Pivotal Mental States

Pivotal Mental States (PiMS) are states of mind created by profound psychological events which shift default thought patterns. PiMS are an evolved feature of human brains as they aid in overwriting outdated ways of thinking when novel, actual or perceived environmental pressures demand this. PiMS exert their effect by inducing neuroplastic states, which given the correct priming, setting and integration allows the user to eliminate out-of-date thought patterns and strengthen healthier, more adapted ones. Specific PiMS have been shown clinically to ease psychological transitions away from egocentrism toward ecocentrism.

Chemically induced PiMS

Figure 1. Pivotal mental states induced by psychedelics.

The easiest way to induce a PiMs is by the use of certain chemicals.

Psychedelics

Psychedelics are exogenous neurotransmitters that when administered correctly can safely and proundly shift normal thought patterns (see Figure 1). This is achieved by causing brain function to be less constrained than usual by modulating the presence or absence of underlying anatomical connections. There is a common misconception about psychedelics propagated by the War on Drugs which manifests medically as Psychedelic Anxiety Syndrome. Instead of psychedelics being detrimental to one's health there is a vast amount of evidence to suggest that they are highly effective in treating mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Non chemically induced PiMs

Near Death Experience

A Near-death-experience (NDE) is an intense psychological experience characterized by an atypical state of consciousness usually in life-threatening conditions. NDEs in general are typically characterised by Out of Body Experiences and hallucinations which are affected by set and setting much like psychedelics. Some evidence suggests that dissociatives such as ketamine or classical psychedelics such as DMT can induce this state however historically, a defunct class of drugs called the pseudohallucinogens is also thought to bridge this gap by actually causing a near death experience! These compounds consist of a diverse range of chemicals the effects of which broadly are considered poisonous, these include:

• Nutmeg / mace
• Wisteria sinenis

Electroconvulsive Therapy

When people think of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) they often think of the process depicted in the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. A lone patient with electrodes attached to their head convulsing in pain... This was an over dramatisation, the modern process is far from what was depicted. Since its introduction in the 1930's, various changes to pulse width, dosing and duration, electrode placement and anaesthesia have made the treatment almost unrecognisable. Research has shown that 64% to 87% of patients with severe MDD respond to ECT, with response rates as high as 95% for patients with MDD with psychotic features. Furthermore, in otherwise healthy patients with intellectual disability, a retrospective chart review performed at Cambridge university has shown that 79% showed a positive outcome following ECT. There is some evidence to suggest that ECT causes similar long and short term effects to psychedelics in some in vivo case studies.

Overview Effect

Astronauts looking back at Earth with the naked eye often suddenly get an overwhelming responsibility to protect it. When they see only a fine blue line of atmosphere that shelters our only planet from the hostile vacuum of space, national borders disappear; and the scene often evokes a feeling of cosmic connection. This so-called “overview effect” has been turning astronauts into environmental advocates ever since the first person in space.

Yuri Gagarin, upon his return as the first human in space, marvelled at the planet from orbit in 1961. “People of the world, let us safeguard and enhance this beauty — not destroy it,” . A half-century later, ex-NASA astronaut José Hernández said that the view aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 2009 turned him into “an instant treehugger.” On Christmas Eve 1968, NASA astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders were aboard Apollo 8, the first manned mission to orbit the Moon. They had spent most of the day photographing the Moon’s surface when Borman turned the spaceship around, and Earth came into view. ‘Oh my God, look at that picture over there. Here’s the Earth coming up,’ shouted Anders. Like the astronauts themselves, the world was awestruck by the first images of the whole Earth from space, which are today widely credited with triggering the birth of the modern environmental movement.

Spiritual experiences

Whilst unproven scientifically, (it would be very difficult due to the subjective nature) spiritual experiences have been shown to shift modes of general thought patterns. Pharmacologically the human brain has been found to produce endogenous psychedelic compounds (DMT), some believe that certain techniques may be helpful in unleashing its effect:

• Holotropic breathing techniques - 30 minutes breathing in a controlled, three-beat pattern — one sharp breath into my belly, one sharp breath into my lungs, and a sigh-like exhale to release.

Stroboscopics

Stroboscopics is a technique that flashes a bright light into the eyes of patients that in turn induces visual hallucinations. The process works as the speed at which the light is flashing is the same speed as the transmission rate of the optical nerve, this causes an temporary interference pattern which disorientates optical transmission to the brain leading to visual hallucinations similar to effects induced by psychedelic substances.

Optical Illusions

Whilst one of the weakest ways to induce PiMS, optical illusions can provide a gateway for people to start to ask elementary questions about their perceptions and start them on the path to overcome their Psychedelic Anxiety Syndrome.

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References