Artificial States of Consciousness Psychoactive Drugs, Hypnosis, & Meditation

Hypnosis ---Posthypnotic amnesia ---Posthypnotic suggestions Hypermnesia

What are the techniques used in hypnosis? What is meditation? 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 awareness Highly focused attention Increased responsiveness to suggestion Vivid imagery Willingness to accept distortions of logic Alteration of sensation and perception

Techniques Eye fixation Progressive relaxation and imagery Click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CxM7a 6CbyI

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 stress Improve concentration and motivation Modify behavior in eating disorders Suppress 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? Awareness Morals, religion , self-preservation But 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 hypnosis This may or may not be for real…. It is funny non- the –less http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDt6G6UlN2 U

Meditation

How to meditate Let’s watch a how to video on how to meditate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6eFFCi12v8

Lowered physiological arousal Predominance of alpha brain waves 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

Physical dependence Tolerance Withdrawal symptoms Drug rebound effect Common Properties Physical dependence Tolerance Withdrawal symptoms Drug 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 Sex Gambling Eating Alcohol Tobacco Pornography Exercising

Psychoactive Drugs Common Properties: Physical dependence Tolerance Withdrawal symptoms Drug 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?

Drug Drug dose Big Response to first exposure After repeated Small Large Drug dose Little effect Big Drug Response to first exposure After repeated exposure, more drug is needed to 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 function Opiates – 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 - Summary Depressants—inhibit brain activity Opiates—pain relief and euphoria Stimulants—increase brain activity Psychedelics—distort sensory perceptions

Depressants drugs that reduce neural activity Slow body function Barbiturates- sedation meds Tranquilizers - Valium

Alcohol—CNS depressant Barbiturates—induce sleep What they do Alcohol—CNS depressant Barbiturates—induce sleep Tranquilizers—relieve anxiety

Alcohol- widely used, abuse common 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

DiscPsy p.153

Video on Alcohol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH97OBRwC-A

Opiates Mimic the brain’s endorphins Heroin, methadone Chemically similar to morphine and have strong pain-relieving properties Mimic the brain’s endorphins Heroin, methadone Percodan, Demerol

Pain Killers/Opiates Opiates- mostly illegal, produce euphoria alters the brains reaction to pain Mimics endorphins

Heroin – most frequently abused opiates Heroin - Opiates Heroin – most frequently abused opiates Why people take – Rush of euphoria, relief from pain Problems – depressed physiology, agonizing withdrawal

Stimulants Caffeine Nicotine Amphetamines Cocaine Stimulant induced psychosis

drugs that excite neural activity speed up body function Stimulants drugs 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- widely used, addictive Caffeine - Stimulant Caffeine- widely used, addictive Why people take – increased alertness and wakefulness Problems – Anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia in high doses; uncomfortable withdrawal

Nicotine- widely used, addictive Nicotine - Stimulant Nicotine- widely used, addictive Why people take – arousal and relaxation, sense of well-being Problems – heart disease, cancer, respiratory problems

Methamphetamine - Stimulant Meth- addictive Why 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=R4FVLFZqrU M

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

Cocaine- widely used, addictive Cocaine - Stimulant Cocaine- widely used, addictive Why 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

Create perceptual distortions Mescaline LSD Marijuana Psychedelics Create perceptual distortions Mescaline LSD Marijuana Flashback reactions and psychotic episodes

Psychedelics/Hallucinogens psychedelic (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 Mescaline Peyote

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

Ecstasy (MDMA)—feelings of euphoria, increased well-being “Club” Drugs Ecstasy (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 tolerance Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop Using 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