Why People Get Hand Cramps When Taking Psychedelics And How To Prevent Them
This article was originally published on Psychedelic Spotlight and appears here with permission.
In this day and age of spiritual tourism, traveling to a psychedelic retreat in Mexico, Jamaica or Peru has become a trendy new habit for explorers of altered states or for those in deep need of a mental health reset.
While the media continues to report on the groundbreaking studies demonstrating psilocybin’s capacity to create neuroplasticity, break maladaptive behaviors and patterns and treat a range of psychiatric conditions, there is not much talk about some quite destabilizing side effects that may occur during the peak of the psychedelic experience. Encountering complications can definitely make one’s dive into their subconscious more challenging and quite unpleasant. One of these adverse reactions is tetany.
What iIs Tetany?
Tetany, also known as involuntary cramps or muscle contractions, is a very common symptom when one’s peripheral nerves are overstimulated due to electrolyte imbalance and low blood calcium levels.
What Does Tetany Feel Like?
A person who has experienced tetany will likely describe feeling their hands suddenly contracting and stiffening uncontrollably, as if a force beyond their control is tightening the muscles with an invisible vice. The sensation of your fingers involuntarily curling into an uncomfortable grip, resisting your commands, can be quite unsettling. The muscles become tense, creating an irritating feeling of stiffness and twitching.
The spasms intensify, causing a series of rapid and repetitive contractions that disrupt the natural flow of movement, making your hands feel momentarily frozen in an unnatural position. If you’ve seen Edward Scissorhands, it might as well look like that, but with fingers instead of shiny blades.
The experience can be puzzling and at times even painful without any substance hitting your brain receptors. However, being acutely aware that you have lost muscle control during a psychedelic experience can make one feel vulnerable and can definitely contribute to the common anxiety that many experience during the come-up. This loss of muscle control can …