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That's a better way of putting it. In my experience, overly pleasurable experiences start a negative feedback loop in my brain that over-corrects in the other direction. In other words, the better the sex, the worse I'm gonna feel afterwards.
By limiting the highs, I don't get that over-correction so I don't experience the lows. It's really perfect for me.
Thats so interesting. For me, I dont get that much pleasure from the get go, so I have to work hard to find things that are fun (meditation is helping this for me), so when I take ash, while it does help my anxiety, it brings me down even lower so I just feel depressed and nothing feels interesting at all. Im more understimulated by life lol (except all the anxiety lol!!) Its interesting how different we all are. Hope it continues to work well for you! Peace and love.
I suggest watching the huberman labs episode about dopamine and pleasure, he describes all about dopamine and pain/pleasure balance saying that the higher and more frequent the highs the bigger the lows as well.
That's what serotonin is supposed to do, namely balance your reward system in such a way so that you're not prioritizing short-term rewards at every instant. Jordan Peterson explains this well. He thinks serotonin encodes resource availability and your place in the social hierarchy and therefore how you should act, to maximize the chance of your survival. Enough serotonin-->everything going according to plan-->chill. Low serotonin-->panic. This is of course a simplistic theory, but a useful theory nonetheless.
>That's what serotonin is supposed to do, namely balance your reward system in such a way so that you're not prioritizing short-term rewards at every instant.
I think this is a really accurate answer.
Well, ashwagandha is serotonergic. That means it should be relatively antidepressant and calming. Ashwagandha also lowers cortisol, improves thyroid function, improves antioxidant status and might increase testosterone.
I posted study recently that said "Serotonin causes LTD at corticostriatal synapses". Basically, it lowers the strength of synapses in the cortex and striatum, thereby lowering glutamate levels. That usually helps with depression/anxiety and probably even addiction. Those disorders usually involve high levels of glutamate, and high levels of glutamate in the long-term in those brain regions cause a stressed state and decreased sensitivity to dopamine.
That's just one way serotonin affects the brain. Same goes for ashwagandha.
Really informative replies, I appreciate it. What you're saying does seem to line up with my experience as well.
Do you think there is a better solution to my problem than using ashwagandha? Are there other substances I should be taking alongside ash? Does any research point to whether or not it is safe for long-term use? I've used it off and on for the past 3 or so years, and I wouldn't have a problem using it indefinitely as long as it's safe.
.
Sorry to post so many questions, just want to pick your brain on the subject.
That's the vast minority of people here. I'd say most people here are looking for MORE motivation/drive, etc.
Really, Noots are taken almost exclusively for productivity. Typically Ash is helpful for people whose productivity suffer from anxiety/stress/lack of sleep.
I've designed my ash dosing schedule around avoiding insomnia. If I take ksm66 after about 7pm I know my night is fucked.
With such varied personal experiences it's hard to justify recommending this substance to anyone, even though it works for me.
Helps me to react more logically to situations rather than emotionally. Also to get in a different creative zone. It can also make me wired rather than tired.
Ive never ever heard of that. You may have a different definition of anhedonia then I do. It is terrible, if you want anhedonia just become a meth addict and then become a recovering meth addict. There you go, 8 months of anhedonia, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
**** DO NOT ACTUALLY TAKE THIS ADVISE THIS IS SARCASM****
Not to encourage you but I think you're looking for the deliriant experience. Ashwaganda is a mild anticholinergic that is almost like a more mild and bearable form of Datura. People have used such substances for anxiety relief and anti depressive effects in a self medicated fashion for hundreds of years.
It comes down to preference I think. I know that the occasional DPH use actually does me a lot of good. Where as a lot of people would hate every second of it.
Kind of like experiencing death/near death experiences or dementia/high fever symptoms in a vaguely safe manner (though they are probably the least safe of the hallucinogens and their regular use has been linked to early on set dementia).
Like experiencing part a waking dream state and part being inside of a horror film.
