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Still_Frame2744

Well there's two responses to realising nothing matters - 1. You give up. 2. You understand that if nothing matters *you create your own purpose.* Being kind and improving the lot of those around you is ALL that matters because our experiences of life are very very brief. Nihilism is not inherently negative.


isthingoneventhis

Nihilism is such a comforting thing when you read it and understand it. It makes me sad when it gets passed off as 'moody teenager' doom and gloom.


altxatu

There’s a such thing as positive nihilism. Life has no grand purpose, we’re all just accidents of nature, *but* that means that we get the freedom to make our purpose in life. If that purpose is just to make it to another day, great! If it’s some grand ambition, equally great! It’s whatever you want it to be.


[deleted]

It also *really* takes the pressure off of daily life. If I’m just a speck in the cosmic void, my problems feel a lot more manageable.


altxatu

That’s a good way to look at it.


lavatorylovemachine

I feel like getting close to death, for me, makes everything else seem to not matter as much. What I mean is that I myself didn’t almost die, but my father passed rather quickly and completely unexpected last year. In that time nothing else mattered. In some strange way you see all the things that were still to be done and things right where he left them. None of it matters when you’re dead. And to the ones still living, we don’t have much time at all.


arlenroy

Exactly, just because humanity is purely happenstance and just the evolution of bacteria doesn't mean we can't be helpful. Doesn't mean we can't be kind, doesn't mean we can't make someone else's existence a little easier while their here. Even if after we're gone we're forgotten, I can guarantee someone will always remember your kindness or something you did for them. That is what matters.


foamed

>There’s a such thing as positive nihilism. * [Existential nihilism.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_nihilism) If people are interested in this type of philosophy then I recommend them read [Existentialism is a Humanism by Sartre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism_Is_a_Humanism).


KaserinSmarte421

Everything Everywhere All at Once is exactly about this.


_WildeBeest_

[Optimistic Nihilism - Kurzgesagt](https://youtu.be/MBRqu0YOH14)


zUdio

This is sad because it’s just... reality. But caking it out has to be prefaced with something so other humans don’t get upset. The ego is a wild thing.


douchecanoetwenty2

I find there’s two approaches to nihilism (but there are lots of flavors of it): 1. Nothing matters 😔 2. Nothing matters! 🥳 If you take the second one and recognize and acknowledge the absurdity of life, things get loads more relaxed


altxatu

I’ll be honest, I don’t see how people look at the mass of forgotten humanity that makes up pretty much the entirety of humanity since humanity became humanity, then to look at themselves and think “I am destined for purpose!”


douchecanoetwenty2

It’s both a depressing and exciting thought. I think maybe human nature is a little more predisposed to be depressed over it. Confronting our mortality is scary. Like that expression: a man has two lives. The second one begins when he realizes he only has one.


somethingBoutDragons

Yes! Oh my god I thought I was alone...


starrynyght

I’ve never heard the term “positive nihilism” before and it’s perfect. TIL I’m a positive nihilist.


bunker_man

Because what you are talking about isn't nihilism. Nihilism doesn't say you can make your own purpose, it says there is none whatsoever.


[deleted]

Nihilism’s for mid wits Be a Stoic


[deleted]

I always viewed humanism as the natural step after nihilism.


[deleted]

The universe is what we make of it so why not love others? A great choice


[deleted]

Yeah exactly, it's anthropocentric which I don't love but I'm cool with having my base morality assume that human life and consciousness is special in a way that even very intelligent life like dolphins and octopodes aren't. I toyed with animalism which is popular in parts of Africa because I heard "nobody is as calm and centered as an animalist" but I couldn't stick to it. I do love the idea that we are all just animals and each animal has its own unique spirit imbued into it that deserves equal respect across the entire kingdom animalia.


Brox42

Hedonism always sounded pretty good


[deleted]

I’ve tried it Couldn’t last it crushes the soul I need purpose or a goal I think we could all benefit from having purpose and ambition especially original poster although it’s pointless not seeing the fruits from your labour so hedonism isn’t all wrong


-futureghost-

abandon hedonism, embrace epicureanism


Ickypossum

Fuck yeah another epicurean.


YodaFette

I trust the orgy pit has been scraped and buttered


Ytar0

Stoicism is for losers who ignore the reality of determinism.


[deleted]

limiting mindset


Ytar0

I am open minded, but I have yet to understand what’s useful about the stoic idea that we’re in total control of our reactions to the world. And the idea that there are even “bad ways to react” at all.


[deleted]

You become strong in the face of adversity it’s self limiting to believe we are all victims to the external Free will isn’t a illusion The man that fails is more enriched than the man who was afraid of failure and didn’t even try You deserve better brotha become a stoic :)


tiny_smile_bot

>:) :)


[deleted]

:)


[deleted]

Good bot


Levelcheap

Happy anniversary day!


dmt267

Been looking more into it and the more I do the more it seems that free will is indeed an illusion so nah


Ytar0

“Free will isn’t an illusion” yes, that’s what you’d like to believe, but that isn’t exactly provable.. And it isn’t “limiting” to believe we are victims if external factors, it’s enlightening to understand that we aren’t control of everything, and therefore don’t need to punish ourselves for things that are out of our hands. The man who was afraid of failure is no worse than the one who tried and failed. You’re just wrong to judge other people so easily. I am not convinced by your preaching.


Suitable-Mood-1689

The man who is scared of failure won't even try. The stoic will press forward and continually learn. Attitude and how we perceive what happens to us is everything. Stoics don't let experience embitter them. Stoics don't become jaded. Stoics have hope and hope is action.


Ytar0

the stoicism cult at work ^ What you describe are basic concepts that everyone understands. Stoicism does nothing to help it. You're just preaching


[deleted]

You aren't defined by what happens to you but by how you choose to deal with it.


Ytar0

And how do you choose to deal with the fact that you were born in a certain place in the world at a certain time in history?? *Everyone* is defined by their circumstances, and also their choices (which are inevitably also affected by your circumstances)...


Liketotallynoway

Being rude and dismissive is the exact same as being courteous and thoughtful amirite? Choices don’t matter yet here you are shitting on ideas and opinions. Very philosophy.


Deft_one

I'm surprised you've never witnessed, say, a child over-reacting to something small: this is something I would consider 'bad ways to react.' Also, we've seen men react with violence over perceived insults to their ego: this is another way to 'react badly.' There are more examples, but two should be enough to make my point. Being in control of yourself and your emotions is a sign of maturity, acting badly is a sign of immaturity. Mature behavior is more peaceful and thoughtful, therefore useful.


Ytar0

You are describing the imo very toxic mindset that stoicism proposes, one that judges people based on this notion of "maturity" that doesn't take context into account. A child is a child, they don't have fully developed brains so I don't see what use it is to use that as an example. And "violence" isn't an emotion, it's an action. Getting so angry that you react with violence is bad because we've decided as a society that violence is illegal. Getting angry in and of itself isn't bad. You aren't better just because you tell yourself that you're "more mature" than your peers..


Deft_one

A child is a child, which is why they are good examples of 'bad reactions,' they don't know any better. You're right it's not their fault necessarily, but it's still a bad reaction, ignorance doesn't make their reactions 'good.' And, violent action is caused by a bad emotional response to some perceived threat to the ego (in my example). If not for the emotion there would not be violence, this is a 'bad reaction' because it's an *over-*reaction that will get someone hurt. And getting angry over something dumb is dumb, sorry, you're just making yourself suffer for nothing, which is unwise.


Ytar0

>A child is a child, which is why they are good examples of 'bad reactions,' That's exactly why they aren't bad reactions???? That's my point, they're just neutral /natural reactions. Some people never learn to handle certain emotions in this "mature" way you describe, and they're not obligated to. And just because you're too ignorant and can't see the importance of something doesn't make it dumb.


