kinda in relation to rekhyt's thread, only disregarding external substances- let's talk specifically about the self-induced sort of altered states. we've had chemicals in our heads that have been there since our births (supply varying from one individual to the next) that allow us what i want to call "virtual highs;" we experience these "highs" in outbursts of laughter, temper tantrums, crying fits, sexual longing, tension, perhaps even love...the list goes on and on. while these are very natural and common phenomena, there are some chemical substances that can bring about (more or less) destructive behavior: physical releases of aggression, false senses of being victimized, sensations of superiority, cynical conceptions of the world, tendencies to build biased opinions about two-sided situations (intentionally ignoring information contrary to your own opinion), etc. while the neurotransmitters that give rise to those actions and feelings are deeply embedded in the more primitive parts of our brains, they're the easiest to evoke.
is calling forth the chemicals that generate positive emotions something you strive for and are there any physical activities you perform (maybe yoga?) that aid you in doing so? do you think society has an addiction to some of these chemicals, do you think perhaps people get pleasure out of aggressive or otherwise destructive behavior? how do you recognize people who are prone to bring out negative emotions, and do you work to avoid them?