I was also amazed when I could solve logic puzzles (it was a logic game) after having looked at it[1] for a couple of seconds. I cannot/could not explain how I solved it, I could not tell you in advance that I have to move left, then right to connect this and that and so forth, but after having looked at it for a couple of seconds, I pressed the keys "intuitively" and solved it! I did not believe that it really worked at first, but after I solved many difficult levels this way, I was pleasantly shocked. I remember being somewhat sleep deprived at that time as well.

[1] As in... simply looked. I did not try to solve it consciously.

I've had a similar experience but, but my takeaway was: what does it mean to solve something? Consciously? You still skip so many steps; often, I think we just "think through" the state of the puzzle in order to load its configuration; the solution pops into our head, which then think through again - and we call it conscious thought. It's like an idea popping into your head: You instantly take credit for it, but frankly, did you come up with the idea? Didn't you just start feeling like you got something and you started talking, and the words kept making sense? lmao

Looks like the brain has several layers of conscious states. The brain consumes many calories and thinking hard can make you tired. Especially if you have been very productive for a long time and then hit a wall. At the point of mental exhaustion, the brain desires sleep. You fall asleep and begin having a psychosis. The brain uses symbols that represent the psychosis causing hallucination. There is something about breaking the psychosis at the right time that alleviates some mental problems. Disclosure: I'm bipolar. I have some experience with psychosis I can tell you! All dreams are like psychoses..

What does psychosis actually refer to? I've heard the term but am not familiar with its official meaning

To those suffering it, it is normal reality, but to those observing it, it is chaos.

I also have some personal experience with psychosis, although I don't want to disclose it on HN. How do you personally know when you're done experiencing it and have "returned to normal"?

It depends on how deep it is. At a certain depth the only thing that can alert you (if you have it as a tenancy like I do) is the reactions of other people. THC can amplify the effect but CBD can dampen it. I don't know why I use either. I'm just imperfect that way. I'm bad to the bone.

The right level sleep is important. I have a lot of difficulty with this.

The formal definition according to Google is "a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality", so I guess technically, a dream meets that definition.

I think the commenter you're responding to is also referring to the way that in a psychotic state, all actions make sense to the psychotic person. The "psycho" stops following a deductive/conscious/scientific logic chain, and starts following inductive/subconscious/superstitious logic chain, all while perceiving internally a consistent narrative of reality.

Examples in the difference in logic chains:

- In a non-psychotic state, when I'm in my bedroom and notice that I am cold, I do not start a fire, because (a) fire is dangerous inside; (b) I remember that I have blankets, an HVAC system, etc.

- In a psychotic state (either dreaming or awake), when I'm in my bedroom and notice that I am cold, I might start a fire, because (a) an angel told me to; (b) it will protect me from the spirits in the darkness; (c) I believe the heating system is broken (even if I haven't looked at it) and I'm worried I'll freeze to death...

One cannot personally perceive psychosis while psychotic--reality always makes sense in the moment. Even the most demented Alzheimer's patient will construct a narrative of what's happening to them, even if it's just a vague sense of prehistoric fear and rage at the strange object invading their space (which in reality is a nurse trying to give them a bath).

I imagine you already know this but in case anyone who's reading doesn't: people who are labelled as "bipolar" uncontrollably enter mental states of varying degrees of psychosis where they often perform actions that hurt themselves and others, and then eventually they "return to reality" and are frequently horrified to discover what it is they've done. The "return to reality" sometimes requires medication and therapy. Observe: https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/i-would-like-closure-bu....

It's not all bad for people who are diagnosed bipolar, though--sometimes instead of anger or fear, a manic/bipolar person experiences happiness/love/joy and creates a great work of art or makes everyone around them feel really good. I doubt that most bipolar-diagnosed people enjoy the down-swings, though, and I suspect most would rather be rid of their "condition".

Another, slightly-related example about how psychosis works: if you understand a concept perfectly when someone else explains it, and you can't explain it to yourself once they're gone, you've experienced your mind perceive what appeared to be "reality" but was not, in fact, real. While the explainer was talking to you, you perceived that you understood the concept, and you experienced the sensation of understanding, but since you didn't actually understand, you were in a state not completely like but similar to what is call psychosis.

I'm going to try this now. Will report back.

Set the marble down then fell asleep. Need a better method.