What Is Altered States Of Consciousness (ASCs)?

Altered states of consciousness is characterized by an alteration in one's both the mental contentgenerally functioning of the consciousness, which is generally observed and experienced others watching him. This is not a single state, but it is said that it is basically a continuum of states though which an individual basically enters into the deepest trance, a sleeplike condition.

The long-term effects of altered states of consciousness vastly affect the perception of one's self, world, and values. Altered states of consciousness may be induced by voluntarily or involuntarily including the occurance of epiteptic seizures to social behaviour. Some religious groups encourage such inducing in the belief of gaining higher insight and value. The most dramatic examples of these states are mystical experiences, where one can feel a very pleasant sense of divine presence, and of the one and interrelatedness to all and significance of all things. This state can be induced by the use of drugs such as LSD, mescaline etc.