psychoactive
Affecting mental state
Psychoactive describes substances that affect the mind—altering mood, perception, consciousness, or behavior.
Caffeine, alcohol, cannabis, and LSD are all psychoactive.
The term is neutral and clinical, covering both legal substances and illicit drugs: psychoactive medications, psychoactive effects.
A psychoactive compound crosses the blood-brain barrier to act on the central nervous system.
Psychedelic hallucinogen
- psilocybinHallucinogenic substance from fungi
- mescalinePsychoactive cactus alkaloid
- DMTPowerful naturally occurring hallucinogen
- ayahuascaPsychoactive Amazonian plant brew
peyote · salvia · acid · shrooms · trip · visions · synesthesia · phantasmagoria
Central nervous system stimulant
- caffeineMethylxanthine stimulant compound
- cocaineAddictive stimulant narcotic
- nicotineAddictive tobacco alkaloid
- opioidMorphine-class analgesic
stimulant · sedative · antidepressant · anxiolytic · benzodiazepine · methamphetamine · barbiturate · narcotic
Intense emotional high
- sedationDrug-induced calm state
- stimulationEvoking a response
- intoxicationSubstance-induced mental impairment
- impairmentDiminished function or capacity
disorientation · inebriation · delirium · dissociation · derealization · dysphoria · narcosis · stupor
State of perceiving reality
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- altered statesModified modes of awareness
- cognitionMental knowledge acquisition
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
lucidity · introspection · self-awareness · wakefulness · alertness · trance · expanded · transcendence
Synaptic chemical messenger
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- receptorSignal-receiving molecule
- synapseNerve signal crossing point
neuron · brain · GABA · glutamate · norepinephrine · endorphin · agonist · antagonist
Intense emotional high
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- depressionProlonged low state
- elationIntense triumphant joy
- serenityUndisturbed mental quietude
irritability · melancholy · restlessness · contentment · agitation · bliss · calm · panic
Treatment through guided conversation
- antidepressantDrug treating persistent despair
- anxiolyticSubstance lessening nervous tension
- psilocybin therapyHallucinogenic fungus-based psychotherapy
- ketamine therapyAnesthetic repurposed for mood disorders
microdosing · integration · trauma-focused · therapeutic · clinical trials · mental health · depression treatment · PTSD treatment
Compulsive substance reliance
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- cravingPowerful urge to have
- dependenceState of needing another
overdose · detox · relapse · abstinence · habituation · sensitization · substance abuse · compulsion
LSD
Psychedelic hallucinogen
- psilocybinHallucinogenic substance from fungi
- mescalinePsychoactive cactus alkaloid
- DMTPowerful naturally occurring hallucinogen
ayahuasca · peyote · salvia · acid · shrooms · trip · visions · synesthesia · phantasmagoria · hallucination
amphetamine
Central nervous system stimulant
- caffeineMethylxanthine stimulant compound
- cocaineAddictive stimulant narcotic
- nicotineAddictive tobacco alkaloid
opioid · stimulant · sedative · antidepressant · anxiolytic · benzodiazepine · methamphetamine · barbiturate · narcotic · cannabis
euphoria
Intense emotional high
- sedationDrug-induced calm state
- stimulationEvoking a response
- intoxicationSubstance-induced mental impairment
impairment · disorientation · inebriation · delirium · dissociation · derealization · dysphoria · narcosis · stupor · altered
awareness
State of perceiving reality
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- altered statesModified modes of awareness
- cognitionMental knowledge acquisition
mindfulness · lucidity · introspection · self-awareness · wakefulness · alertness · trance · expanded · transcendence · ego dissolution
neurotransmitter
Synaptic chemical messenger
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- receptorSignal-receiving molecule
synapse · neuron · brain · GABA · glutamate · norepinephrine · endorphin · agonist · antagonist · reuptake
euphoria
Intense emotional high
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- depressionProlonged low state
- elationIntense triumphant joy
serenity · irritability · melancholy · restlessness · contentment · agitation · bliss · calm · panic · anhedonia
psychotherapy
Treatment through guided conversation
- antidepressantDrug treating persistent despair
- anxiolyticSubstance lessening nervous tension
- psilocybin therapyHallucinogenic fungus-based psychotherapy
ketamine therapy · microdosing · integration · trauma-focused · therapeutic · clinical trials · mental health · depression treatment · PTSD treatment
addiction
Compulsive substance reliance
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- cravingPowerful urge to have
dependence · overdose · detox · relapse · abstinence · habituation · sensitization · substance abuse · compulsion · physical dependence
- Psychoactive drugSubstance affecting mental processes
active, activity, psychic, psyche, activism, psychology, psychological, psychedelic, psychopath