Auditory hallucinations, including the belief that God is speaking to you, can be caused by ketamine, particularly at higher or repeated doses.
Here's how and why: 1. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic It works primarily by blocking NMDA receptors in the brain. This can result in:
- Dissociation (feeling detached from reality or your body)
- Altered perception of time and space
- Hallucinations, both visual and auditory
2. Religious or spiritual themes are common Many people report mystical or religious experiences on ketamine, sometimes interpreted as:
- Hearing God
- Feeling chosen or judged
- Experiencing divine presence or communication
This is likely because ketamine alters activity in brain regions associated with self-awareness, language, and emotional processing (e.g., the default mode network, temporal lobe, and limbic system).
3. Risk increases with: - High doses or chronic use
- A predisposition to psychosis or schizophrenia
- Use in unstable or stressful mental states
- Being in religious environments or mindsets during use (set and setting matters)
Summary: Yes, ketamine can cause auditory hallucinations, including voices perceived as divine. If someone is experiencing persistent or distressing symptoms, especially after ketamine use, medical evaluation is recommended, as this could indicate substance-induced psychosis or the unmasking of an underlying psychiatric condition. |
