There’s a vast difference between a good psychedelic trip and a bad one.
The difference comes down to experience. A bad trip can be terrifying, and full of fear and anxiety, while a good trip can bring joy and enlightenment.
Recognizing the signs of a bad trip is vital to ensuring your safety and mental well-being.
Savvy psychedelic users know there are certain warning signs to look out for to avoid descending into a nightmare.
Here are some signs to keep in mind to help you identify if you’re experiencing a bad psychedelic trip.
1) Intense feelings of fear and anxiety
There’s no denying the influence of emotion on psychedelic experiences. Experienced users understand the importance of emotional stability.
Often during a trip, you may encounter unexpected shifts in your emotional state. These can range from euphoria to despair and everything in between.
Welcome to the world of intense psychedelic emotions.
Psychedelic substances can amplify your current emotional state and bring hidden feelings to the surface, making them feel more intense.
This is why it’s recommended to be in a positive mindset before embarking on a psychedelic journey.
It’s the reason behind set and setting – the idea that your mindset and environment can greatly influence your trip.
When a person is tripping, they often don’t have control over these emotional swings. That’s why it’s crucial to recognize when these feelings veer towards fear and anxiety.
So if you’re experiencing intense feelings of fear and anxiety during your trip, take it as a warning sign.
Remain calm and remind yourself that it’s temporary if you want to navigate through a bad trip effectively.
2) Paranoia and mistrust
There’s a certain level of trust required when embarking on a psychedelic journey.
I know this all too well.
During one particular trip, I found myself spiraling into a state of paranoia and mistrust. What started as a pleasant experience quickly turned sour as I began to question the intentions of my friends around me.
That’s the downside of losing control.
Psychedelics are known for distorting our perception and making us extremely sensitive to our surroundings.
In my case, this heightened sensitivity led to an overwhelming sense of paranoia.
Think about it. It’s akin to the feeling of being watched when you’re alone, or the sensation that everyone is talking about you in a crowded room.
When I found myself in this situation, I realized that these feelings of paranoia and mistrust were not based on reality but were a product of my altered state of mind.
So if you find yourself questioning everything and everyone around you during your trip, take it as a red flag.
3) Hallucinations that invoke fear
The realm of psychedelics is often associated with vivid, altered perceptions of reality, which can be both enlightening and terrifying.
And these hallucinations are not just random; they’re significantly influenced by your subconscious mind.
During a psychedelic trip, you might see geometric patterns, vivid colors, or even entire scenes play out before your eyes. But what happens when these hallucinations take a turn for the worse?
While many hallucinations can be beautiful and awe-inspiring, they can also take on a darker tone, especially during a bad trip.
You might see frightening images or disturbing scenes that can send waves of fear through you.
So if your hallucinations become overwhelmingly scary and invoke fear, it’s a clear sign you’re heading into bad trip territory.
4) Feeling a loss of control
Control is a vital part of our daily lives.
And when it slips away during a psychedelic trip, it can cause significant distress.
During your journey, you may feel like you’re losing control of yourself, your thoughts, or even your surroundings. This sensation can be deeply unsettling.
Ego dissolution is a common effect of psychedelics where you lose a sense of self. While some find this enlightening, for others, it can be frightening, particularly if they’re not prepared for it.
It’s like being in the driver’s seat of a car that you suddenly can’t steer anymore.
When you feel like you’re losing control during your trip, it’s a sure sign that things are taking a turn for the worse.
Even though it feels real, it’s just the drug’s effects. It will pass with time, and regaining control starts with acknowledging this.
5) Disorientation and confusion
Understanding your surroundings and maintaining clarity of thought is essential, even during a psychedelic trip.
And when this clarity dissolves into disorientation and confusion, it can be alarming.
Psychedelics can change how you perceive time, space, and even your own identity. This can lead to a sense of confusion and disorientation that is far from the enlightening experience many seek.
It’s like waking up in a completely unfamiliar place without any recollection of how you got there.
6) Overwhelming feelings of sadness or despair
There’s a profound emotional depth to the human experience.
Navigating this depth can be challenging during a psychedelic trip, especially when it plummets into overwhelming feelings of sadness or despair.
Imagine embarking on a journey anticipating joy, insight, and connection, only to find yourself lost in a sea of sorrow. This emotional turbulence can be devastating.
Psychedelics can bring suppressed emotions to the surface like a sudden, unexpected wave.
While this can lead to healing and self-discovery, it can also result in feelings of despair, especially if these emotions are left unchecked or not properly processed.
If you find yourself drowning in sorrow during your trip, know that it’s a clear warning sign of a bad trip.
7) Feeling of impending doom
Psychedelics have the power to open our minds to new perspectives and experiences.
And sometimes, these experiences can become unnerving, especially when accompanied by a sense of impending doom.
During one of my trips, I found myself consumed by a feeling that something terrible was about to happen. It was as if the world around me was about to collapse, and there was nothing I could do about it.
Psychedelics can heighten our sensitivity and make us more receptive to our inner anxieties. In my case, this amplified sensitivity manifested as a persistent feeling of impending doom.
8) Physical discomfort or pain
While most of the signs of a bad trip are psychological, physical discomfort can also be a warning sign.
Discomfort can come in many forms during a psychedelic trip.
You may experience sensations like nausea, dizziness, or even unexplained pain. These physical symptoms can add to the distress of a bad trip.
Psychedelics not only alter your perception and emotions but can also cause physical reactions. These reactions can range from mildly uncomfortable to severe, depending on the individual and the substance used.
9) Difficulty distinguishing reality from the trip
The ability to separate the hallucinatory world of a psychedelic trip from reality is crucial.
And when this line blurs, it can be deeply unsettling.
Psychedelics are known for their mind-bending effects, but when you can’t tell if what you’re experiencing is a part of the trip or reality, it’s a definitive sign of a bad trip.
It’s part of the journey
The complexities of psychedelic experiences are as diverse and unique as the individuals who partake in them.
These trips, filled with warning signs we’ve discussed, can be unsettling and even terrifying.
But it’s important to remember that these experiences, as distressing as they may be, are temporary and influenced by the substance you’ve consumed.
