Substances affecting Psi generation

[WolfRaider]

I recently found out that after I smoke I can barely generate any psi at all. Also my sensitivity drops significantly and the effect lasts for about a hour.

So here's the theory: Nicotine lowers the generation ablility
and sensitivity for as long as it is present in the system.

Let's disscuss it.
Anyone else has another theory? Any other substances that creates similar effect(s)?

Or is it only me that nicotine effects?

[Elliptic]

It seems irrational to assume that nicotine, given its relatively small influence through nicotonic receptors, is the actual cause of decrease psi production. However, the large dopaminergic effect, increasing the amount of dopamine, which functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, available to the frontal cortex, would cut down drastically on the amount of superfluous neural activity...and assuming psi is a byproduct of the functioning of the nervous system (a relatively well founded assumption, at this point) we would see a reduction in psi production based on that.

[WolfRaider]

Yes, that's true. But it is the nicotine that actually increases the dopamine.
It seems I haven't expressed myself clearly enough in the original post, my mistake...

[Elliptic]

I should think that anything with a major dopaminergic effect would behave similarly.

[darkmythology]

I take a minor anti-depressent for anxiety daily, and my personal experience, combined with what I've read and heard from others, seems to indicate that any sort of SSRI, as well as anything affecting the dopamine systems seem to dampen psi ability. This meshed fairly well with the hypothesis that there is a correlation between emotional and depressive disorders and psi ability. So I'd say that cigs, often used by schizophrenics to self-medicate, could definately have a noticable effect on psi ability.

~DarkMythology

[Nightshade]

sorry to reply so late, but i smoke, and it doesn't seem to affect my generation at all. and when i was depressed (though not on medication) and i smoked, there wasn't an effect at all. i think it varies from person to person, or maybe how experienced you are. the longer you practice psi while smoking, the more resistant you are with the side effects (if there are any). take shielding for example, when you first practice psi when you are a beginer with shields, it seems to constrict you and your abillities. but, after more practice and experience with the shields, you learn to work with it. thats my 2 cents.

[miri]

Have you ever practiced psi without smoking? If not that's not terribly provable a theory.

[Nightshade]

if you were referring to me, then yes. i practice psionics more when i'm not smoking than when i am, and i get the same results as when i practice when i am smoking. (except for smoke in the eyes lol)

[Sky]

Smoking overall isn’t good for your health. If it isn’t helping your psychical body why would you think it would help your practice with psionics? Unless you are desperately dependent on smoking, I would suggest that you take the time to practice without a cigarette in your mouth. I myself have never smoked so I can only give my opinion here. I can not speak out of experience.

[Nightshade]

i already knew that smoking wasn't good for my health, and i don't always "have a cigarette hanging out of my health" although i smoke, i still work out (run, lift weights, ect...) and practice martial arts for the 14th year in a row. i never thought that smoking would benefit me in anyway, but sometimes when you're suicidal, you look for anything to clear your mind of depression and anger. and all though that was a couple of years ago, i still smoke. i don't know why i even started it, and yes, i regret it. i guess when you know what you're already breathing in aside from smoking, just "natural" air, things such as formalahyde, sulfur dioxide, oxygen (which breaks down biological substances naturally) it just seems that you might as well smoke. sorry if this is a bit harsh, but i had a bad day, and to be honest, a lecture was the last thing i wanted to hear. :wink:

[Dante]

Just humor me here, because I know the following seems rather odd;

Whilst doing the vacumming, I stopped to have a ciggie, now, those familer with a Dyson hoover should know that it 'locks' upright, and falls to the ground if not upright. Whilst I went away to have a ciggie, someting struck me as odd, I didnt hear a bang of the hoovere hitting the floor, I went back into my research area, and lo and behold, the hoover was titling at a roughly 45 degreee angle! With ciggie in hand, I got closer, the hover then 'moved forward' before it dropped to the floor.

After taking it apart, I can find no reason for it 'locking' for it....