psychoactive drugs, hypnosis, & meditation artificial states of consciousness

•Psychoactive Drugs, Hypnosis, & Meditation

ARTIFICIAL STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Hypnosis---Posthypnotic amnesia

---Posthypnotic suggestions

Hypermnesia

Essential Questions

What is hypnosis?What are the techniques used in hypnosis?

What is meditation?

HYPNOSIS

Hypnosis

social interaction in which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts or behaviors will spontaneously occur

a relaxed state

Hypnosis

State of awarenessHighly focused attentionIncreased responsiveness to

suggestionVivid imageryWillingness to accept distortions of

logicAlteration of sensation and

perception

Techniques

Eye fixationProgressive relaxation and imageryClick on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CxM7a6CbyI

Components of Hypnosis

Hypnotic Suggestibility

related to subject’s openness to suggestion

ability to focus attention inwardly

ability to become

imaginatively absorbed

Posthypnotic Amnesia

supposed inability to recall what one experienced during hypnosis

induced by the hypnotist’s suggestion

Posthypnotic Suggestion

suggestion to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized

used by some clinicians to control undesired symptoms and behaviors

Hypermnesia

The supposed enhancement of a person’s memory for past events through a hypnotic suggestion

Possible effects of hypnosis?

Recall forgotten events?Age regression therapy (the ability to re-

live childhood memories)…effective?Alleviate pain?

Dissociation = split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others

Possible effects of hypnosis?Reduce pain Reduce stressImprove concentration and motivationModify behavior in eating disordersSuppress the gag reflex (dentist)Eliminate recurring nightmares….much more!

Do you think you can be hypnotized?Let’s answer the questionnaire – can you

be hypnotized

Do you think you can be hypnotized?Imagine you are holding in your

hand a lemon. A bright yellow lemon with shiny, puckered skin.

Now imagine bring the lemon up to your mouth and bite right down into it, sucking in all the juices….

Hypnosis?

Can you be hypnotized against your will?

Can hypnosis force people to act against their will?AwarenessMorals, religion , self-preservationBut keep in mind: an authoritative

person in a legitimate context can induce people, hypnotized or not, to perform some unlikely acts

Check for understanding…

3. How can altering your state of conscious be positive?

4. How can it be negative?5. How could meditation or hypnosis

be useful in your life? Be specific.

Let’s watch some fun with hypnosisThis may or may not be for real…. It is

funny non-the –lesshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=RDt6G6UlN2U

Meditation

How to meditateLet’s watch a how to video on how to

meditatehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=F6eFFCi12v8

Meditation

Sustained concentration techniques that focuses attention and heightens awareness

Lowered physiological arousal

Predominance of alpha brain waves

Meditation

All forms of meditation have the goal of controlling or retraining attention

Two forms:• Concentration techniques:

• Mantra (focus)• Opening-Up/Mindfulness

techniques:• Quiet awareness of the here and now

Check for understanding

1. What are the goals for each of these techniques? Compare and contrast.

2. How do these techniques affect our consciousness?

PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS

Essential Questions

How do psychoactive drugs affect consciousness?

How are drugs classified?How does culture and

our environment influence drug use?

Drug-Altered Consciousness

Psychoactive Drugs- change moods and perceptions

Common Properties

Physical dependenceToleranceWithdrawal symptomsDrug rebound effect

Drug Abuse / Substance Abuse

• Recurrent substance use that results in disruption of academic, social or occupational functioning or in legal or psychological problems

Addiction

the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

Addiction Examples

Drugs SexGamblingEatingAlcoholTobacco

Pornography

Exercising

Psychoactive Drugs

Common Properties:Physical dependenceToleranceWithdrawal symptomsDrug rebound effect

Physical Dependence

A condition in which a person has physically adapted to a drug so that he or she must take the drug regularly in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms

Tolerance

Increasing amounts of a physically addictive drug are needed to produce the original, desired effect

Examples?

Small Large

Drug dose

Littleeffect

Bigeffect

Drugeffect

Response tofirst exposure

After repeatedexposure, moredrug is neededto produce same effect

Withdrawal Symptoms

Unpleasant physical reactions, combined with intense drug cravings

Occur when abstaining from a drug when physically dependent

Rebound Effects

Withdrawal symptoms are opposite to the drugs action

backfires Examples?