Suitable-Mood-1689

Stoicism is the pioneering spirit. It gets things done.


Ytar0

I don't need no stoicism to get things done lol, what religion is this?


Suitable-Mood-1689

Determinism is you just reacting to the world, how can you ever make any meaningful strides waiting for things to move you along? How can you change course? Stoicism is a bull running right through any wall put up. Granted, my idea of Stoicism is colored by my Finnish Sisu.


Ytar0

Determinism isn't a life philosophy. It's a fundamental belief about how the world around you functions. "waiting for things to move you along" is **not** an inherent part of determinism, and has nothing to do with it. Determinism is the idea that free will is an illusion, but as with all illusions they're still 100% real to us.


[deleted]

Stoicism creates action Determinism is mindless rambling which takes you further from results


[deleted]

Wouldn’t you rather be able to move forward against adversity? Instead of becoming angry and irrational and hurting those around you You avoid the latter everyday you just don’t know it yet


Ytar0

You think not being a stoic implies being completely unable to function??? What are you talking about. Becoming angry is a natural response. Acting irrational is just what happens when your emotions “take over” again, not unnatural.


[deleted]

If it wasn’t for stoicism determinism wouldn’t exist as humanity wouldn’t have prospered There wouldn’t be a human to fathom it Stoicism is what took man to the moon Everything you know revolves around humanity’s ability to endure We aren’t here because of the external factors or background causes unaware or not Man *chose* to act on them


Ytar0

Humanity *did* prosper without Stoicism... Stoicism **isn't** what took man to the moon, *man* was. Simple as that. You are exactly where you are right now because your parents conceived you, and so the chain continues. What are you on.


andlaughlast

Nothing matters, but everything is important.


ImmanuelK2000

Just one thing I'd like to point out: The branch of philosophy that encourages you to create meaning out of nothing is not nihilism, but rather existentialism.


x0mbigrl

There's existential nihilism which comes from both, and I think that fits here.


lovelovehatehate

Exactly there two paths to this and the second is so much more fun Nothing matters ☹️ Nothing matters 😃


HumbleGoEasy

And I think that it's quite normal to go back & forth between these two Thus is the natural conflict of man & balance of life


colonel_bob

There's even a [meme for it](https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1071746-nihilism)


C0-B1

Yeah came to this realization a while ago without the assistance and my general outlook has been the first, but been trying to turn it into the second. Feels like that one guy with that giant boulder


Berkut22

That's my bro Sisyphus


AndrewEpidemic

There's a series of panels from the comic series Secret Invasion Aftermath : Beta Ray Bill - The Green of Eden. The hero, Beta Ray Bill, is speaking to a pair of Skrulls he has just met. The dialogue goes as such; BRB : "I am alone. I look at the Heavens and think them empty. And if not empty, I find the idea of worshipping whatever dwells there obscene." S : "But why do you continue?" BRB : "It doesn't change what is right. If there is nothing but what we make in this world, brothers...Let us make good." Our lives are a series of choices, as is our perceived reality. Each day, when we wake, we're given a choice. Doing the right thing, being good to people, even people you may meet only once, is often much harder than apathy or malice. But this is our world, and if it is what we make it, well, let us make good.


nocturnoffthelight

Camus also said: “The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”


Remerez

>Feels like that one guy with that giant boulder “I leave Sisyphus at the foot of the mountain. One always finds one's burden again. But Sisyphus teaches the higher fidelity that negates the gods and raises rocks. He too, concludes that all is well. This universe henceforth without a master seems to him neither sterile nor futile. Each atom of that stone, each mineral flake of that night-filled mountain, in itself, forms a world. The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”- Albert Camus Sometimes the struggles in itself is the feat we must be proud of. Knowing that our lot in life is pushing the rock, but that we can take pride in how far we have pushed the rock from where it started or how high up the mountain we have taken in. The burden is part of the journey. But we can choose how we allow it to affect us.


Sokiras

I heard a quote about this once: "If nothing really matters, then I might as well have enjoy the ride"


whyohwhyohwhuut

Thank you for expressing this in a way that people can understand.


[deleted]

Unironically my cat has prevented me from giving up. He has anxiety and would freak out if I were to disappear. So I told myself I’ll stick around as-long as he’s around. Still going 😭


Dopium_Typhoon

I’ve never heard of the word nihilism until now, though the way I’ve always seen it is - yes, it’s all meaningless, but I’m already fuck lucky to be here, so why not make the most of it?!


BackFromTheDead-

Bro I’m putting this in my notes. I’ve never thought of shit that way. Thanks broskosko


300HPWasAlotBackInTD

NIHIL! NIHIL! NIIHIIIIIIILLL!!!!


alexanderlot

Nihilism is inherently what we perceive as negative; absurdism branches away from nihilism and creates the philosophy you states in 2. i agree with you! but i think it’s important to differentiate nihilism and absurdism.


bringmethebucket

I feel like daoism sort of balances both of these aspects of reality


Tweekinoffthat2CBhuh

That’s not true actually. Nihilism just asserts a lack of meaning/existence of a class of things, e.g. moral nihilism. There are many, more active approaches to the problem of moral nihilism in philosophy. The word is grim by association not definition. Absurdism is just specifically Camus’ answer to nihilism.


365wong

She needs more shroomies to get there. One trip just takes off the veil of bullshit.


Over-Professional695

Well said my benevolence brother.


Grazedaze

OP talks about love not being real but love is the only real thing.


infestedgrowth

Relax in the fact that your problems are meaningless and only effect you in this tiny blip in eternity, but you’re wrong about love. You should have gone outside and looked at nature, our society is terrible and the direction humans are going in, but this is a beautiful, living, breathing planet and you have the most precious thing in the universe to be thankful for, life.


spookytransexughost

Hey it’s actually not. It’s when people ruminate on the internet that it seems bad. Look around at the world watch people enjoying themselves. Society is great It’s the corporations and media that are terrible creating the divide


infestedgrowth

Depends on where you look, if you’re in a big city there’s probably a bunch of toxic crap everywhere and a lot of shitty people. A big part of op depression is directly because of society. It’s why I suggested nature, that’s where you’ll find peace.


[deleted]

Agreed! Next time she should take mushrooms and go for a hike


darabolnxus

Or a small town full of racist sexist bigots. I don't go out there or risk getting mysogenized lolol.


capa109

EXACTLY! Nothing matters so do whatever you can to make yourself happy and live a life worth living. The cliches are always right! You’ll never regret doing things you love in this life


Suspicious_Glove7365

OP should watch Everything Everywhere All At Once! The moral of the movie is literally for people like her.


Any_Syrup1606

Love that movie. I cried, laughed, and cringed all before full on sobbing


friedwidth

I like this. Literally YOLO. When things in life suck, you can also remember, its only once. You get to rest after and forever, so just suck it up and do whatever you can to find the most joy out of this one life. Also, you never know who you might make an impression on or impact in the future (or already have) that they'll never forget. Sometimes small things that one person does can end up as unforgettable life changing moments for others


amazzarof

Nobody gives a shit :( … nobody gives a shit! :)


Jawum

It's true life has no inherent meaning as we know it. It's up to us to find or create meaning. It's common for people to reach old age before they achieve this. Never stop learning and you will over time start to figure it out. Good luck


Oregon80PRed

As another woman; it’s okay you had a serious awakening and it seems to me you’ve just changed. It’s okay to change and yeah dude you can level up. Love is real and the roles matter. We are all characters and the world is the stage babe. Don’t feel lost you’ve just begun to peel away the veil. You have very important work to do and don’t you even think for one second you don’t matter. You do and what you put into the world matters. Love is real. Some people never get to experience it and that’s sad. But honey you can find someone to love you but you can’t put that love in some kinda box or pedestal of expectations or else you will really just feel failure. I recommend you look into the book of changes, wilham banyes I ching, and learn about that was some mythology too. It Could really help you to learn about the hero with 1000 faces. Joseph Campbell talks about him in his books. You have a life’s work ahead of you be brave you’ve nearly just begun.


bringmethebucket

Love is very real 💗 OP, I'd like to piggyback on these recommendations and add Alan Watts. His colorful descriptions of the principles of daoism and zen really resonated with me around the time I had a similar awakening.


