Wow. You got a lot of good replies. Clearly, the way people experience LSD can vary quite greatly. I've known people who have really disliked tripping, and I have known people that really loved it. I have also known some people who just though it was okay ;) (RIP Mitch). Anyway, I have too much time on my hands at the moment, so I am going to try to consolidate some of these replies as they relate to my own experience. You will find that if you do take LSD, you will be able to relate to a lot of what was said here, but the experience will be uniquely yours. Perhaps that is part of what makes it so special
"It's weird man. Its fucking weird. You take the stuff and then you carry about your business. You think everything is normal and then some time later you realize, wait, this isn't normal, this is strange." -from dwolfy
This is written in a kind of silly way, but it my opinion it really nails what the onset was like for me the first time. I just took it with some friends and started playing video games and watching TV like we normally would (this helped us avoid anxiety about what was coming). Then, basically, it went from "hey, call this guy back he sold us bunk shit" to "oh...ohhh...ok". It's hard to explain, but it’s like it takes forever to come-on, then all of sudden it feels like you've been there a while. (my experience)
"You think a lot when you're on acid. About yourself and the world around you and you. It's nothing you couldn't think while sober it just becomes a lot easier on LSD. so once you're off the drug you still remember having those thoughts and you can rationalize them and chose to take those things and make something out of it or ignore it and continue with the way things were. It's a very spiritual experience." -from Ray240315
This is a fantastic description. The number of up-votes it got validates its accuracy, so I will just add a bit. I definitely spent a lot of time thinking about myself and the world, much as described. (As a matter of fact, I do not suffer from any mental issues (depression, anxiety, etc.) I just feel this should be stated, no judgments or bragging intended, as I would imagine this would certainly influence your experience). The thing I want to add to Ray’s description, the part that I found truly amazing, was the ability to really think about myself, my actions, the people around me, the world, in a way that was completely non-judgmental to a point that it can only be experienced. Especially when it came to myself. You leave denial and fear behind (as in you literally have none/ceases to exist) and you truly understand who you are, what you want, and things you've done in a way that allows you love yourself unconditionally. You can see a similar train of thought in some other responses:
"This is a great description. Thank you. There is a certain sense of "knowing" you get with LSD that can alter your perspective. I want to call it a feeling of "wisdom" but without any sense of ego or being smug. Just a feeling of "now I got this". -from ldw53
"Truth. My first trip allowed me to begin reconnecting with the child I was, and begin to leave what I had become behind. I knew within 45 minutes that I would never be the same, in my case it was a good thing." -from carbonpath
"Dude, your ego melts, dude." -from i_saw_the_leprechaun
The "ego melts, dude" thing may not be eloquent, but it and the other responses all paint a similar picture of something that is truly impossible to describe, but that I would best describe as Understanding without judgement (ego loss). Truly beautiful when applied to yourself and those around you.
I really liked how Ray mentioned that you could think the same thoughts while sober, you just don't (or I don't) on a regular basis. This is part of another important point I want to make. When you have an experience like that, when you feel those thoughts and feelings for the first time, they do carry over to life when you are sober, and you notice them more. You view yourself, the people around you, and the world in a different light. The light was/is always on, you just may not always see it (or want to see it). The following quotes show how the experience carried over into the lives of a few redditors:
"I do agree that ever since I've dropped I've changed as a person ( not like personality wise or anything crazy like that) but I definitely have a certain way of thinking that's different than it used to be." -Ray240315
"I knew within 45 minutes that I would never be the same, in my case it was a good thing." -carbonpath
"I took LSD for the first time the summer before starting college. Some of the thoughts I had stuck with me, and I'm a better person now than I've ever been before. I plan to take it again sometime." -spensginger
"A psychedelic experience is powerful, and life changing. Many thing can be, as well. An amazing trip around the world, being in a war, marrying your dream girl, having a kid..etc. Doesn't mean good or bad, just changes your life. LSD does that too." -jwccs46
As you can see, LSD has had a positive effect on a number of people’s lives. I will let their quotes speak for themselves. For me, it was the ego loss (loss of judgement) that allowed me to understand who I was and who I wanted to be and to reconcile the differences between the two without anger or resentment. When you come out of a trip like that, in my experience, you truly feel different. Ready to be part of the world and excited to experience it in a new way. The feelings stay for as long as you nurture them, but the experience lasts forever.
So, I basically wrote you a novel, but it was quite enjoyable to write and to remember, it having been some time now since my last experience with LSD. I will leave you with a few cautionary remarks. Firstly, as someone mentioned, LSD is not a toy. It needs to be respected and used in moderation (weird word since even that sounds like too much). Seriously, give it the respect it deserves, or you will either gain nothing from the experience, or it will kick your ass (then you'll be on here bitchin' ;) ). Secondly, if you suffer from a mental illness, feel as though you might, or have a family history of mental illness, you should be very careful about using LSD. This is especially true for schizophrenia, and if you feel like you have any symptoms of it or any other conditions you should seek treatment, and should seek the advice of a professional in regard to recreational drug use. That is all, in that regard. Nothing to fear, but something to consider. Whatever you choose to do, I wish you well and I leave you with some advice from Ray240315, that I could not have phrased better myself: "I would say if you want to try it start with a small dose and see how you like it do it with a few buddies and have a sober friend with you to trip sit." Don't be a hero. Sincerely, Your extremely bored friend pm any questions