92 replies to this topic

[Slimlilshroomer]

My first mushroom trip i ate only a half 1/8 in a chocalate cup and i was straight fucked up. lots of colors and feeling like im in a huge vacuum. every thing seemd so far away like i was on the moon. And im almost 100% sure they were B+ but thats comparing thiem to pictures here. good luck man and remeber you can always take more.

[hallucinogeneti]

dude...You remind me a hell of a lot of my self when I started. I've got two things to say. Stick with this forum, and dont worry about the trip. There are good, intelligent people here and they will help.

And about the trip....you have basically described exactly how my mind works as well. I kinda like analyzing and control too, and I worried about that my first time but once they take affect (for me at least) I knew that nothing bad was going to happen. It was like the mushrooms spoke to me and told me I was in safe hands. And for most of my trip..I knew I was tripping. So it's totally cool. Also (it's just me) but I wouldn't smoke. Let the shrooms be themselves with out the aid. Other wise you might be afraid to take them with out it. I guess I'm saying dont make it a crutch.

And listen to music that always puts you in a good mood. :)

[jjoj]

I've seen much discussion on the prevention of bad trips, but not enough discussion on how to get yourself out of one. My recent readings into psychdelic literature and spiritual practice (Kundalini Yoga) has shown me some connections between breath and mind that I've found might be of possible help to get yourself back into the right frame of mind to ride an intense trip.

Most essential principle I've found is surrender. It's pretty well known that resistance is the typical cause of a bad trip. If one is to learn to have the psychedelic experience in its entirety, they must learn to surrender to the overwhelming sensations and flow with them. Surrender is called the feminine aspect of spirituality in Kundalini Yoga. Much of what happens in our lives is totally out of control yet we spend everyday trying hard to control the outside world to get what we want. This induces a state psychosis, in a way. We are frantically jumping to and fro to get things done. This is the same psychosis, amplified to hellish levels during what one might call a "bad trip". When we learn to let go of this constant desire to control, we are embraced with infinity/god and the moment. Surrender is not submission, it is embracement.

Using spiritual discipline (meditation) is a great to practice ability. It's the exact same state of mind that one attains during meditation. The feeling of being one in the flow of the universe, drifting without resistance, and being pure existence. One should strive to be able to bring about this state of mind with ease so they can surrender when necessary.

Of course, when one is intoxicated, it can become extremely hard to collect your thoughts well enough to meditate. This is where I propose that the haulting of the breath be used as a technique to bring your awareness to the breath and sensations in the body (which is what you want - meditation requires focus on internal senses and breathing). The principle is this: when your breath is held, your mind automatically kicks into survival mode and your mind immediately focuses on preventing breath while the body struggles for air. I believe this can be effective because it gets straight down to instincts rather than jumbling with mental distractions. Once your attention is brought to the breath, focus on slowing it down with very deep, long breaths using the diaphragm (not chest) and to breathe with great intent - as if it were the only thing you can focus on.

Please, let me know next time if this helps you get out of a bad trip.

[Dank Side Of The Shroom]

your best bet is to keep telling yourself its all in your head and its going to end. Also having some sober people around that you feel safe with is a good idea.

[phalanx]

Learning to relax is important for getting out of a bad trip or preventing one, but setting is very important too.

[DJTetsu]

While I agree with the advice to imply meditation techniques to your trips, I've actually have came from the other way. I've meditated on a regular basis before I became a weekly tripper, and bad trips, for me, can pop up either when meditating or tripping. BTW I keep telling people that tripping is so much like meditation, and it's good to hear ppl talk of meditation here.

Having feeling the loss of control where your thoughts go is a freightening thing, and like to recommend that you must trip responsibly. First of all, it all depends on the person. For people how are happy-go-lucky, 'don't give a shit' attitude, they can trip fine without ever coming across bad trips. More power to them, and you can stop reading this thread if you're one of them.

For someone who have had bad trips or are struggling with them, I'm sure there will be an answer for you and it may or may not be what has worked for me.

I've researched how one avoids 'demons' in meditation and having heard a zen master talk of this made so much sense to me. I forgot the exact phrasing, but he compared the amplification & dissecting of your fears similar to how a person can lose himeself lusting over sexually desirable things. This accerelated processing that goes on inside your brain, whether for pleasure or to create fear, are very similar. Our subconscious actually Indulges in this Curiosity on where the next thought will take them (in accelerated states).