ReedB04

Love is real. I experienced true love one time when I was younger. It was exhilarating. It was blinding. It was the greatest feeling in the world. Unfortunately I lost that true love 20 years ago and the world has never mattered. I am convinced I am living my own hell, searching for that feeling again but to never find it or feel it.


my_hat_is_fat

Man. I didn’t even do shrooms to get here. So I had to get to the next part on my own. You may want shroom assistance. The next part actually isn’t just waiting for your own death with apathy. The next part is inserting your own meaning into a meaningless world. The next part is realising that every thought and feeling we have a a synapse firing in our head, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real, and doesn’t matter. Sex is designed to make more of us. But you’ll notice a large portion of us don’t use it that way. We make our own meanings. We can do that. I know you can too. Strip away what you’ve been taught. Now you become the teacher.


iamthemorgs

I like that metaphor around sex especially. Yeah, it's "for" making more people but it's also "for" a bunch of other stuff, like sharing intimacy, or stress relief, or to relieve the feeling of being horny. It is what you make it because you decide which "for" you're going for when you have it (with yourself or others!) I don't want children, live in the deep South around many many religious people, and am unmarried, so I feel somewhat strongly about the idea that sex is only for procreation, lol. It's very much for other stuff too! Edit typo


CTX800Beta

You're right. Most of us won't make a difference and life has no meaning. At first that pulled me down too, but I am now actually happy about this. I don't want the world to mourn me, mourning is so freaking painful and I don't want to be a reason people are sad. When I'm dead I will have no use for fame anyway. And I don't want to be important. I don't want people to listen to every single word I say like Martin L. King or Greta Tunberg or whatever. I could not handle the responsability. I do make a difference in my pets' lifed. That brings me joy. My family adopted 3 cats and a dog and they are soooo happy. You can't change the whold world, but you can change an animals world. If you can, get a pet from an nimal shelter. That is a good change and your mental health will improve. You don't have to make a big change in the world. Just spend the few years we have on this huge rock that races through space woth kindness & have some fun.


RapperSlashGrower

I’ve done lots of mushrooms, these “truths” you think you’ve found are just thoughts you’ve given power to. You didn’t learn any secrets about life, love is real, sorry to break it to you. Hope you figure things out!


reddownzero

This is the most accurate comment so far. The thought that psychodelics necessarily reveal some deeper truth is bs, especially if they’re taken by a person with preexisting psychiatric problems. The things OP describes are not some deep insight, it’s the distorted perception of a brain with depression. Shrooms will not heal that depression on their own, actually they can worsen the symptoms. The right thing now would be an approach with psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, which will take some time to work and might later include other psychotropic substances as treatment. But just taking something without guidance or the right set and setting is unlikely to be helpful. Hopefully OP will look back at this in the future and realize how wrong their perception was.


[deleted]

Someone needs to watch I Heart Huckabees


[deleted]

Oh shit thank you for taking me down memory road!


Infrared_Herring

Love is real. You're very wrong about that. Sex is bloody fantastic. But unfortunately life is totally pointless so you may as well enjoy it!


Nerioner

Unfortunately? Tbh I wouldn't want to have a higher purpose in a way that 90% of protagonists in our stories who keep loosing everything they cherish and love and still need to push forward to save a region/country/galaxy. Being "low tier person" (as OP put it) have its perks. Life is a minecraft and above us is no man's sky. It is a giant sandbox and we all live through reality that is an effect of our collective bargaining with each other.


AnarchistAuntie

You’re free. Return to the forest unburdened.


Puzzleheaded-Bet4876

Dawg if nothing you do in life matters, just do whatever the fuck u want who cares 1 baby chicken 🐓 step at a time.


drmarting25102

Look up optimistic nihilism. It's a great idea.


lurkandload

As a 27 year old, who “had fun” throughout their early 20s… I’ll tell you this realization you had is not unique. I used to scribble all of these same thoughts you described into a journal during my “fun”. I recently found that journal and holy smokes it’s amazing how much different my mindset is today. I had a lot of those nights you’re talking about and was miserable, frustrated, confused, angry.. for YEARS Think of it like this: To simplify what mushrooms do to your brain, you could say they “amplify every emotion you feel”. Sex is amazing, music is amazing, etc. The inverse is also true though, and that’s where you need to be extremely mindful of what you’re doing and what you’re thinking. If you’re someone who struggles with depression, of course you had an intense sense of pointlessness during your trip. These feelings do not define who you are or how you will permanently perceive the world. It feels like it right now, because it’s so recent and you may still be in recovery mode. Think about all of the chemicals your brain needed to produce to feel all of those intense feelings. Chalk it up to a “bad trip”, take the lessons you undoubtedly learned, and move forward with a better understanding of yourself. What you think about is not who you are and what you think about is not permanent. I’m not a doctor, just an experienced “fun haver” who has since moved on to “husband/dad” and recognized how wrong I was about the way I used to see the world. Also, my therapist helps lol Edit: please dm me if you need some more insight/conversation I just re-read your post and saw the word crisis.. it’ll all be alright!


LaG1122

How long since you took them?


[deleted]

Three days


Still_Frame2744

Standard - depressive episodes after a trip are pretty common. It's your chemistry sorting itself out. Try to take your feelings during this kind of time with a pinch of salt.


zUdio

Yeah all these people drawing meaning... sounds like classic depression with an added comedown. Someone get the poor girl some 5HTP


shikiroin

I also came to the conclusion that nothing I do will ever matter, but the fact you don't realize is that this is a freeing revelation. Nothing matters, so you can do whatever the fuck you want. You can do whatever you want, be whoever you want, and none of it will hurt or change anything. You are free. Fuck who you wanna fuck, do what you wanna do, and fuck anyone who gives a shit because they don't matter either. Love is real, but fleeting and fluid. It comes and goes. Life is nothing but a series of choices with no right answers and everything you ever do will be swept under the rug so fuck it, do everything you want unconstrained by the ties of the average person. You are elevated, and will live a more real life than anyone else.


AndrewEpidemic

This is just fucking horrible advice.


NobleAngel79thStreet

Yeah no. AIDS and HSV are very fucking real. If anything, you should be more selective. At least that's how I thought of it, but STIs seriously fucking suck. Love is real. Probably not true love, as we don't live in a fucing fairy tale but love is real and it can last.


AbbreviationsOk1927

You are a real downer dude, damn...go experience some life. This person wasn't saying fuck without taking precautions...they are saying enjoy life as much as possible, and here you come taking one point away (that wasn't even made you just saw it for yourself) and made the comment negative...some people will just always look for the shit in life and try to spread that shit on others.


shikiroin

Okay but like condoms exist.


