Q: I often get this feeling after going to the Art Institute of Chicago. It's a "high" feeling, similar to when one smokes weed.
A: You might be thinking of the word catharsis. The term was first used by Aristotle to describe a feeling of purification after experiencing an emotional climax watching a tragic play. Today, the term isn't necessarily constricted to describing drama. Scientifically, it was adopted by Freud to describe any emotional release in psychotherapy. I get the same euphoric feeling walking through the Art Institute (I can't wait for the new modern wing!), and I would most certainly call it cathartic, also awed, inspired, exhilarated, uplifted, compelled... take your pick.
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