinically, it
was tested on humans two years after its synthesis (Meyer, 2005). Ketamine, while it can still
cause a host of the same symptoms PCP does, does so on a lower magnitude. Because of this
and its conserved variety for administration methods, ketamine was and still is clinically used.
Often, it is used in pediatric surgery as well as veterinarian procedures. Abuse of this drug still
ran rampant since it was much more readily available than PCP. Today, some of the most
common abusers are club-goers, who yearn for the dissociative effect as they party, and
veterinarians due to its immediate access (Meyer, 2005). While ketamine still is used as an
illegal recreational drug, it still has some promise in treating depression due to its physiological
Depending on the administration method, onset of symptoms can occur in 2-5 minutes (if
smoked) or 30-60 minutes (if swallowed) (DEA. “Phencyclidine.”). PCP and ketamine differ in
half-life. PCP’s half-life can last from 7-46 hours depending on the person (OTC, “How Long
Does PCP Stay in Your System?”). Ketamine’s however, only lasts around 3 hours (RxList,
“Ketamine Hydrochloride (Ketamine HCl): Side Effects, Interactions, Warning, Dosage &
Uses.”). Prolonged use of these drugs can result in bladder pain, incontinence, addiction,
memory deficits, delusional thinking, grey and white matter abnormalities, apoptosis of cells in
developing brains, increased D1 dopamine receptor binding in the prefrontal cortex, and
Both PCP and ketamine target the ionotropic receptor: NDMA, functioning as non-
competitive agonists for the binding site within the channel. Binding blocks the channel,
causing an impairment to pain, emotions, learning, and memory. Additionally, they can cause
presynaptic glutamate release within the cerebral cortex, strengthening the previous symptoms.
PCP and ketamine also stimulate dopamine (DA) release and DA cell firing within the
prefrontal cortex. This is a widely used reinforcement mechanism and can lead to chronic
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was first synthesized by Albert Hofmann in 1938 as
an experimental analeptic. LSD was theorized to work as an analeptic due to its structural
similarity to a known analeptic, nicotinic acid diethylamide. When tested, it did not work as
intended, so it was scrapped. Later, in 1943, Hofmann came back to investigate its potential
unknown properties. Dissolving a minute amount in water, he then downed it. In his words, he
With the help of his assistant, he biked home and documented the experience in his journal.
Eventually, LSD became available clinically under the name of Delysid (Meyer, 2005). Delysid
was often used in psycholytic therapy, in which the patient takes a hallucinogen to bring to
surface repressed memories and ideas. However, this practice was soon discontinued (Passie et
al, 2008).
Over time, LSD became available on the streets under names such as acid, blotter, dots,
trips, and tabs (EMCDDA. “Cannabis Profile (Chemistry, Effects, Mode of Use, Pharmacology,
Medical Use, Control Status).”). LSD is water soluble, so in order to distribute it, a sizable
amount of pure LSD is diluted in a large volume of water. The water containing LSD is then
aliquoted dropwise onto paper, where it dries. These papers (or dots) are placed on the tongue
for oral administration. Often, it’s taken as a mind expansion drug, gaining traction especially
with the 1970s hippie movement. Eventually, it was banned nationwide in 1967 and labeled as a
schedule I drug. Although LSD is schedule I, it is theorized that it could help in treatment of
psychomotor functions, and alterations to perception including that of time and thinking (Passie
et al, 2008). Adverse psychological effects are also present, including bad trips, flashbacks,
disorder). Bad trips are often categorized as frightening hallucinations often occurring when the
user experiences anxiety or panic. Flashbacks are sudden non-lingering effects of LSD that
LSD is non-addictive and has a plasma half life consisting of about 2.3 hours (Dolder,
2017). With overall effects lasting usually 8 to 2 hours, its half maximal effective concentration
Mechanism
Not much is currently known about LSD’s mechanisms of action to elicit hallucinogenic
symptoms, but we do know that it (most likely) easily passes through the blood brain barrier
using the choroid plexus (Passie et al., 2008) and stimulates 5-HT(2a) serotonin receptors as an
agonist. These receptors are most commonly found in the cerebral cortex, nucleus accumbens,
and striatum. LSD has also been shown to interact with dopaminergic systems. High
concentrations of LSD can also be found in the hippocampus, periventricular brain gray matter,
basal ganglia, and frontoparietal cortex, although this has varied. Neurological effects of LSD
are mainly dose-dependent hyperreflexia and a mild ataxia (Passie et al., 2008).