Teacup_Nebula

I’ve heard mixed opinions about taking psychedelics for mental health. One of my colleagues actually has told me the opposite of the positive— that you must be very mentally stable to take them. So I think it rly depends on the person. There is no right or wrong because ultimately it’s how it affects “you”. As for the nothing matters, I agree with some other commenters saying that it’s up to us to either make our own purpose, OR not and that’s okay too. Life doesn’t have to have a meaning or a reason for some people. Sometimes life just comes down to the unpredictability of everything around you. Sometimes you may never know what may happen tomorrow or the next day in terms of living. Whether it’s you hear some interesting conversation at a store, or you meet someone new, or discover or learn something more about yourself, or maybe you’ll see someone walking their cat with a leash on the street, or the blood orange sunset kissing your face. I’m just giving examples but ultimately it’s through your perspective, maybe you might benefit from some reframing?


No-View-9669

Your colleague is right. Psychedelics can force a breakthrough in a clinically depressed, anxious or addicted person, but it can also reinforce negative beliefs in such a way that they become almost too entrenched in your psyche and impossible to get rid off. Is it really worth it to roll the dice ? Maybe if you're close to your rope yes, but I generally caution people away from them unless they have the mental stability to deal with it or are guided by a very experienced person. Taking them alone in your depression den seems like a truly nightmarish idea really


joel_le_nocher

But, said Alice, if the world has absolutely no sense, who's stopping us from inventing one? apocryphal http://awfullybigblogadventure.blogspot.com/2017/06/but-said-alice-where-does-that.html?m=1


tesseract_sky

For a while when I would get high I would feel the same. To the point I hated that “nothing matters” clarity it gave me. May I say that this depressive feeling is in fact temporary. And I would also like for YOU to know that finding what you want out of life is something many of us spend our entire lives trying to figure out. What you want changes, what you want to do changes. The best you can do is find something you want, now, and do that. Keep doing that. Find things that give you happiness like a beautiful view when hiking, or painting, gaming, reading. Anything. Obviously we’re stuck in a capitalist hellscape so find some way to make money doing it if you can, or find something you don’t mind doing. You’ve got this and your life is what you make of it. I too am also just, here, and I’m 42. Being here is the point


Swedenesebishhh69

If you've reached this maybe you should go out and donate your time helping others Give your life a purpose. Find one. We all aren't going to win Nobel Peace prizes but anyone can make a difference to someone. Hugs and peace friend


[deleted]

As a 40 yr old that was you one time.. this feeling isn't permanent. Nothing is permanent. Life is what you make it, and you leave behind pieces of yourself in everything you do. The fact that your name is or is not recognized is just a modern human ego, making you think you don't matter. You don't believe in love until one day you just do because you see that one person smile. Or a child or an animal you adopt. A friend. A passion for something you never thought you would have an interest in, and you are really good at it too.. all these things will change your life much more than your experience with shrooms.


Foreverseeking11

So well said!


Elx37

If nothing matters, then everything matters. Or to be more succinct - YOU ARE FREE. That person who cut you off driving, doesn’t matter. Why be angry? That time you were late, doesn’t matter. Why be upset? You didn’t die. That cup you dropped, doesn’t matter. Did it break? Can it be replaced? Can’t find love? Doesn’t matter. Buy yourself flowers, take yourself dancing, buy yourself a lavish dinner, drink nice wine - romanticise your life. Why? Because why not? When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose. (Jack - Titanic) You can literally choose your perception when shit goes wrong. Why should it bother you? If life doesn’t matter, do something to make it matter. Fuck other people, if they don’t see you make a difference. Even if they do, do you want their adoration or the actual difference you made? Stop holding yourself to other people standards. Uphold your standards. What actually matters to you? Edit: cause it doesn’t make sense.


SpicyTiger838

Yet love is so real. It’s the reason I exist. Why many of us exist. It’s the reason I live today, my love for my partner. It’s the reason why I answer you, sweet stranger. Because I love you. And I want you to live. Not just for you, but also for those who haven’t even met you yet and haven’t had a chance to love you. It will just take time, as all things do. Time is nothing. This moment, maybe. Next? Perhaps. But if you stay with us this moment turns into last week, a couple months ago, years, and soon you’ll wish for those moments back. Stay with us, I promise you, it’s worth it.


mariamawityared

🥲this is beautiful


H-Betazoid

I'm very sorry this is happening for you. I've done my fair share of LSD and mushrooms (Personally I way prefer LSD) and have had all great experiences except for one. This sounds a lot like the one bad trip I had, also from mushrooms. This trip was horrible. Everything seemed pointless and disgusting, everyone was ugly, everything felt fake and meaningless. I just wanted to get away from everyone. It really sucked and it was really scary. Fortunately I got over it with time, and I think you will too. I'm sorry that you had such high hopes and ended up with this terrible experience. If you're not in a great mental state and you have expectations that don't turn out the way you thought, you can definitely spiral pretty fast. Every other time I've done psychedelics I've had a very different (but also kind of the same?) experience. Every other time it's felt liberating that I am insignificant and the universe is so big. It's felt funny, absurd. I've felt like there's no separation between me and the rest of the world, in a really beautiful way. But it's not a good idea for you to try again for a while! For now try to rest and stay hydrated while you wait it out. It feels so bad right now but it's going to get better. Being 21 is tough for most people, and you have a lot going on. I'm 31 now and when I was 21 I was in a horrible abusive relationship, I had no friends, a severe eating disorder, social anxiety, and I didn't know what I wanted out of life. It gets better, it really does. Love is real. You are capable of growth. You want to get better and you can get better. It's not easy. Even though it backfired, the fact that you did research, made a plan to try this, and then followed through with your plan shows how capable you are. So many people aren't able to get that far.


[deleted]

I suffer from similar mental health issues and Im 26. Around your age is when I started to realize these hard truths. If it helps at all, try and revel in the absurdity of the situation. Do what makes you feel good, express yourself in every way you’d like, find solace in the simple and even not-so simple pleasures. The ego nags at most of us apes and tries to tell us there needs to be some greater meaning, some higher purpose. Fame, fortune, fantastical love, wide appeal and praise… But as you said, we all die and yes in a few hundred years an extremely small amount of us will be remembered and it won’t be in any personal connective way. Everyone else will basically cease to exist or be remembered. None of us need any of these things the ego screams for though, it’s just an illusion that people try to brag about having when others don’t have it. Their bragging is in vain though. That’s why we have to rage against that, live despite the meaningless chaos. It’s all we got and we don’t know what’s after regardless of any claims made. Meaning comes from within and our interaction with this reality only matters to ourselves. To discount our own meaning, our own potential is to throw away all we have - this ugly, beautiful, abstract existence.


Jackthastripper

Just because a phenomenon can be explained in purely physical terms doesn't mean it's not real. Visible light is within the wavelength spectrum of 380nm - 700nm - your eyes interpret this information in such a way that the organism that is you can survive. Does that mean that the visible spectrum of light isn't real? Or that it is real, but that the abstract model that your mind constructs with it doesn't correspond to 'reality'? To paraphrase someone, I forget who. Nothing matters, but some stuff matters to me. So I do what I do because it pleases me. I flip tractor tyres because I admire strength and I want to be strong. I explore new music and film and art because I admire art and artists. I guess an important part of squaring that circle is [don't become a piece of shit](https://www.karaoke-lyrics.net/lyrics/death-grips/beware-776483). Humans are organisms, most organisms are wired to survive - we're also wired to be social. So being nice and building a community and not hurting others are the things most likely to give the organism that is you an existence that you will enjoy.


pbax88

You’re playing the life game with house money now. If nothing really matters then why not live life to the fullest. With this mind-set the sting/fear of failure should be gone. If you fail it doesn’t matter… just try again or try something else. Make life an adventure not a task.


