Object alteration
3-Dimensional drifting can be described as the experience of perceiving textures, external objects and sceneries to be progressively warping, moving, extending, stretching, animating and shifting in their form in a manner which can vary from subtle to extreme. When one looks away from the object or texture being distorted the object retains its original shape until it is looked at directly once again where it begins distorting in a similar or different manner. The manner in which the distortions occur is not uniform and cannot be reliably predicted. The intensity of the effect is often linked to the intensity and progression of the mental state that precludes this effect.
For example, when staring at an object such as a chair, its 3-dimensional shape may begin to drastically elongate or tilt into an exaggerated form which retains its original colors and textures.
Another common manifestation of this effect is the perception of textures progressively extending and stretching outward from the surfaces which they reside upon in the form of a detailed 3-dimensional structure somewhat similar to complex, opaque and solidified smoke. These structures usually maintain a size which is consistent with the width of the texture it is extending from. They can also range from anywhere between several inches to several meters in length. For example, if one is staring at a painting on the wall it may extend in one direction in a 2D fashion until the observer looks away.
Although this subjective effect component is categorized as a visual distortion, it is likely an indirect result of external hallucinations being applied to objects within the user's environment occurring in a manner which does not introduce new data but simply alters the perceived 3-dimensional structure of its content. This is illustrated in subjective reports of one seeing a stationary object move in a familiar fashion, such as a microwave door opening and closing. This extreme end of object drifting and distortion is only experienced in late stage sleep deprivation, delerium, or psychosis.
The mindstates that often cause this effect are those encompassing delerium and psychosis; drug induced or not. These are but are not limited to: sleep deprivation, stimulant psychosis, delerium brought on naturally or by deleriants such as diphenhydramine and datura.
Psychoactive substances
Compounds within our psychoactive substance index which may cause this effect include: