The 5 Most Common Reasons for a Bad Trip

One of the most common reasons people don't dare to use psychedelics is the possibility of a bad trip. And it is certainly a fact that mind-altering substances can have a pretty intense emotional, physical and cognitive impact. It is not always possible to say when a bad trip can occur, but there are a few things that can make your trip more intense than necessary. Read below what to look out for.

5 reasons for a bad trip

Are you planning on tripping? Whether you have a lot of experience or not, a bad trip (with magic mushrooms, truffles or another mind-altering substance) is something that can happen to anyone. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to reduce the chance of this negative experience coming your way. These are the 5 reasons for a bad trip, so that you know what you can do to make your trip as pleasant as possible.

1. Don't pay attention to the setting

If you are a little familiar with psychedelics, you have probably heard of the terms set and setting. Set represents your own peace of mind, your emotional well-being. This can also influence your trip. Setting refers to the environment you are in during the trip. The people who are present are also part of this.

What a comfortable setting is for you is very personal. But it is about you feeling safe and at ease. You can trip at home in your own living room, but also with friends or outside in nature. Wherever you are, make sure the environment is safe, that there is something to eat and drink, and that you feel comfortable in the company of others. If the environment is unsettling, you feel stressed or anxious because of where you are, this can contribute to having a bad trip.

2. You did not prepare for your trip

It is common for people to not prepare for a trip properly. However, this is an important part of your psychedelic experience. For example, you can start by taking some time for a moment of introspection. Why are you going on this trip? What questions would you like to have answered and could you perhaps set an intention? It can also be useful to think about how you would get through a possible negative experience.

Also take the time to feel how you are feeling, both physically and emotionally. Have you eaten and drunk enough? Are you well rested? And one of the most important: how do you feel emotionally? Try to be honest about this, because your emotions can be greatly magnified during the trip. It then requires a lot of self-knowledge to be able to decide not to continue your trip, because you are not feeling completely well.

3. You don't have the right people around you

Anthony Bourdain once said it in the Netflix series Have a Good Trip: "Don't take LSD with assholes." When you use psychedelics, you are vulnerable and it is an intimate experience. Your environment also has a lot of influence on this, especially the people around you. They can be one of the reasons that you end up in a bad trip. Not only can you feel more or less safe in their company. They can also distract you and influence your mood. Surround yourself with good friends during your trip and with people who you can be yourself with.

4. Your expectations are too high

It is very normal to have expectations when you are going to start something as special as using psychedelics. But a trip is a journey into the unknown, you cannot predict how it will go. You have no control over it. If you have high expectations, you will most likely be disappointed. It can also cause you to resist the experience as it presents itself.

Remember that psychedelics like mushrooms or truffles magnify your emotions and thoughts. Expectations can cause tension, which means you can only expect more tension during the trip. Try to go into the trip with an open mind, so that there is room for all experiences.

5. You forget to ground yourself

Although a bad trip is usually not a pleasant experience,g, you can help yourself when it happens. You may feel fear, panic, and discomfort, and it can be very intense. If you’ve prepared well for your trip, you’ll know what to do to ground yourself and come back to earth more quickly. Hopefully, you’ve made a list that you can fall back on. To calm down, you can curl up in a comfortable place, drink a soothing cup of tea, put on some calming music, or do some breathing exercises. A trip stopper can also come in handy. Distract yourself with an activity, such as colouring, writing, or talking to your trip sitter.

A bad trip is usually a powerful experience. Still, it shouldn't stop you from wanting to trip. You can really get through it, especially if you've read above what to look out for. If you've never used mushrooms before, start with a low dose and a mushroom with mild effects, such as the Mexican or the Thai grow kit.