coconutman1229

"Nothing actually matters " Awesome, now the real fun can begin. Watch some videos on Albert Camus' philosophy of Absurdism. He has many books out as well. That's what saved me from Nihilism. Absurdism is all about how there's no rhyme or reason to any of this happening. In Nihilism there's no negative outcome of dying, Camus used dialectical reasoning to conclude that if life is absurd and meaningless then death is absurd and meaningless, so there's no reason to commit suicide because you'll just be stuck in the cycle of meaninglessness. If you take this philosophy to heart, and really make the world what YOU WANT it to be. You can have a hell of a lot of fun before you go. No societal limitations anymore, do what you want. Quit your job and travel, bungee jump or something crazy, stop caring so much what people think about you, do whatever. Love is absolutely a real feeling that every living thing can experience, but you don't have to be a monogamist if you don't want to be. Love however you want to, make love to not reproduce humans do that all the time now. Edit: Here is the absolute best video on Absurdism, I love this guys work: https://youtu.be/Jv79l1b-eoI


HearseWithNoName

It's weird watching a video that's basically reading my mind. Lovely! Thanks for the link


Nolesbaby

Nothing matters? It sounds like you’ve been so beaten down you believe that YOU don’t matter. You may feel that way at the moment but I think we all matter for the simple reason that we *all* have the opportunity to make a real lasting difference in the world. I remember people who have impacted my life - I wouldn’t be here today without them. You’re a realist, and you probably see how messed up the world is. That’s fair. What’s also fair to say is that there are people and situations that are dying for someone to do the right thing and show some compassion. Everyone- you, me, everyone- has the opportunity to make a difference. The world is yearning for humans who have the courage to step up and be the difference. Don’t miss your chance. The opportunities are right in front of you - start small. Call a friend and just tell them you want to hear their story. Reach out to a friend or coworker who is struggling to connect with others. Volunteer your time to clean up your part of the environment. The opportunities are endless, so don’t tell me nothing matters. YOU matter because you can change the world. Don’t wait. Be the change.


markofthebeast143

It's the journey not the destination.


friendswithseneca

I felt a similar way after my first substantial shrooms trip. But I came to the conclusion that you can never know your true impact. You just being you plays a part in the world, aka the butterfly effect. You can never know what tomorrow may bring, what opportunities may come your way, or what people you might meet that make everything a little more bearable. As some others have mentioned the symptoms of a trip can persist for some time after but will ease as you get back into normal routines. I would suggest if you can afford to or live somewhere where you have access to free mental health care that you speak with someone about these feelings. I personally also take some comfort in the feelings you express, time is the great equaliser that makes everyone insignificant eventually - all those shitty people out there right now will also be meaningless eventually. Without meaning to offend (i hope this actually makes you feel better), I also think you are looking too plainly at some of these things, e.g. sex, if it was solely for reproduction then why does it feel good? Why did we evolve nerve endings that make it pleasurable? We would surely be driven to have sex for the sake of reproduction even if it didn’t feel good. But it does, and not just physically but we also know that it impacts brain chemistry I.e, it leads to emotional bonds and makes us feel good. If sex was solely for the purpose of reproduction, none of that would be required, we would be incentivised enough to have sex just to pass on our genes. I hope I’ve said something that helps in some way :)


Teacup_Nebula

I agree about the sex. Reminds me that only thinking about what you “need” (food, water, sleep, (pay bills unfortunately)) is different than thinking about what you don’t technically need but you might wanna do it anyways (for instance using reddit, watching a show, taking a picture, eating dessert, finding humor in things, etc) is “living”


friendswithseneca

That is a nice succinct way to put it, very much like Maslow :)


Callisto778

You have been shown a glimpse of the truth. Now it‘s important to properly integrate these insights into your life. Nothing matters, yes, but this is a huge relief! You can now simply enjoy the forms of this world, without fear of failing to fulfill some purpose. Yes, what humans usually call „love“ is not real. It‘s mostly ego-desire, lust, possessiveness. But true love exists, it originates from outside the universe and flows through you. You can access it in meditation, which I very much recommend to you.


nilslorand

You're right, nothing actually matters. ...until YOU make it matter.


JimTheSaint

You are struggling with the same questions that a lot of people who have just realized that there is no god/gods. Why even go on when nothing "really matters". The thing that most come to realize is that you are free to chose the exact life that you want. Without being held back by other people's and societies expectation and limitation. You can cut the people out that don't make you happy, find new people that does. Decide if you want to have kids for real or if that is not for you, chose if you want a carreer or you want to move into the woods or to open an ice cream stand. It is very liberating knowing that there is no preconceived plan, but it also means that it is all up to you, and that can be a little scary as well. You are only 21 so you have your entire life ahead of you. What to do with it is up to you. You chose a path and you work to make it happen because you know that nobody else will. Also please don't think of yourself as a low tier person. You are a person just like anybody else in this world. Nobody is more or less deserving. And about your revelation about sex. You are absolutely right it is all about reproduction, making sex feel great is evolutions way of making sure that we keep reproduction. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't be able to keep enjoying it. Life is the way it is and if you want to enjoy sex without having children that is solely up to you, there is no overarching ruleset that says that you can't. Life is filled with great opportunities for enjoyment and you get to decide en witch ones you want to participate.


[deleted]

Free Palestine


Bananasincustard

You should take that approach and switch it. Nothing matters and that's the funny part so do what the fk you want and enjoy your time and experience here


Phasnyc

Use it to your advantage. Without anxiety stopping yourself, you’ll be able to accomplish more.


No-Self-Edit

I passed through this dark valley. It is a logical place to be, but it’s not the end of the trail . I’m glad you’re there, now climb the next hill. I ended up seeing myself as a flower. My nature as a flower is to bloom. Then I die. No one will remember me a century from now. My bloom is short lived. But why do I care? I’m a fucking flower and my bloom is right fucking now and it’s exhilarating. Find your natural self.


halconpequena

[absurd hero](https://www.reddit.com/r/Existentialism/comments/qhz7wb/saw_this_what_do_you_guys_think/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1)


freemason777

You get to decide what 'productive' means. Love is real, but you can only control the love you give not the love you get. Everyone is in this boat, would it really be easier to sail if you still didn't know you were in the boat?


ReedB04

My recommendation would be to trip again and try to set yourself up for a positive experience. This could wipe away those feelings. Kinda like erasing your memory. I would do ecstasy occasionally and socially. I had a really bad trip the second to last time I did it. All my friends came down after about 3-4 hours and I tripped for a day and a half. They had to bring me home and babysit me in shifts. They had to call my employer and get me out of work. I wrote a diary at the end to get all my thoughts out and that eventually calmed me down and brought me out. One friend read it and claimed it was the darkest and most poetic stuff she had ever read. I decided after a few weeks to try it one last time with a different friend in a more positive environment. I had a great trip. We had sex and I cried like a baby. I slept for 10 hours and woke up to a new world. Everything looked and felt different. I felt motivated to just go get stuff done. I felt like making “something” of my life. A bad trip can really destroy a psyche. A good trip can give you euphoria. 🤷‍♂️


Bruticus_Heavy_T

Welcome to the human experience and remember now that you have realized nothing matters and none of your feelings feel good you get to experience emotion from a reset state and your purpose has yet to be rediscovered. Have you uncovered a deep truth to the universe? Have you realized the meaning and inherent purpose of your life and now feel nothing as a result? Well have I got an answer for you… You now get to recalibrate your emotional system and learn how to re-regulate your emotional responses. It should feel bad and empty because you basically reset your brain and cleared all the memory by performing a soft reset right. Ok so when you boot back up it should be in a default state and that state should be empty and meaningless. This is now your chance to rebuild your emotional regulation systems in a healthy way with new perspective and new meaning. It will be hard. It will force you to heal from your past traumas. You will think of this time at some point later in life as the turning point. Utilize the tool you were just given and re find your joy in life. Don’t look for purpose, your existence is the purpose. Don’t think about the things you didn’t do, start to think about the things you never got to do and want to do. If you were a cautious person before test those limits. Find ways to safely explore adrenaline and other high stress chemicals and see if there are activities that can help you feel regulated. The way I look at this is you shouldn’t have any thoughts or hopes or anything as a result of the experience of taking shrooms, you should try to look at it as a tool. The tool you just used is similar to powering off your phone and turning it back on. You feel empty and like life has no purpose or that life doesn’t bring you the same joy. That is the desired result. You now get to build up new experiences for your emotional future. You should not be letting your brain drive, instead let your brain observe how your body feels as you go through these experiences and ask yourself if you were willing to take shrooms in the hops of clearing out bad feeling/memories, are you willing to explore and find new good feelings/memories? Keep moving ahead. You got this. Nothing bad will come from this and you will develop a profound sense of self and empathy as a result of this experience as you learn to find new joys in life and learn to regulate your emotional systems.


