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      External hallucination

      An external hallucination is the perception of a visual hallucination that displays itself seamlessly into the external environment as if it were physically present. [1] [2] This is in stark contrast to internal hallucinations, such as dreams, that occur exclusively within an imagined environment and can typically only be viewed with closed eyes.
      700mg of DPH by Stas Constantine - This replication serves as an accurate example of deliriant external hallucinations.
      This effect is capable of manifesting itself across the 4 different levels of intensity described below:

      Level 1

      Fleeting hallucinations

      At the lowest level, external hallucinations generally consist of movement within the peripheral vision and ill-defined, fleeting hallucinations that disappear once a person double takes.

      Level 2

      Vaguely defined hallucinations

      At this level, the hallucinations are visible within one’s direct line of sight, but are not fully defined in their appearance. This means that, although visible, they do not look completely detailed and are often extremely blurry or semi-translucent with little to no colour.

      Level 3

      Partially defined hallucinations

      At this level, the hallucinations become distinct enough in their detail and vividness to extend beyond transparent, colourless, or blurry manifestations. However, they still remain unconvincing and do not quite live up to the detail of everyday life.

      Level 4

      Fully defined hallucinations

      At this level, the hallucinations have become completely realistic and will rarely disappear due to a double take. They are now capable of a completely convincing and photorealistic appearance and their behaviour becomes far more lifelike. Additionally, they may become numerous enough to fully engulf the entirety of the person’s environment.

      Alongside a specific levelling system, there are also environmental factors that directly alter both the likelihood of external hallucinations manifesting themselves and the level of detail they are rendered at. For example, the more unfamiliar with the external environment a person is, the more likely it is that this effect will manifest itself. Cluttered areas tend to produce more external hallucinations. The amount of light within a room is inversely proportional to the intensity of them, with less light leading to significantly more hallucinations and more light leading to fewer, although more detailed, hallucinations. The content within these external hallucinations can be further broken down into four distinct subcomponents. These are described and documented within their own dedicated articles, each of which are listed below: It is worth noting that the content, style, and general behaviour of an external hallucination is often largely dependent on the emotional state of the person experiencing it. For example, a person who is emotionally stable and generally happy will usually be more prone to experiencing neutral, interesting, or positive hallucinations. In contrast, a person who is emotionally unstable and generally unhappy will usually be more prone to experiencing sinister, fear-inducing, and negative hallucinations. External hallucinations are often accompanied by other coinciding effects such as delirium, internal hallucinations and delusions. They are most commonly induced under the influence of heavy dosages of deliriant compounds, such as DPH, datura, and benzydamine. However, they can also occur less commonly under the influence of psychedelics, dissociatives, stimulant psychosis, and sleep deprivation.

      Style Variations

      The specific differences between each potential style of external hallucination can be broken down into the following variations:

      Lucid vs Delirious

      A person experiencing a hallucinatory state can maintain a consistent level of awareness regarding the fact that none of these events are actually occurring and that the effects are simply the result of a drug-induced hallucination. In contrast with this, hallucinations may also become completely believable, no matter how nonsensical they may be. This is exactly the same way that people do not have any problem accepting absurd and non-linear plots within their dreams.

      Fixed vs Interactive

      Hallucinations can present themselves in a manner that prevents one from touching or conversing with the hallucination in any way. For example, a person’s hand may pass directly through a hallucinated object and cause it to disappear, or a hallucinated person may ignore any attempts at conversation. In contrast, certain hallucinations may present themselves in a manner that a person could potentially interact with through touch or speech.

      New experiences vs Old experiences

      In terms of their subject matter, hallucinations can either be entirely new experiences or they can be old, everyday experiences in the form of replayed memories.

      Controllable vs Autonomous

      Hallucinations can be partially to completely controllable or seemingly random in nature. When controllable, this can be described as their content always seeming to perfectly follow and fit the general subject matter of one’s current thought stream, with varying levels of control. In contrast, autonomous hallucinations are completely spontaneous in their subject matter and entirely uncontrollable.

      Geometry-based vs Solid

      Hallucinations can be comprised of condensed psychedelic geometry or they can appear to be made from realistic and/or lifelike materials. This is usually dependent upon the type of substance consumed.

      References

      1. [1][2][3]         Gauntlett-Gilbert, J., & Kuipers, E. (2003). Phenomenology of visual hallucinations in psychiatric conditions. The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 191(3), 203-205. | https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NMD.0000055084.01402.02
      2. Obreshkova, D., Kandilarov, I., Angelova, V. T., Iliev, Y., Atanasov, P., & Fotev, P. S. (2017). Pharmaco-toxicological aspects and analysis of phenylalkylamine and indolylalkylamine hallucinogens. Pharmacia, 64(1), 32-47. | http://bsphs.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Angelova.pdf

      Tags

      deliriant
      hallucinatory state
      sensory
      visual

      Contributors

      The following people contributed to the content of this article:

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