Ecstasy - it can be experienced by adherents of various religions, as well as shamans during various rituals. However, ecstasy can also be a manifestation of various mental illnesses. Find out what ecstasy is anyway and also find out what causes this altered state of consciousness and find out if it is dangerous.

Contents:

  1. Ecstasy: what is it?
  2. Ecstasy: what causes it?
  3. Ecstasy and body
  4. Ecstasy and psyche
  5. Ecstasy and drugs

Ecstasyis a term that derives from the Greek word "extasis" which can be translated as being or being outside of oneself. This is also how ecstasy is understood - as being outside of yourself. In general, ecstasy is viewed as an altered state of consciousness.

It can be associated in some way with another emotional state in the course of which a person experiences unusual sensations - with euphoria. In her case, the person actually feels an exceptional degree of satisfaction or pleasure, but in a state of euphoria, he or she is aware of it.

Ecstasy: what is it?

Otherwise it is already in ecstasy. As mentioned earlier, it leads to a change in consciousness. Ecstasy is related to focusing on one specific factor - mainly mental experiences. When experiencing it, a person may not be aware of the passage of time, of the environment or of who he really is.

In the course of experiencing ecstasy, a person may experience an exceptional feeling of happiness, but also various hallucinations, and various delusions may also appear. Typically ecstasy lasts for a very short time, but there are times when a person has ecstatic experiences for up to several hours.

Ecstasy: what causes it?

Theoretically, many more factors can be led to ecstatic states than one might imagine. In the case of religious believers, ecstasy may occur as a result of specific religious practices, e.g. in connection with asceticism or being in complete seclusion.

Ecstasy, however, can be caused by taking various psychoactive substances, ritual music with a strong influence on the psyche or dance. Ecstatic experiences can also arise in connection with, or even as a result of, sexhyperventilation.

Self-hypnosis, or talk to the unconscious

Aayalask ceremony: what is this ritual about?

What is the Kambo ceremony?

Ecstasy and body

Changes - although they are rather unnoticeable by people in a state of ecstasy - also affect the functioning of the body. The heart rate or the pace of breathing can change - they can become both slower and faster.

The skin may be exceptionally pale or vice versa - reddened. Ecstasy can result in complete stillness and involuntary, strong muscle contraction, as well as the occurrence of tremors in individual muscles. During it, a person may take on faces that are completely inadequate to the situation, or vice versa, his face may be completely expressionless.

Ecstasy in religions

One can encounter ecstasy primarily in many different religions. In this approach, ecstatic experiences are treated primarily as a way to contact God, a journey to heaven or experiencing the most mystical impressions.

Ecstasy has been described in the Bible, but Christianity is definitely not the only religion where various forms of ecstatic experiences are mentioned. Memories of them can also be heard from the followers of, among others Judaism, Hinduism or Islam.

Ecstasy plays an important role among various shamans as well. In this case, it is supposed to lead to connection with the non-material world or to contact with spirits, in addition, after experiencing ecstatic experiences, some shamans would acquire clairvoyant or healing abilities.

Ecstasy and psyche

Sometimes ecstasy is associated with certain psychiatric problems. It is mentioned, for example, in the context of affective disorders, where ecstatic experiences in manic phases would accompany an increased mood or racing thoughts.

According to some, ecstasy may also appear in the course of schizophrenia (in a specific form, and rather only in the early stages of this disease).

Apart from psychiatric diseases, the changed perception of reality in the form of ecstasy is also associated with epileptic seizures. In this case, in patients experiencing such, in times with changed consciousness, there would appear, inter alia, pleasant visual hallucinations or a feeling of happiness.

Ecstasy and drugs

When discussing ecstasy, it is impossible not to mention one of the drugs used by people - ecstasy. This measure owes its name most likely to the sensations it leads tofor life. Taking ecstasy may cause a feeling of losing contact with the environment, but also intensify emotions, lead to a surge of energy or euphoria.

The ecstasy caused by taking this drug, however, can be extremely dangerous - ecstasy users may experience, among others, ventricular arrhythmias, as well as psychotic and depressive disorders. Drug overdose can also result in the development of a life-threatening neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Worth knowing

Ecstasy in the opinion of famous people

One thing can be said for sure about ecstasy: it is very difficult to define it unambiguously. However, it is such a specific state that the scientist Albert Einstein described it as the most beautiful emotion that only humans are able to feel at all.

Honoré de Balzac, a novelist, said that a person dies in despair and that his soul does so in ecstasy. Such terms prove that ecstasy is indeed quite a unique state.

About the authorBow. Tomasz NęckiA graduate of medicine at the Medical University of Poznań. An admirer of the Polish sea (most willingly strolling along its shores with headphones in his ears), cats and books. In working with patients, he focuses on always listening to them and spending as much time as they need.

Category:

Psychology