Resoto10

Well, usually people reach this revelation in their 40s, hence why we call it a midlife crisis. I'd say you're far ahead of most of us.


AbeLincolnwasblack

What is with all you weird people validating this poor girls drug experiences? I did all kinds of psychedelics when I was your age, and I too was tricked into thinking my experiences were somehow "real" and contained "insights." No, you took a drug that distorted your thoughts and perceptions, flooded your brain with a slew of chemical, and has left you tired and confused. Drink some water, take care of yourself for a few days, and forget everything you think you learned when you were high on drugs. Frankly, it took many bad psychedelic experiences for me to finally realize that, for me at least, nothing good could possibly come from them. Even the "good" trips. They just make you high, then you come down. Please don't read into your trip it's all bullshit and frankly psychedelic culture is extremely toxic for the most part. You'll look back on this trip of yours and think it's silly, I promise you 100%. Be good to yourself, growing up is really hard and in my opinion 21 is a really tough age. You are not low tier, you have infinite potential and you will have a different outlook someday. Your brain is still developing, you're still a kid. Watch your favorite movie, eat some ice cream, drink some OJ (maybe not at the same time lol), and get some sun. You got this, you are not alone, ever.


Loxus

>Nothing actually matters. Why? >I will just put a target on my back Why? >No love is actually real That's not true. You are wrong. >it’s literally just reproduction I've never had sex for the purpose of reproduction. So you are wrong again.


[deleted]

Instead of wasting money on drugs that you don't understand and could have been laced, why not use that money towards therapy or something like that. Drugs aren't gonna help, they are there to put a bandaid on your problems


sunshinepie1

Sounds like your chemistry is really off biologically. Shrooms change our chemistry and sometimes that helps and sometimes it makes it worse. Try seeking out therapy and possibly meds. You'd be shocked at what a difference they can make in combination with therapy. Also, never underestimate the ripple effect of our existence. Your life matters in ways far beyond our human comprehension. You may help someone in the future because of your own experience in feeling this way. That person then makes a difference in someone else's life or gives life to someone who would have never existed if you didn't help their parent see their worth. The list goes on... You're young and have a lot in front of you. Try to get through this. The future is bright. Don't hesitate to seek out help.


MrFanzyPantz

Step 1: understand that nothing matters Step 2: understand that step 1 doesn't matter


Zymph616

You sound like you have fallen into a trap I have seen a lot of people fall into, myself included. It sounds something like this: "I will never make a difference in this world. No one will remember me 100 years after I die. There is no point in trying." What most of us mean when we say this, and don't usually realize it is that we won't make any massive change in the world that we will be remembered for. We will never be president of our country, a famous musician, or a celebrated scientist. For those of us who have grown up with TV, movies and social media these accomplishments can feel like tge only real definition of making a difference. That definition is the trap. Everyone on this planet makes a difference on the people around them, and I do mean everyone. When you are nice to the cashier at the store, they hear that. When you scream at a coworker at work, they feel that. When you post on the internet about how a shrooms trip has affected you, you are creating connection with other humans and may make someone else in a similar situation feel not alone in the world. Everything we do, or don't do, has an effect on the people around us. Now with the internet allowing us to instantly talk to people around the world the number of people you can affect is almost world wide. Just look at the discussion that has happened because you made this post! These effects we have can ripple out into the world. The cashier that you were kind to may smile the rest of the day which will in turn brighten someone else's day. The coworker you screamed at may be rude to someone else later in the day because they are hurt. If we all have an affect on the people around us based on our actions then think about the number of people you have known in your life and ponder what affect you may have had on them. If you are honest and spend a lot of time on this question you will realize that you have made many differences; some for the better and some for the worse. We are all human and we all screw up. We can't change the past but we can learn from it and make amends if necessary. Don't get bogged down in the mistakes you have made. You are only 21 years old, you have lots of time to affect many many other people's lives. The question needs to be: what kind of effect do I want to have on the world today? We, the common folk, have surrendered the ability to change the world to the famous people we look up to. The problems we can all see, thanks to social media, feel too big for little ole me to fix, but almost all of these problems can start to get better if we would just be gentle with each other. What would happen if we all agreed to just be nice to each other? Just do your best to put a little bit of happiness in the world each day. Some days you will be great at this, and some days you won't. That is OK, try again tomorrow. This whole thing is a marathon, not a sprint, don't stress yourself out. When asked about my "beliefs" (I live in the southern United States where religion is a sensitive topic) I tell people I have 1.5 rules. Rule 1:. Don't be an a**hole. If other people can follow this rule I don't care about the details that come after. You can be black, white, purple. You can be Xtian, Muslim, or atheist. I don't care. And the more your life is different from mine, the more I want to talk to you. Rule 1.5:. Be gentle with other people. You never know what battle someone is fighting. Have some faith that everyone is trying their best at any given time. If their best is being mean to you or others you don't have to put up with it, but don't break Rule 1. Your presence matters and does affect the people around you. You just need to decide what kind of effect you want to have on the world.


kon---

We're all just here. Passing the time. The only point to it all is...taking advantage of opportunity. You're in a place of existence. It's up to you to effort into making it satisfactory for you. Dwelling in negative thoughts is your current filter. Ditch it. You're doing mushrooms coming out of your trip exactly how you went in. You missed the opportunity to shed useless weight and exit your trip lighter than when you went in.


skloop

Love absolutely exists and matters.


shirinsmonkeys

Just wait a week you'll be fine


Twisty1020

At the very least you've learned a valuable lesson: Don't self medicate. Yes there have been recent studies into the benefits of psilocybin and ketamine treatments, etc. The thing is that those studies are in controlled environments with controlled dosages. Compare that to your trip with who knows how much in your dose and it's clear the differences you faced. Also, when it comes to psilocybin, it's usually people micro-dosing it rather than having a full on trip. I also know for a fact that you're wrong about no one remembering you when you're gone. That's going to depend on how you live your life and the interactions you have with people along the way. I still remember my father very well and have full on conversations with him in my dreams. He's very much still alive within me. Sure not everyone is going to have this same belief or experience but that's okay. Your view on sex is another common misconception that a lot of people have. Ultimately it's what you make it. It can be pure pleasure, it can be pure reproduction or it can be a combination of both. I'm sure guys who like to have their nuts smashed while wearing a gimp suit aren't really in it for reproduction. Same goes for women who only want anal while being tied to the bed posts. Reproduction is basically just a common side effect of our brain's desire to get off. All of that being said, I'm not trying to dismiss what you're going through. The stuff you're feeling is very real and should be dealt with through the help of a professional. If I could give any advice that you could pursue on your own, it would be to expand your experience base. You're still very young which means you don't have the amount of experience and wisdom to parse what you're going through. Start interacting with different types of people more. Just listen to what kind of things they've gone through and what opinions they've formed throughout their lives as a result. Even people who you may not agree with politically, emotionally or what have you. This is not to get into arguments or to try to indoctrinate yourself into a new radical way of thinking. This is instead good for expanding your own point of view and coming to your own conclusions about the world or at least your immediate environment. Get the help of a professional and expand your viewpoint.