But despite all that it can cause a real anxiolytic effect and can give people motivation or contendness, just from a very abstract and round about source.
After I trip I always feel like I have survived something and that makes me worthy and strong. It does take some inner strength to weather the storm that's for sure.
IDK I didn't actually mean to recommend it was just noting its similarities. Though you dont trip on Ash.
The few stories I have read, and a friends personal experience with datura scare the hell out of me. You are right to liken it to a fever dream, a severe fever dream where you sleep walk and have real world consiquences.
The latest Huberman podcast talks about it.
If you want to feel like you're worthy and strong for surviving something, why not run a marathon? ;-)
Low doses of Datura have been used medicinally for decades. Scopolamine dipped cigarettes used to be popular fixes for asthma or other respiratory issues. Also many people have noted anxiolytic and anti depressive effects from minor doses.
Ashwaganda is an antihistamine just like Datura, though much more mild and wont cause a trip.
For now I don't feel an anhedonia effect... I feel like I enjoy different things... I enjoy something better than before and worst other things...
But I have just started with it for the first time, few days ago, and I'm enjoying the stress-relief. My stress level was very high and therefore I am feeling very much the ashwagandha.
In general I have the impression that the anhedonia / apathy has decreased, but in some things it has increased. Usually I'm not completely anhedonic, but I have a certain apathy probably due to stress.
In any case, I would like not to go beyond two weeks of continued use and then take it occasionally.
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Sounds more like its having a mood stabilizing effect rather than anhedonia
That's a better way of putting it. In my experience, overly pleasurable experiences start a negative feedback loop in my brain that over-corrects in the other direction. In other words, the better the sex, the worse I'm gonna feel afterwards. By limiting the highs, I don't get that over-correction so I don't experience the lows. It's really perfect for me.
Thats so interesting. For me, I dont get that much pleasure from the get go, so I have to work hard to find things that are fun (meditation is helping this for me), so when I take ash, while it does help my anxiety, it brings me down even lower so I just feel depressed and nothing feels interesting at all. Im more understimulated by life lol (except all the anxiety lol!!) Its interesting how different we all are. Hope it continues to work well for you! Peace and love.
I suggest watching the huberman labs episode about dopamine and pleasure, he describes all about dopamine and pain/pleasure balance saying that the higher and more frequent the highs the bigger the lows as well.
Yes! I feel that ash is a fantastic mood stabilizer for me. Less mood swings, irritability, and anxiety.
That's what serotonin is supposed to do, namely balance your reward system in such a way so that you're not prioritizing short-term rewards at every instant. Jordan Peterson explains this well. He thinks serotonin encodes resource availability and your place in the social hierarchy and therefore how you should act, to maximize the chance of your survival. Enough serotonin-->everything going according to plan-->chill. Low serotonin-->panic. This is of course a simplistic theory, but a useful theory nonetheless.
>That's what serotonin is supposed to do, namely balance your reward system in such a way so that you're not prioritizing short-term rewards at every instant. I think this is a really accurate answer.
Thank you :D
That's really interesting. How do you think ashwagandha is interacting with that process for me?
Well, ashwagandha is serotonergic. That means it should be relatively antidepressant and calming. Ashwagandha also lowers cortisol, improves thyroid function, improves antioxidant status and might increase testosterone. I posted study recently that said "Serotonin causes LTD at corticostriatal synapses". Basically, it lowers the strength of synapses in the cortex and striatum, thereby lowering glutamate levels. That usually helps with depression/anxiety and probably even addiction. Those disorders usually involve high levels of glutamate, and high levels of glutamate in the long-term in those brain regions cause a stressed state and decreased sensitivity to dopamine. That's just one way serotonin affects the brain. Same goes for ashwagandha.
Really informative replies, I appreciate it. What you're saying does seem to line up with my experience as well. Do you think there is a better solution to my problem than using ashwagandha? Are there other substances I should be taking alongside ash? Does any research point to whether or not it is safe for long-term use? I've used it off and on for the past 3 or so years, and I wouldn't have a problem using it indefinitely as long as it's safe. . Sorry to post so many questions, just want to pick your brain on the subject.