DMT
When you hear someone say the letters DMT, you may know it is a powerful
hallucinogen but you do not know what those letters stand for. DMT stands for
Dimethyltryptamine which is a hallucinogenic drug that you can find naturally in many plants
and animals. DMT is a white crystalline powder found in certain plants in Mexico, South
America, and parts of Asia. You may also hear DMT being referred to as, Fantasia,
popularity within the last twelve years. The discovery of DMT occurred in 1936 by Richard
Manske. It was not until 1956 that the psychedelic effects were discovered by Stephen Szára. In
the early 1950’s Szára read about the effects of LSD and mescaline. Hoping to carry out
psychedelic research on both drugs, he asked for a shipment of LSD. Due to Szára being behind
the ‘Iron Curtain’ Sandoz denied Szára’s order. In 1995 Szára synthesized his own supply of
DMT to see if the compound was psychoactive. First experimentations of ingesting the drug
orally produced no psychoactive effects. Szára began to wonder is there was something in his
stomach neutralizing the compound. Indeed there was and it is called monoamine oxidase. In
1956 Szára decided to give himself a intramuscular injection, and thus the modern day DMT
was born. Szára strongly believed that the study of psychoactive drugs would be the key to
unlocking the relationship between the brain/mind relationship. After the Drug Scheduling Act
of 1971, the study of psychedelic drugs became virtually impossible in the United States.
Szára’s research intrigued other scientist and researchers. Many of which decided to try
the drug for themselves. The Beverly Hills psychiatrist, Oscar Janiger, was the first person to
record his usage of DMT in the United States. After reading Szára’s research, Janiger assumed
that Szára had tried DMT himself and lived to write the monologues about it so he had his lab
make him a batch. One afternoon while alone in his office, Janiger filled a syringe and gave
idiotic thing to do” (DMT Modern Usage). In the book Storming Heaven: LSD and the
American Dream by Jay Stevens Janiger’s DMT experience is described as if were in a pinball
machine, bombarded by flashing lights, clanging bells, and infernal messages. Janiger did not
experience any insight that some others do. He felt lost and disconnected until thirty minutes
later when the DMT wore off. Janiger was convinced that he was “totally stark raving crazy.”
After his DMT experience, Janiger distributed the drug to multiple friends asking them to try it
and give feedback. They all agreed the drug was a hellish half hour with no redeeming qualities
(Stevens). Although Janiger’s experience was ‘hell’, he was not the only one with a horrifying
experience.
William S. Burroughs was an author and visual artist that decided to experiment with
DMT. Burroughs tried DMT with a friend is his London apartment. His hope was that it would
help him end his heroin addiction. During the ‘trip’ Burroughs’ friend began to freak out. When
Burroughs reached for the syringe to inject his friend with the anecdote, his friend turned into a
writhing reptile encrusted in jewels. Not knowing what to do, Burroughs stood staring at his
friend wondering how he where he should inject this slithering, jewel encrusted reptile with an
anecdote. After the experience, Burroughs was scared away from the drug. He is now known as
the “Godfather of recreational DMT” (DMT Modern Usage). There are countless more stories
of horrific experiences with DMT that have subsequently scared people away from trying the
drug.
The uses or DMT usually fall under spiritual or recreational use. Native Americans use
DMT to try and achieve a spiritual relationship with God. They ingest and inhale the plant
anadenanthera peregrina, that contains high levels of DMT. More commonly in the United
States, DMT is abused recreationally. Some people use the drug to get a high feeling through
‘tripping’ while others use it as a spiritual gateway. In the United States, people use bongs and
vaporizers to inhale the drug. The high is considered to be extremely intense and altering
(DMT). The high potential for abuse is one reason for the schedule one standing for DMT.
Dr. Rick Strassman was the first to conduct research on the effects of DMT on humans.
