I'm sure manic_racetam would have interesting input as well! Manic?
Update: Manic's thread
Shame I never posted a report on this. I actually had one all written up in the comment section of my profile, but didn't realize the limit on character count and lost a huge section of text when I tried to post it. That discouraged me and I never rewrote it.
But reading back in my journal from that time period it seemed to have quite an effect on cognition. The most striking result though was on the quelling of addictive urges. I almost forgot but I had become pretty seriously addicted to gambling at that time (back in March-May or so) and an unexpected side effect was the complete destruction of any urge to gamble. I'm pretty sure
nefiracetam was the catalyst to quitting altogether (thanks nefi).
But here are some applicable excerpts from my journal during that trial (chronological order):
Learning a new language gives you an emotional freedom of expression. It removes emotional stress associated with ideas that were formed in your native language during childhood. You are given a clean slate in expression without disruption of emotional interference. A reworking and rewiring of your brain in a way. The purest emotional states I've experienced in adulthood took place in the context of my second language.
I believe that learning it without literate aid was of emotional benefit as well. My mind had no chance to grasp onto any of it's old language reference which is intimately interconnected with emotional memory. This gave an almost effortless experience of immediate transcendence into a freedom... a freedom never before known to me.
The thing I enjoy the most about this substance nefiracetam is that it seems to give me the mental clarity and fluency of a hypomanic ani-oxiracetam state without the emotional side effect. It's a seriously clear and concise... scientific headspace with unparalleled precision. Yes, I likey. I'm really hoping for not too serious side effects that would cause me to discontinue this substance.
An aside: I just heard we're heading to the casino. I find it strange that I have very little desire to go. I would refuse, but I almost feel like going in order to experience what it's like to have no addictive desire and still experience the gambling situation. So we're off. I'll report back on my experience later.
I'm really enjoying the relief from impulsive urges. It's almost like a silencing of an incessant and familiarly terrorizing voice or something. That's a mild exaggeration. But it is nice. For example thinking about going to the casino, let me try... When I imagine the unlikely possibility of winning $8k at the dragon seven table it doesn't have the same gripping obsession that it used to have. The idea still seems attractive and when looking in retrospect there is a bit of regret for not betting the 200 when I had the chance. But it's not as consuming as it used to be. And if they offered to go to the casino right now I'd decline. I'm tired and I need to sleep. And last time I went it seemed like a total waste of time, energy and money. The thrill was removed.
Honestly I must also critique the day today. As I was standing on the corner near work, I looked at the landscape. I can remember it's appearance. Clear, concise, and physically honest. But it lacked a sort of emotional depth that is usually present in a landscape. It could be partially due to the hot and dry weather but I'd give a lot of the credit to the nefiracetam. Almost like an anti-psychotic medication would have a bit of a dulling effect on your emotions. The strange thing is that the cognitive functioning is not hindered in the slightest.
Would this be an effective treatment for bipolar or schizophrenia? Let me do a quick google search. nope.
......I'm also really glad that this nefiracetam has stopped my urge to gamble. That mental obsession was even worse than the stupid alcohol. And I thank god that it's left me as well.......
Another side note is that
nefiracetam increased the awareness of body sensations for me. It was really a cool experience to just sit in a comfortable position with my eyes closed and pay attention to the cascade of normally unnoticed sensations coursing through my human body. I'd say in relation to body sensations it was at least in the same magnitude that oxiracetam increased the clarity of sound.