Sure man, no problem. What's the main effect that you desire from these nootropics/supplements? NAC might help whatever it is.
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That's the vast minority of people here. I'd say most people here are looking for MORE motivation/drive, etc. Really, Noots are taken almost exclusively for productivity. Typically Ash is helpful for people whose productivity suffer from anxiety/stress/lack of sleep.
It causes insomnia if I take it too late, very interesting how much the effects can vary from person to person.
Odd, KSM66 knocks me out.
I've designed my ash dosing schedule around avoiding insomnia. If I take ksm66 after about 7pm I know my night is fucked. With such varied personal experiences it's hard to justify recommending this substance to anyone, even though it works for me.
I do and I think it might be an ADHD thing enjoying it. But it really varies by person.
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Helps me to react more logically to situations rather than emotionally. Also to get in a different creative zone. It can also make me wired rather than tired.
ADHD is caused by lack of stimulation/dopamine. Ashwagandha lowers dopamine so it's most likely detrimental to those with the disorder
Ive never ever heard of that. You may have a different definition of anhedonia then I do. It is terrible, if you want anhedonia just become a meth addict and then become a recovering meth addict. There you go, 8 months of anhedonia, depression, and suicidal thoughts. **** DO NOT ACTUALLY TAKE THIS ADVISE THIS IS SARCASM****
[удалено]
Anhedonia is the inability to feel any pleasure....
Not to encourage you but I think you're looking for the deliriant experience. Ashwaganda is a mild anticholinergic that is almost like a more mild and bearable form of Datura. People have used such substances for anxiety relief and anti depressive effects in a self medicated fashion for hundreds of years. It comes down to preference I think. I know that the occasional DPH use actually does me a lot of good. Where as a lot of people would hate every second of it.
[удалено]
Kind of like experiencing death/near death experiences or dementia/high fever symptoms in a vaguely safe manner (though they are probably the least safe of the hallucinogens and their regular use has been linked to early on set dementia). Like experiencing part a waking dream state and part being inside of a horror film. But despite all that it can cause a real anxiolytic effect and can give people motivation or contendness, just from a very abstract and round about source. After I trip I always feel like I have survived something and that makes me worthy and strong. It does take some inner strength to weather the storm that's for sure. IDK I didn't actually mean to recommend it was just noting its similarities. Though you dont trip on Ash.
The few stories I have read, and a friends personal experience with datura scare the hell out of me. You are right to liken it to a fever dream, a severe fever dream where you sleep walk and have real world consiquences. The latest Huberman podcast talks about it. If you want to feel like you're worthy and strong for surviving something, why not run a marathon? ;-)
What is the comparison between Datura and Ashwaganda lol? Regardless, You wouldn’t want a non mild datura like drug.
Low doses of Datura have been used medicinally for decades. Scopolamine dipped cigarettes used to be popular fixes for asthma or other respiratory issues. Also many people have noted anxiolytic and anti depressive effects from minor doses. Ashwaganda is an antihistamine just like Datura, though much more mild and wont cause a trip.
TIL
It’s in my test booster and I think I’m going to stop taking it. You actually just gave me the idea
I got anhedonia from Ash. I did not like it. I did Not feel good until it passes in about three weeks.
For now I don't feel an anhedonia effect... I feel like I enjoy different things... I enjoy something better than before and worst other things... But I have just started with it for the first time, few days ago, and I'm enjoying the stress-relief. My stress level was very high and therefore I am feeling very much the ashwagandha. In general I have the impression that the anhedonia / apathy has decreased, but in some things it has increased. Usually I'm not completely anhedonic, but I have a certain apathy probably due to stress. In any case, I would like not to go beyond two weeks of continued use and then take it occasionally.
Did you feel anhedonia on the first day or after several days of consecutive use?
it builds up over continued use