All of those that were tested were volunteers because DMT is considered a Schedule 1
hallucinogen, which means that it is illegal to be in possession of, unless monitored by the DEA
and FDA (Davis). These volunteers were injected intravenously and were observed. He
administered 400 dosed to 60 volunteers between the years of 1990 and 1995 (Davis). The
volunteers recorded their experiences and Strassman assessed them. He later wrote the book
DMT: The Spirit Molecule, which contained many of the experiences his volunteers induced.
Many reported seeing geometric patterns like from Mayan, Islamic, or Aztec kaleidoscopes, and
over half reported interacting with entities such as aliens, other humans, spiders, reptiles,
dwarves, and elves (Hammond). Some even reported seeing angels, which Strassman suggests
to represent previously invisible spiritual forces that are not normally seen by the naked eye. It
is thought that these spirits possess a particular message that they deliver to the person on their
DMT trip (Solomon). This possibly suggests that those who have DMT experiences are
witnessing paranormal phenomena. There is not much research to back this idea up, but it is
equally. Orally ingesting DMT does not result in psychedelic effects because the enzyme
monoamine oxidase breaks down the drug before effects can take place. However, when
ingested orally in combination with other plants there can be the psychoactive effects.
Ayahuasca is a common plant brew that is made from chacruna leaves, that contain the DMT
compound, along with other plant matter that contain harmala alkaloids. The harmala alkaloids
prevent the metabolism of DMT through the inhibition of the monoamine oxidase enzyme. This
allows the drug to be fully absorbed by the body and produce the psychoactive effects. The
consumption of ayahuasca causes different effects than synthetic DMT. The high lasts much
longer, with some people reporting it lasting up to ten hours. More common ways of DMT
consumption include snorting, smoking, or injecting. All three of these methods cause a short
lived high that lasts thirty to forty-five minutes. When smoking, the effects plateau after about
three to five minutes and gradually drop off after twenty to forty minutes. Injection is not
common in recreational use because of the possibility of an impure batch. Only DMT made in a
lab is considered ‘safe’ to inject because it is considered pure. When injecting a homemade
batch of DMT, any impurities or toxins are also injected that can cause adverse reactions (DMT
Drug Abuse). It does not take a high dosage to reach the full hallucinogenic capacity of DMT so
such as visiting another world, talking with alien entities, and total shifts in perception of
identity and reality. Depending on the individual user, the DMT experience can range from
intensely exciting to overwhelmingly frightening. The experience can be so powerful that users
may have difficulty processing and integrating the "trip" into their real life. On top of this a
DMT trip involves intense visual hallucinations. The psychedelic phenomena of swirling
colours, shifting fractals - completely overwhelming the visual field. It is extremely common
for the hallucinations to be so intense that the user cannot tell any difference between reality and
the trip (Davis). Although this can be dangerous, users usually stay still and silent for the
duration of the high (DMT Modern Usage). There is no telling how many people have tried
DMT once and decided from then on that they would never touch it again. Despite the
likelihood of countless people only trying DMT once, the drug has a high possibility for abuse.
The long term abuse of DMT comes accompanied by a handful of unpleasant side
effects. Compared to other psychedelic drugs, such as LSD, ketamine, and magic mushrooms,
DMT is considered to have the lowest side effect profile. When taken orally, DMT can cause
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Typical side effects include an increased heart rate and blood
pressure, chest pain or tightness, agitation, dilated pupils, rapid rhythmic eye movements, and
dizziness (Davis). Prolonged use of DMT can result in seizures, loss of muscle control and
coordination, respiratory arrest, and coma. Due to the intense hallucinations and “splitting of
reality” experienced by a DMT user, side effects of extreme agitation, anxiety, paranoia, and
aggression or violent behavior can occur. The setting and mood of the user is extremely
important during a high and can affect the experience greatly. DMT should be taken in a
controlled setting to help prevent adverse effects that can cause the user to cause harm to
There have also been studies that show that DMT can help with some mental issues.