So having understood this, what has worked for me was to practice Patience. Well, a very long and complicated way to say, in other words, Relax. Reminding yourself you are patient, and am not curios of where those thoughts will take you. If the thoughts come back, gently, gracefully think or say patience. Funny thing now, you realize that if you are frustrated that the thoughts keep coming back, you are not being patient. It is simple as this. Then go follow the other thought paths that seem more fun. They are waiting!

Having mind over matter is a skill that develops, and being able to be patient and to be able to control whether or not you want to be stuck thinking about negative things are skills that can better a person in day to day life as well. Do not be frustrated if it does not develop right away, like I said, be patient.

BTW, a good method also is bring in yoda from Empires Strikes Back, 'control, control, you must learn control...'

Cheers

[shedthemonkey]

I can't be the only one who can naturally steer the trip away from going dark and violent and toward the beautiful and strange? Of course, I do not trip unless I have a quiet and peaceful setting and a respectful mindset, and have yet to get caught up by life's randomness throwing a Monkey-Wrench into the works. There was once where a buddy decided to not tell me but start playing weird techno music after 7g had me fully in its grip...it wasn't bad but sooooo chaotic I got a little scared and forgot I could nudge it to calmer waters. Even deep inner space feels benevolent at the 10+g range.

[TVCasualty]

And what makes a trip "bad?" Physical injury, for sure, but heavy mental intensity may be something else. I've seen imagery of a prison on a hill, with energy blobs being sucked into it, looking like comets going backwards. I 'knew' the prison was ignorance and the energy blobs were aspects of people, specifically their awareness. I saw people I love, people with good hearts, and sensitive souls, all getting stuck in this prison. The door to it is unlocked, but dissipating our finite energy through technoboredom, stupor drugs, etc. leaves little left to fuel the awareness needed to find that door. So what began as terrifying imagery was a powerful lesson, with practical solutions offered.
I've read one definition of a shaman as being "an expert in the techniques of ecstasy." And that shamanic ecstasy is in line with the classical definition of ecstasy, being: "A state of emotion so intense that one is carried beyond rational thought and self-control: an ecstasy of rage." ....Word History: Middle English extasie, from Old French, from Late Latin extasis, terror, from Greek ekstasis, astonishment, distraction, from existanai, to displace, derange : ek-, out of; see ecto- + histanai, to place; see st- in Indo-European Roots.]

So the way I see it, what separates shamanism from recreation is a willingness to experience the full spectrum of emotion and experience, including the terrifying, as they are all part of the fun, so to speak. Maybe the lesson is as simple as "Don't eat entheogens before going to a NASCAR race." Maybe your "bad" trip was a boot-camp for facing fear? A little Frank Herbert (author of Dune) mantra helps here:
I will not fear
Fear is the mindkiller,
Fear is the little death
That brings total Oblivion
I will permit my fear to pass
Over me and through me
And where it has gone
I will turn the inner eye
Nothing will be there
Only I will remain.

A childhood friend of Herbert, Paul Stamets, mentioned to me and several other people present at the time that Dune was a mushroom vision of Mr. Herbert, in case you didn't already know that little info gem.

Another thing that makes a trip go south is when your brain runs out of gas, usually after a couple hours of visions. My eyes feel tight, my brain feel irritated, and I just want to stop and go to sleep. That's a good time to chug lots of water or fruit juice and I recommend a big spoonful of Really Raw Honey. Then the tightness evaporates instantly and it's all better. In fact, nearly all my tough experiences were mitigated or cured with water and honey. And my GOD that honey tastes good...

TVC

[DJTetsu]

Another thing that makes a trip go south is when your brain runs out of gas, usually after a couple hours of visions. My eyes feel tight, my brain feel irritated, and I just want to stop and go to sleep. That's a good time to chug lots of water or fruit juice and I recommend a big spoonful of Really Raw Honey. Then the tightness evaporates instantly and it's all better. In fact, nearly all my tough experiences were mitigated or cured with water and honey. And my GOD that honey tastes good...TVC

I totally can feel you there. What I described as bad come downs I initially thought it was what was in your stomach, but I'm not leaning toward it being a state of mind. Now I'm speaking from experiences of tripping first thing in the morning and having a fully functional day afterward AND being in a great mindframe (feeling similar to being stoned off some good s**t).