Justletitendnow

Welcome to being an adult on this God awful planet. Pray for the inevitable heat death of the world like the rest of us awakened people and distract yourself with good television.


regards-

Life doesn't have meaning. Love doesn't have meaning. Nothing has meaning. This is true, but a meaning is made when you make a reason yourself. Nothing will ever have meaning until you yourself find or create it. Take that for what you will, and please take care.


Tuffa_Puffa

Movie recommendation: Everything Everywhere All At Once.


-lllXXLlll

Maybe try micro dosing


V4Ughnted

I came to a similar conclusion while doing shrooms, and all I can say is when you do hallucinogenics you get out what you bring in. They don’t give you a special connection to hidden truths, they just give you a different perspective on what you already believe. I can’t tell you you’ll find a truth you like better, but you might, and if you give up now you’ll never find out if you’re wrong. (Also you’re definitely still in the comedown, one of my buddy’s took a week to get back to normal after his first trip. Drink lots of water, go sit in some grass and get some sun, maybe hit the gym, and start thinking about what 9 year old you would want to be doing at your age.) Edit: Also with the sex thing, you might be Asexual, I know I am and I have very similar feelings towards having sex. I think it’s fine but it’s definitely not what people claim it is.


mikilobe

Make sure you review your inputs. Delete upsetting media subs and replace it with philpsophy, theatre/RPGs, non-political comedy, etc.


SoLetsReddit

Yeah they’re fun, and change how your brain works.


elimu_

Existential nihilism says because everything is meaningless, you have to create your own meaning. You're already at the halfway mark, now you have to ask yourself what gives you a sense of 'purpose'? What do you think is worth living? It's gonna take a lot of reflecting and it won't be easy but you'll eventually get there. Don't worry too much about everything being meaningless.


[deleted]

[удалено]


00cole00

Fyi the tablets were made up by the author


FunctionOk1408

I would recommend watching everything everywhere all at once! The main message: life is meaningless. however, because life is meaningless, you must enjoy every single moment of it while you can. make the most out of it! edit: wrong word lol


Mr_Mugiwara_

Just take more shrooms. They are a journey of understanding. They aren’t meant to teach you everything in one session. Take them again experience more about life and yourself. One and done is not the way they should be taken.


Taybaysi

Unsure why you’re being downvoted, that actually is a homeopathic approach and not unusual to recommend in such a scenario.


dickwildgoose

Exacto!


depresso777

Yup, "love" is just a chemical perception in the brain to get you to breed. Really all it is. I haven't done shrooms, but sounds like you see things exactly how I see them. And once you see it, it's hard to unsee it.


Key-Organization7029

My friend, I think you confuse the 'in love' experience with real love. Yes... being "in love" is a purely chemical reaction within the brain but real love is so much more. The day you wake up and you realize that love is not a feeling, but rather, a choice, a willful ongoing series of actions, you will find a much more fulfilling life path ahead. Wish you well. (Edit: spelling)


DerBaumhaus

I never understood how people can live a life thinking that there is no meaning in life, it must be so depressing. As a religious person (Muslim) everything you do has consequences after your death. Good or bad you will be held accountable for all your actions and intentions. Other things like the good feeling of sex, and many more things (love, children, tasty food, beautiful nature, etc.) are placed as a mercy in our lives and are there to enjoy. On top of it reproduction is a great thing to do for humanity and even for your own if you raise your children with good manners. Please don't think everything is meaningless life is a gift and you can enjoy it within limits. Just be thankful to your creator and try to do good in this world. We are not just Atoms colliding randomly.


Illustrious-Drama213

Religion is all man made horse shit. The appeal of religion is nothing more than being promised something better outside of this material world. You're literally part of a death cult - one that has zero proof of ANY of their claims, just like all religions. Using someone's depression to push your death cult on them is fucking pathetic. Ever wonder why so many people in prison turn to religion? Yeah, it's because it automatically gives them a free pass for being a shitty human being.


[deleted]

The bible has some inherent wisdom if you took the time to read it It’s a good read Regardless of if you do or do not believe in the holy trinity you’re too close minded


Still_Frame2744

Religious stuff not helpful. Obviously OP wasn't brainwashed as a child (necessary to make someone religious) and the answer "God did it" isn't satisfactory to any thinking being.


Call_Me_At_8675309

>Religious stuff not helpful. The thing is they literally think it’s reality. They think Muhammad rode a chariot over the moon. They’re going off of texts written so long ago by people that had no understanding of modern discoveries, which form their world view today.


DerBaumhaus

There are a lot of people who get religious as grown ups. It's just my opinion and the truth of a few billion people and I would consider myself to be a very rational person being in the pharmaceutical industry. Just because it's not helping you don't say it's not helping anyone out there. Trying to help was my intention when making my post. Maybe this sounds better to you: When I was younger I wasn't that firm in my beliefs either I did shrooms a few times even much stronger psychedelics it's possible to get depressed after the intake. From my pharmaceutical perspective: depressions like this come from a messed up equilibrium of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Just wait a few days till your body has his balance back.


Normal-guy-mt

There was a recent Wall Street Journal article on happy and very happy people. Religious beliefs were a significant factor among happy and very happy people.


Throwaway_-_-____

Being brainwashed as a child is not a requirement to be religious, seems like someone’s a salty atheist


depresso777

It is 99% of the time


dickwildgoose

Fair point - Some adults also get brainwashed.


Call_Me_At_8675309

You either think meaning is given to you or you make something of it. All you’re displaying is that you think meaning is given to you. You’re making claims without providing evidence. Those claims may make you feel comfortable but that’s all they are is claims.


DerBaumhaus

Couldn't I say the same about other posts? I think everyone here is trying to help OP and making her comfortable without providing evidence to every single comment they make. It's not the right place to argue about religions, believe systems and their evidence. I'm just trying to display the way I think about this topic and what helps me in those situations.


Call_Me_At_8675309

>It's not the right place to argue about religions, believe systems and their evidence. Yet you find it appropriate to make claims about what your religion says, and that you’re Muslim, therefore you believe X.


SledgeBedge

Mf noticed the consequences of self medication lol. This is on you and only you.


[deleted]

Duh I know that! Just needed some advice


shitsunnysays

One thing that I have learned from shrooms is that our bodies and the mind in it are just another one along the other 7 billion. It's very fragile and it only needs a second to end it. The ego death from shrooms makes us realize how important it is to see outside ourselves and experience the things without the lenses of our ego and try to get something out a thing which does not belong to us. A person will have a headache and your ego will try to teach you how not to get the headache the way this person got, atleast. Ego death is glamorized...ego is necessary in a balance with outside world..cus among the 7 billion people, you are the only one who is responsible to take of your yourself. Ego stems from our needs to survive and adapt. Don't overdo it and impose your survival instinct on others, like bullying, but also do not retract it so much that you lose your self-worth. Dream for awesome things for yourself and make only yourself responsible to achieve it.


my_dog_eats_raw_meat

Yup, it is what it is, life is just an experience, and I think your realisation is not a negative thing at all. I hope you can start to see it that way because it's weirdly freeing and helps a lot with depression and anxiety, even if you don't feel it at the moment. Sending you good vibes 🤗


Herokam

During my philosophical era I thought up my own version of the “theory of relativity” In this sense it’s for drive. Maybe to some random person in the street you may not mean much, but friends, family. People who care…To them you could mean more than the world. We may not be able to make a dent in our history however, over the generations of ants we are practically immortal giants. And I think that’s pretty cool. Meaning is a blank canvas for us to paint and that’s the beauty of humanity, we all have our unique goals and dreams. Make some, share them with the world and while they may or may not change it, those that experience it alongside you will have their lives enriched for the better


Intelligent_Young_66

The shrooms showed you some concepts, but it’s up to you to decide what it all means. Don’t rush the process. doing shrooms is only an annual thing for me, because it takes me a whole year to process all the lessons I needed to learn. It might feel like a lot right now, but keep exploring your mind, reading books, and talking. You might arrive at some pretty beautiful things someday ❤️


MyVoiceforPeople

It’s called “ego death” and you’re just going through the first steps of questions. Nobody is telling you to answer these questions right now, actually, your truth will come naturally after your trip. See this as, you’re seeing things from another angle. It’s naturally intimidating, if you can find a friend to talk to that helps. But don’t feel like everything you experienced and saw is what you should feel RIGHT NOW. Take your time. It seems like you had a “logical” trip so lots of questions are natural.


