Can drugs cause Depersonalization & Derealization, and is it a bad thing?

I am sure it's not a secret to anyone that most people in the spiritual community, and spiritual seekers in general, are notorious for trying and recreationally doing all sorts of drugs. Different psychedelic and psychoactive drugs like Bufo, Ayahuasca, or even Cannabis get consumed for enlightenment purposes. For some, this enlightenment may come in the most uncanny and disturbing packages… as a "bad trip," and sometimes this "bad trip" might stay far longer than the regular high, making lives what one might consider to be pure misery and almost like being stuck in a psychiatric ward. How do I know this? I've been there. In particular, it's the feeling that this is a fake world to wake up from, like some sort of Matrix, yes, like the movie, except the graphics are even better. Telling a medical professional about this kind of "reality" would undoubtedly trigger them to write you a prescription medication and direct you to see a psychiatrist.

Depersonalization and derealization are terms used to describe two types of dissociative disorders, which can be a response to stress, trauma, or substance use. Sometimes, it's the stress or trauma caused by substance use. A case of a bad trip that bleeds into the "real" world.

Depersonalization is a dissociative symptom characterized by feeling disconnected from your body and thoughts. It involves observing oneself from the outside or feeling like you aren't real. People experiencing depersonalization may feel like an outside observer of their own behavior, and their bodies might feel distorted or fake. Emotions can feel numb, and memories might seem distant or blurry as if they were "implanted" and never actually happened.

Derealization involves a sensation of unreality concerning the outside world. When experiencing derealization, individuals might feel like the world around them is foggy, dream-like, or artificial. Objects may seem distorted; colors may be too dull or bright, and time may speed up or slow down. People might feel like they are living in a movie or a game. Hello Neo? 😎

With 50% of all individuals experiencing one or both of these phenomena at least once in their lives, I would like to speculate, that perhaps this should be viewed as a poignant revelation about the reality of our existence. Yes, maybe this isn't the "enlightenment" one hoped to achieve, but what if what you're feeling is true? 😨

Could it be that this world isn't entirely real? Is it possible that we choose to be here and that feeling detached and disconnected is right because we do not truly belong here? Maybe that's what "waking up" actually feels like. Maybe this body is holding you, and we are eternal, and this pain is nothing but an illusion—quoting Tool and the late Dolores Cannon, of course.

So, if you are struggling with grasping reality, hold on, my friend, you just might be getting the "enlightenment" you were seeking. This experience may be just that—an experience. Albeit, an artificial one. This body and the very beautifully designed Pachamama might be our temporary home. Our time here is limited, and this is a holy experience. Tool again 😁 

So if home isn't here, then where is it?

Is it the all-loving Brahman light? Is it Nirvana? Lmk in the comments.

To be continued…