So here's what I've gathered thus far:

Though the stuff in your stomach may not affect you so much on your come downs, I do like the fastest "flush" of mushies in and out of your system. That means, for me, starting on an empty stomach, eating a light meal with my mushies (preferably groundup with a coffee grinder). I tend to lean toward lean, protein heavy meals, and shy away from anything greasy or carb heavy. The way this helps is on the way out, you don't want your stomach to still be digesting mushies that's going to only give you added anxiety.

From my experiences of tripping first thing in the morning, I'm finding out that, as tempting as it may seem, it's better not trying to come out of your trips, no matter how weak the effects may be. I had success staying in a state of meditation until I am completely sober, rather than trying to going about my regular business, or fighting the trippy effects. Simply put, always go with the flow.

Other things that have helped me out were things that may or may not be related, but has worked for me. That is trying to achieve a greater mental piece of mind BEFORE going on my trips. Some of them being:

cleaning up a bit in my room
doing some things that you know needs to get done (paying bills)
working out
making sure you don't have any outstanding issues with your loved ones
etc.

The reasons should be obvious. As your head screws back on, you don't want to have to think about anything that you don't want to be thinking about if it can be avoided.

Here's another tip: During my trips, I've come to appreciate music recordings that were taken LIVE. It's great to be able focus in cheers of the crowd, and to become one with the joyfulness the crowd giving those cheers. You really can't have any bad thoughts as you pay attention to them. Is the meaning of life happiness? Is the point of meditation to become one with joy? You tell me!

[TVCasualty]

Other things that have helped me out were things that may or may not be related, but has worked for me. That is trying to achieve a greater mental piece of mind BEFORE going on my trips. Some of them being:

cleaning up a bit in my room
doing some things that you know needs to get done (paying bills)
working out
making sure you don't have any outstanding issues with your loved ones
etc.

The reasons should be obvious. As your head screws back on, you don't want to have to think about anything that you don't want to be thinking about if it can be avoided.

LOL! You can always tell when I'm about to go on a little journey because my house is spotless... Your point is another, I think, vital part of the preparation process. There are almost always some personal issues raised to the forefront of one's thoughts during an entheogenic experience, and failing to address them before the next trip has always made them loom over me worse than the first time. That is, we have to do our homework, or face the consequences. A trip in a messy or cluttered house (a metaphoric representation of one's mind?) where things have been neglected is irritating and paranoia-inducing and may be the underlying reason so many people use entheogens once or twice then never again. Who really enjoys doing their homework? Taking out the trash? Cleaning the toilet? Not me, but I (try to) recognize that it's all part of the fun.

TVC

[acidhead]

i dont know about all of you guys, but for me i never have had a bad trip, in my opinion i dont think i could have one, becuase every time i eat cid or mushies, i never get in a bad mood, once it kicks in i am usually just smiling and luaghing, but i only trip with my trip buddies, which i have known for years and trust.

[DJTetsu]

LOL! You can always tell when I'm about to go on a little journey because my house is spotless... Your point is another, I think, vital part of the preparation process. There are almost always some personal issues raised to the forefront of one's thoughts during an entheogenic experience, and failing to address them before the next trip has always made them loom over me worse than the first time. That is, we have to do our homework, or face the consequences. A trip in a messy or cluttered house (a metaphoric representation of one's mind?) where things have been neglected is irritating and paranoia-inducing and may be the underlying reason so many people use entheogens once or twice then never again. Who really enjoys doing their homework? Taking out the trash? Cleaning the toilet? Not me, but I (try to) recognize that it's all part of the fun.

That's so funny/good to hear someone having a very similar viewpoint on this. For me, i've realized it's not how much I clean, but the how I feel about cleaning. I am almost thankful for the opportunity to clean so that I can realize the difference from before and after. In other words, realizing "work is its own reward". I think you know what I mean. It's sort of like stretching your muscles before working out. But there's also another factor with cleaning is that on the come down, i'm sure it's easier on your mind not having to identify so many different things that makes up the clutter on your desk or in your room.

I do feel that it's unfortunate that a lot of people that tried have tripping once or twice never want to come back to it. I was surprised to see so many people in the chat room that can grow bricks of this stuff but they'll trip maybe once a year. I think after tripping a few times, your mind (conscious or subconscious) start to realize this is homework, before, during, and after. I think many people just "prefer" not to trip, without an explanation why.

I think there could be alot more distribution of this type of information instead of how to grow bricks the fastest.

I would like hear from anyone who don't trip that often their reasons why. Or anyone with what they don't like about tripping (preferably kept to subject of mushies)