KeepFighting

Hi mate. Your experience sounds very similar to mine. Took LSD 4 times aged 14, and had HPPD more than 20 years. I'm now 35. I have the same symptoms, apart from the morphing faces. I've had some dark times too, but never tried medication. Just tried to live a normal life and have found comfort in the knowledge that most people do so. I went to uni and have carved out an ok sort of career, travelled the world and have a good family (most of them!) so I just try to count the good things. It was never hugely into drugs after LSD scared the shit out of me all those years ago. I had the occasional social joint, but have decided to completely stop that now. I've flirted with cocaine a bit in my 30s, but think that may have made things worse - so giving that one up now too. I e joy beers at weekends to relax. The main things that help me are staying positive and lots of exercise. I feel fantastic after a good two-hour workout, and it's the only time I think I ever truly forget about HPPD. Hope you continue to keep a handle on things. I guess there are people out there with much bigger problems.

Hi folks Had HPPD 21 years after taking acid 4 times. Only started learning about HPPD over the last few years. Anyway I might be preaching to the converted here, but just wanted to let people know I've been doing the old "Dry January" - completely cutting out alcohol - and it's had a really noticeable positive effect. Reduction in some visuals and feel much more clear-headed, balanced and happy. Sleeping much better too, and a bit less snow. I cut out drugs and smoking years ago but have always drunk alcohol (mostly only at weekends, but in fairly large amounts). I didn't think it had much of a negative effect, but maybe I was wrong. I'm not going alcohol free for good, as To be honest I use it too relax, as a bit of an escape (I don't like to use the word crutch, but maybe that's what it is). But this has certainly made me think about how much I drink, and the potentially harmful effect it has on the brain. I can recommend having a break! Hope everyone's well and things are looking good for 2016.

Hope everyone is having a good one. HPPD is rubbish, but it shouldn't stop us leading a (fairly) normal life. Onwards... Cheers! :-)

Hope everyone is having a good one. HPPD is rubbish, but it shouldn't stop us leading a (fairly) normal life. Onwards... Cheers! :-)

I'm 35 and have had HPPD 21 years after taking strong acid four times. I've managed to get on with things and have a normal life, but am only now really coming to terms with it and trying to fully understand it. At least you already know what HPPD is, and that there are many other sufferers. For about 15 years I just thought I was some sort of freak, and had no idea. I've never told any of my friends or family - to this day. I guess the best thing to remember is most people do find a way to rationalise it all and lead a happy life. Sounds like it's early days for you, so you could even recover fully. Good luck!

Jay, as a fellow long timer, did your visuals improve over time? I feel I've come to terms with most of the other aspects of HPPD ... but still live in hope of one day having "normal" vision. Mine improved in some ways (no longer see stuff moving/melting as much) but snow never improved, and a weird sort of "flickering" effect I get. I've been a total idiot this year as I took cocaine a couple of times - and think it may have aggravated things a bit. Got a bit too confident with my "recovery" I guess. Anyway I'm 35 now ... and it started at 14, so I guess I should expect it to be with me forever.

Had HPPD 20 years and largely managed to cope and function without meds, etc. But one of the main things I think about every single day is - would my life have been different? What if I hadn't had this huge paranoid burden growing up as a teenager? Would I have done a different job, met different girls, been to different places? Does this shit even lower our IQ? I've always tried to console myself in the belief that if I hadn't taken acid, maybe I would've gone on to take heroin and ended up with even worse drug related problems. But I still constantly wonder how different life may have been had I never got HPPD. I have an ok life these days and have a lot to be thankful for, but HPPD is with me every day and I still think about this stuff all the time. Just wondered if anyone else was thinking the same

Hi folks. I've had HPPD 20 years after taking acid aged 14. Never even knew what it was until about 6 years ago - just thought I'd taken "too much acid". Anyway it's got steadily better over all these years, but recently suffered a bit of a relapse after stupidly taking cocaine. It's got me wondering - what else may have prolonged my HPPD, or slowed my recovery. I've never been big on drugs but have always drunk alcohol. Never thought alcohol would be an issue, but am I wrong? Have read a few comments now from people who seem to have has bad experiences with alcohol?

Hi folks. I've had HPPD 20 years after taking acid aged 14. Never even knew what it was until about 6 years ago - just thought I'd taken "too much acid". Anyway it's got steadily better over all these years, but recently suffered a bit of a relapse after stupidly taking cocaine. It's got me wondering - what else may have prolonged my HPPD, or slowed my recovery. I've never been big on drugs but have always drunk alcohol. Never thought alcohol would be an issue, but am I wrong? Have read a few comments now from people who seem to have has bad experiences with alcohol?

Welcome to the club :-) You sound pretty positive about things, which I think is key to dealing with HPPD. I've had it 20 years now, after taking acid 4 times aged 14. Sadly for me it seems to be a life sentence, but I has eased a little bit over the years. I also managed to focus on other things - uni, travel, work, etc, and just tried to throw myself into life and forget about it. Everyone's different though, so here's hoping your HPPD gets better soon. The keys to coping for me are: Positivity Acceptance (there's no magic cure) Exercise - really helps Cutting out drugs (obvs) Perspective - things could be worse Don't dwell on symptoms Having said all that, I'm only just really coming to terms with HPPD after 20 years. I'm quite new on the forum and trying to learn as much as I can from others. I've had some pretty dark times but have never let it get in the way of trying to lead a normal life.

For what it's worth, I'm 35 now and have always drunk alcohol - in various amounts. And my HPPD got steadily better over the years - until this year when I stupidly took cocaine a few times and had a bit of a relapse. I suspect alcohol is not a major worry - but would like to hear more from others.

Cheers Lily, it sounds like you have a really mature approach to it all. I guess that's the key - keeping things in perspective, and accepting life will always be different with HPPD. Good luck with your parenthood mission!

Hi folks Fairly new to the forum, had HPPD 20 years after taking LSD four times as a teenager. Managed to battle through without meds and have a normal life - but now trying to find out all I can about this condition, for the first time really. I've learnt that drugs don't mix. But what are people's experiences with alcohol? Has anyone noticed any improvement after giving it up for good? I've always drank pretty heavily at weekends - is there a chance that can make HPPD permanently worse? I notice my visuals get a lot worse with a hangover, but feel it's sort of worth it, as I do enjoy a few drinks at the end of the week to relax. And actually, I feel it even reduces symptoms at the time. Sorry if this is going over old ground, but I'm a late-comer in exploring HPPD ... I've spent most of the last 20 years in denial I think. Cheers, and have a good weekend people :-)

Did you notice a big difference when you cut out alcohol? I only drink at weekends, but sometimes binge have quite few and notice visuals are much worse when I'm hungover. But didn't think alcohol had any long term effect? I stopped smoking and taking drugs for years but recently did cocaine a few times - and can confirm that certainly wasn't a good idea. Made things worse - but hoping it's only temporary. Agree, acceptance is a big part of recovery. The best thing anyone with HPPD can do is try to let go.

I would say there's a very good chance, Lily. I don't know of any cases where it has happened, but as you say it stands to reason being predisposed to HPPD could be hereditary - given that most mental illnesses are. I've been wondering the same actuslly. I'm now 35 and have had HPPD since I was 14. As a fellow long-timer, have you found anything that helps in terms of treatment? I've managed without medication all these years and lead a normal, fairly happy life, so I'm reluctant to start taking potentially addictive medications with possible side effects. But HPPD still gets me down quite a lot. I'm new to the forum so trying to absorb any advice I can find.