Strassman stated in an interview that he received emails from his previous volunteers stating
that the testing had helped disrupt addiction problems, and has helped healing physical and
emotional abuse (Solomon). These positive effects can be better observed after someone has
drank DMT because it stays in the body for a longer period of time than if smoked or injected.
There have also been many field reports backing up the idea that DMT has psychological
benefits which, as a result, is bringing the drug into more of scientific studies (Solomon).
Role in Dreaming?
DMT trips take people to different worlds. Some remember them clear as day, and some
cannot remember the specifics at all, only the feelings they experienced during it. Terence
McKenna was another psychedelic researcher that believed that there was a linkage between
DMT and dreaming (Reyzer). McKenna experienced DMT first hand and experienced his trip
dissolving from his memory shortly after he came down from the episode. This is much like the
way that dreams become harder to remember after you wake up. Because of this, in McKenna’s
studies, he would as his subjects to have a few minutes to sit and reflect on their experience and
even journal it, if they chose to do so (Reyzer). This was an effort to help people be able to
remember some of the specifics before they vanished from their memory. McKenna believed
that since the memory of a DMT episode faded quickly, that it functions the same way that a
or just plain crazy. Even though there is no known risk for overdose on DMT, users might
experience an unpleasant trip if too much of the drug is ingested at once. Just like dreams, DMT
trips can range anywhere from being intriguing and vibrant, to nightmare-like (Davis). Some
report that they lost memory of the specifics that had happened during their trip, but they
remembered the emotions they felt (Solomon). Some negative feelings would be feelings of a
loss of control, pain, violence, reliving a traumatic event, and even the fear of going insane.
Others interesting report was that, ‘There was a movement of color. The colors were words. I
heard the colors were saying to me… ‘Go in’’ (Reyzer). While under the influence of DMT, the
brain cannot tell the difference between what is real and what is not. All of the information and
memories become joined together because the user is placed into a whole new world and the
brain can no longer differentiate real from fake because it is all very realistic.
Many studies have been performed regarding how DMT is linked to near death
experiences. Electroencephalograms (EEG) have shown that a brain’s activity during a DMT
experience and near death experience are almost at zero (Lichfield). This means that brain
activity is not the cause of the experiences, rather that the lack of brain activity causes them.
Because of this, the brain creates a reality that is more direct and unfiltered because it
reconstructs what we know as reality (Lichfield). These near death experiences are believed to
be linked with the release of DMT because there is a dramatic change in a person’s unconscious
state which is a prime time for the production of DMT. Many people can actually feel
themselves floating up and out of their body and into the scene around them, possibly even see
their unconscious bodies (Lichfield). Some users report spending time in an otherworldly realm
and meeting spiritual beings. These beings are often described as angels who are calling them
and even God. Many people who have a near death experience state that their experience did not
feel like a dream, rather that they described it as, ‘more real than real life’ (Lichfield). But then,
they are reluctantly called away from the realm and returned back into their body. Author Eben
Alexander was in such a deep coma during his near death experience that he reported that he
could feel his soul detach from his body and travel to another world where he experienced an
“afterlife” (Lichfield). As a result to many out of body experiences, big life decisions tend to be
made. This can include career path changes, or even leaving their spouse because their lives
Another interesting near death experience is the story of Jeff Olsen, who has written two
books and made YouTube videos (Lichfield). Olsen fell asleep behind the wheel and crashed
his car, killing his wife and newborn son. Olsen himself had a broken neck and had one of his
arms nearly torn off (Lichfield). In one of his books he asked an intriguing question, “What do
you say to a man who feels responsible for the death of half of his family?” (Lichfield). For
Olsen, a spiritual being answered this during his near death experience. ‘You are perfect; you
are my son as much as anyone ever was; and you are divine’ (Lichfield). During his NDE,
Olsen experienced being with his newborn son that had been killed in a room with a crib, and
when he picked him up, he felt a loving presence that he understood to be his “divine creator”
(Lichfield).
This is the main reason why near death experiences are super powerful. No matter if you
believe that it was an act of God, saw a divine being, or the brain was producing an over
abundance of DMT, each experience is intense. For many, it forces you to rethink your place on
earth. A NDE can set you in a different direction, in a way it can help you rebuild your life.
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