Nothing but clouds to hide under.

if you mean MDMA, then yes; MDMA also affects dopamine levels, and kicks dopamine into 5HT receptor sites...not good.

but stimulants tend to affect dopamine, without any affect on serotonin

right. if that's not enough to keep you from doing it, I dunno what is.

MDMA is certainly one of the more destructive psychedelics.

agreed. it was never one of my favorites; MDMA reverses reuptake transporters, and releases dopamine into the 5HT (serotonin)synaptic clefts...not to mention, it's also an actual neurotoxin.

I never really considered MDMA to be psychedelic.
It definetly alters your' state of consciousness, but so does meth. It may have psychiatric value in that it allowes a greater perspective, but it lacks the consciousness expanding characteristics of classic psychedelics.

i was actually thinking the same thing, but decided against posting it; MDMA is more of a euphoriant than a "psychedelic", the word as defined by Dr. Tim Leary. MDMA and THC are 5th Circuit psychoactive substances; the 5th circuit is a sort of dreamlike state, but the third-eye still remains at rest.

I have to agree with Ben on this one. After having experimented with both harder psychadelics than MDMA, I don't think it fits into the same class.

it's not very likely at all that past MDMA use contributed much to your current depression...as much as people tout the connection between MDMA use and serotonin depletion and depression, there is only one scholarly study published so far that measured depression in Ecstasy users...these users had on average taken over 500 pills...although the researchers labeled their results as "mild depressive symptoms" (they were looking for depression, after all), in actuality, the users' scores still fell within the normal range of the Beck Depression Inventory, although slightly elevated...my basic point is that there is no good evidence to suggest that occasional or infrequent use of MDMA causes depression, and the development of depression in heavier users is still debatable...however, given the known chemical action of larger doses of MDMA, I would warn against heavy use over an extended period of time, particularly binge use

More research is definetly needed, but on a personal level I could really care less since I don't expect to take the stuff more than a hanfull of times in my life and also since the consciousness expanding capabilities of the substance are negligable.

agreed.

I too have had more consciousness expanding episodes with hallucinogens than with MDMA (although I have had some with MDMA as well), but putting things in perspective, each substance has its own unique effects, and MDMA can be a great help with emotional conflict (finding peace with yourself and your situation in the world), with relationship turmoil, with struggle for meaning or direction, or with seeing problems through insightfully (kind of like finding your way through a maze); my hallucinogenic experiences have tended to be deeply analytical and philosophical as well as intensely fun and entertaining, but my experiences with MDMA have tended to be emotionally intense with great clarity and peace of mind ensuing along the way; altogether, I wouldn't put one above the other in my eyes because they have all assisted me in seeing my way through dilemmas of varying natures and have affected my happiness more positively than not

but I agree, casey...
MDMA can give one empathic insight, definitely

Before it was criminalized, it was used as a marital counseling aid...

And even now they say it's been making wonderous inroads with PTSD after 9-11.

Maybe pure pharmecuitical grade MDMA is healthier for you than street shit... in fact, I wouldn't doubt it. Just another reason why legal drugs = safe drugs.

even pure MDMA is a neurotoxin; that's why moderation (obviously) is key