How do we categorize drugs?Depressants - inhibit brain activity, slow

body functionOpiates – chemically similar to morphine,

pain relief and euphoria, mimic the brain’s endorphins

Stimulants - increase brain activity, speed up body function, produce feelings of optimism and boundless energy

Psychedelics - distort sensory perceptions

Psychoactive Drugs - SummaryDepressants—inhibit brain activity

Opiates—pain relief and euphoria

Stimulants—increase brain activity

Psychedelics—distort sensory perceptions

Depressants

Barbiturates- sedation medsTranquilizers - Valium

drugs that reduce neural activity

Slow body function

What they do

Alcohol—CNS depressantBarbiturates—induce sleepTranquilizers—relieve anxiety

Alcohol - Depressant

Alcohol- widely used, abuse common

Why people take – initial high followed by relaxation and disinhibition

Problems – depression, memory loss, organ damage, impaired reactions

Video on Alcoholhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=xH97OBRwC-A

Opiates

Chemically similar to morphine and have strong pain-relieving properties

Mimic the brain’s endorphinsHeroin, methadonePercodan, Demerol

Pain Killers/Opiates

Opiates- mostly illegal, produce euphoria alters the brains reaction to pain

Mimics endorphins

Heroin - Opiates

Heroin – most frequently abused opiates

Why people take – Rush of euphoria, relief from pain

Problems – depressed physiology, agonizing withdrawal

StimulantsCaffeineNicotineAmphetaminesCocaine

Stimulant induced psychosis

Stimulantsdrugs that excite neural activity

speed up body function produce feelings of

optimism and boundless energy, arouse behavior, and increase mental awareness; stimulates the cerebral cortex

Caffeine - Stimulant

Caffeine- widely used, addictive

Why people take – increased alertness and wakefulness

Problems – Anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia in high doses; uncomfortable withdrawal

Nicotine - Stimulant

Nicotine- widely used, addictiveWhy people take – arousal and relaxation, sense of well-being

Problems – heart disease, cancer, respiratory problems

Methamphetamine - Stimulant

Meth- addictiveWhy people take – Euphoria, alertness, energy

Problems – irritablity, insomnia, hypertension, seizures

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=bVEulrvBwsA&feature=related

Meth Mouth – Constant use leads to this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4FVLFZqrUM

This good news is your father stopped smoking. The bad news, however…”

Cocaine - Stimulant

Cocaine- widely used, addictiveWhy people take – Rush of Euphoria, confidence, energy

Problems – cardiovascular stress, suspiciousness, depressive crash

IE. Cocaine

Cocaine blocks the reuptake of dopamine (pleasure), norepinephrine (energy), and serotonin (arousal), so the feelings generated by those neurotransmitters intensifies as they linger in the synapse longer

PsychedelicsCreate perceptual distortionsMescalineLSDMarijuanaFlashback reactions and psychotic episodes

Psychedelics/Hallucinogenspsychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

LSD- psychotic state similarity

Marijuana- cannabis plant, THC similar to LSD

MescalinePeyote

Marijuana - hallucinogen

Marijuana- most abused Why people take – enhanced sensation, pain relief, distortion of time, relaxation

Problems – lowered sex hormones, memory, lung damage from smoke

Why is marijuana considered a hallucinogen?

It relaxes, disinhibits, and may cause a euphoric high like alcohol, but it may also amplify sensitivity to colors, sounds, tastes, and smells

“Club” DrugsEcstasy (MDMA)—feelings of euphoria, increased well-being

Side effects—dehydration, hyperthermia, tremor, rapid heartbeat

Dissociative anesthetics—include PCP and Ketamine; deaden pain, produce stupor or coma, may induce hallucinations

Drug Type Pleasurable Effects Adverse Effects

Alcohol Depressant Initial high followed by Depression, memory loss, organ

relaxation and disinhibition damage, impaired reactions

Heroin Depressant Rush of euphoria, relief from Depressed physiology,

pain agonizing withdrawal

Caffeine Stimulant Increased alertness and Anxiety, restlessness, and

wakefulness insomnia in high doses;

uncomfortable withdrawal

Metham- Stimulant Euphoria, alertness, energy Irritability, insomnia,

phetamine hypertension, seizures

Cocaine Stimulant Rush of euphoria, confidence, Cardiovascular stress,

energy suspiciousness,

depressive crash

Nicotine Stimulant Arousal and relaxation, sense Heart disease, cancer (from of well-being tars)

Marijuana Mild Enhanced sensation, pain relief Lowered sex hormones, hallucinogen distortion of time, relaxation memory, lung damage from

smoke

Do I Have a Drug Problem?

Dependence = exhibiting 3 of the following 7 symptoms over a 12-month period of time:Developing toleranceExperiencing withdrawal symptoms

when attempting to stopUsing a substance for a longer

period, or in greater quantities, than originally intended

Making repeated attempts to stop or cut-back on drug usage

Do I have a drug problem?

Devoting a great deal of time attempting to obtain or use a substance

Giving up or reducing social, occupational, or recreational activities as a result of drug use

Continuing to use a substance even after negative physical or psychological effects have occurred, or will continue to occur with usage

Before drug use After drug use

Before drug use After drug use

Before drug use After drug use

Before drug use After drug use