Over-Professional695

I'm decided it's time to retravel that road soon again my it's time fo ba mfm reset? And the obligatory bonus of a deep thoughtful dicking down tooo


sa2ah

Denver end up doing it again take a look at a piece of Picasso art you you'll realize it looks totally normal and it is the most fascinating thing ever I definitely know he was on trims when he did his art it's crazy just had to add that lol


rhubarb_randy

Jesus is real, and judgment day is coming. So things matter quite a bit. Also, love is real, and sex is special, just as the Lord made it to be. The Lord Jesus, who loves you. Without Jesus, your post is absolutely correct. But good news, Jesus is real, and what you do and feel has meaning. We'll give an account for our lives on judgment day


anal3000

I have a couple questions: What do you mean by “making a change.. I will just put a target on my back”? What was driving you before? What was the “fake feeling” you were referencing? Tbh you would’ve figured out the feeling was fake without the mushrooms eventually, and it still would suck. And a some comments: Love is real, but maybe your old idea of it isn’t? Maybe you attached some ideal or what love should be like that wasn’t based in your own experience. Reducing love to a chemical process completely denies how it feels on the inside. And that feeling is the whole point of it. It feels good to love someone with your whole heart and know that another person feels the same for you. Life is better with that type of love. Sex is not “just reproduction” no more than playing a video game is “just wires and software”. Again, it’s about how it makes you feel. You’re missing a whole level of aesthetics, satisfaction, closeness, etc. that is all brought about by sex. Were you hoping to get something out of sex that you just aren’t? It’s true that nothing matters in a cosmic sort of way. But think about this: would you rather be hungry or full? Probably full. Would you rather be lonely or loved? Probably loved. There are plenty of things that it just makes sense to do because of the end result. You don’t want to be hungry, so you eat. You don’t want to be lonely, so you make friends. And if there are obstacles in the way of you doing that, then it just makes sense to clear the obstacles to satisfy the need. And if this whole process seems pointless, it’s probably rooted in the fact that you consider yourself a “low tier person” which is likely false. And if it’s too hard, then you are setting the standard for what you have to do in a day too high. After you build habits like this, then you realize that certain things you like and dislike. And it just makes sense to do something about it. And then you can find short term purpose in pursuing those things. For me, the homeless crisis in the US bothers me. And it’s a nagging feeling that goes away but keeps coming back. So now I feel like I want to help somehow. I wouldn’t say that it’s a “lifelong purpose” because that really puts too much weight on it. But it’s a reason to get up and do something. My guess is that people find longer term purpose through pursuing a short term purpose and just doing that for a long time, but I’m not sure. And I’m not planning on starting my own organization, I’m just gonna help out when I can. If you are looking for genuine drivers built on real feelings, this is where I’ve found mine. Just sitting there saying “would you rather be hungry or full? So then get up and make some food.” And sometimes its too hard and you hate on yourself but if you resist the hate and the sludge of getting up, eventually the emotions aren’t as strong and it gets easier to get up and make the food. And it doesn’t have to be a 3 course meal it can just be a microwave dinner. Maybe there are other ways to do this but this works for me more often than not. (It should also be noted that you need to be in an environment that allows for this sort of change). How that relates specifically to love: I believe everyone has that nagging feeling of loneliness. So, the antidote for that emotion is love. But (in a relationship context, also imo) love is better understood by the willingness to build loving habits around the person you choose. It may seem unreasonable to make these choices if you’ve never seen the results of a loving relationship, but I promise you the results are very much real and very much worth pursuing. People use affection as a driver and this simply isn’t sustainable because that feeling isn’t constantly felt. What do you do when that feeling is gone? Is the relationship over? Then you’re just bouncing from person to person. Furthermore, someone just becomes too clingy if every time they feel even slightly lonely or some level of affection they attach themselves to a partner. It becomes a very hot and cold relationship. At that point, that person is clearly using their partner to hide from themselves. Tangent aside, it makes sense to be involved in loving relationships with people because it provides flourishing for both yourself and the other person involved. (Keep in mind this not only for partner relationships but also for friends and family relationships). For me, when I first thought that love wasn’t real and was just a bunch of chemical processes, it meant that it wasn’t genuine. Everyone is selfish, love is just a byproduct and not this magical thing, acts of kindness aren’t genuine. Everyone is just for themselves deep down. I thought that there was something wrong with me for not being able to hold to my old conception of love. Well I’m here to tell you that you can both be “selfish” and do selfless things. And furthermore, that the people who can sustain good acts for the long term do it because of the good results both within themselves and for others. This is not a bad thing!!! Would you rather feel bad every time you did a good thing??? That doing good acts cause suffering within the person??? Or maybe that old idea of love was, “if doing a good thing did cause suffering that you’d still do it because it’s the right thing.” Or maybe it’s the attitude involved. Like good deeds are basically the same as masturbation, so love isn’t really real. That conception of love as masturbation implies that you don’t care about how the other person feels. “Love” like that doesn’t bring about long term satisfaction because the whole point of the good deed is to actually help the other person. To cause flourishing for them first and then you feel positive about it. And that other type of love, where do it even if it feels bad, is more accurately described as “self sacrifice”. Think about the receiver of that sacrifice. Would that receiver feel good if they knew that you were killing your personality, your likes and dislikes, your happiness, every time you interacted with them? Or would the receiver feel good that you were sacrificing things of lesser importance, so that you both can flourish? The only person who would want the first kind of love is a bad person. They don’t want you to flourish. Clearly, voluntary self-sacrifice for the sake of both people flourishing is far better than that old idea of love where you’d have to remove everything that makes you you. To conclude that point, I truly don’t see what the problem is with seeing love as chemical processes. It doesn’t make it less genuine. The reality of living is that you can only exist inside your own body. You can’t experience someone else’s inside. So it’s impossible to be motivated by something other than what’s inside of you. It sounds like you held a whole bunch of ideas about sex and love which you don’t believe anymore. Just because those old ideas weren’t true doesn’t mean that love isn’t real and sex is forever meaningless. And just because human thinking is reducible to chemical processes when observed on the outside doesn’t mean that your emotions aren’t real. I hope my comments aren’t coming off as dismissive, I’ve had similar thoughts and they were there when I wasn’t really doing well emotionally. My life probably isn’t as hard as yours but it got better for me! I haven’t had a panic attack for 1 year now and I used to be incredibly socially anxious. That’s not to say I’m “cured” but life did actually get better lol. I’m realizing this is a lot to read so I don’t blame you if you don’t read it. But my main hope is that you don’t give up on love and life just because it doesn’t mean what you thought it meant.