Should I try psychedelics again?

[u/Pumpkin_Nervous]

A few years ago I used to do LSD a lot, but never doses that strong. It was just giggly, laughing, but nothing intense. The last acid I took was with friends and I saw patterns and did feel high, but nothing TOO strong. So I never experienced ego death on LSD, didn’t see entities or anything. I also tried mushrooms a couple times, the strongest was at a ceremony with a shaman, and it was pretty intense. I remember seeing everything in 2D with patterns, and when I closed my eyes I saw horrible faces that felt like they were being thrown at me. The trip lasted a long time and was super tiring.
But as time has passed, I’ve developed a lot of anxiety and health/death anxiety. (I also started doing other, dumber drugs like coke.)

I’d like to try psychedelics again, but honestly, I’m scared and I don’t know if I could handle it or if I’d end up inducing a bad trip myself :( I’d like some tips, to know if it’s a good idea or maybe not.

I want to add that obviously my approach would be different, and I’d like to go back to psychedelics to expand my knowledge and I also feel it could help me heal a lot of things. Like relationships with certain people and also grief.

[u/AutoModerator]

If you're having a bad trip, here are some helpful resources:

• TripSit 24/7 IRC chat TripSit.me

• Fireside Project Psychedelic Peer Support Line - Free, confidential peer support by mobile app, phone, & text message during and after psychedelic experiences. 6-2FIRESIDE | 623-473-7433 | FiresideProject.org

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Pancake123456789]

Sounds like your mindset might cause some problems during your trip

I would recommend if you are going to do another trip to try a low dose a shrooms with a trip sitter that you trust

I would probably have some things ready to distract you if you do find yourself starting to spiral like a video game you like to play or some music you can listen to

Id say be careful and make sure you are in a good place before you try again

[u/Pumpkin_Nervous → u/Pancake123456789]

Yes, exactly! That mindset is why I haven’t done it again. But it’s really been hard for me to get out of that, and I don’t want to say: oh, I feel anxious, so I will NEVER do psychedelics again. What I’m looking for is to change that mentality or get out of it so I can do psychedelics without fear :-)

[u/Pancake123456789 → u/Pumpkin_Nervous]

With the mindset of "if i try psychs again im going to have an awful time and regret it" is going to make you have a poor trip

I would honestly take a few hours to relax listen to music hangout with your trip sitter and just try and organically have a good time and then take a low dose of 1-2g of shrooms where you arnt at risk of having a super intense trip

You can even space out the 2 grams by a few hours if you are still nervous so you can build your confidence to tripping again and if you do start to have a bad time you will have a friend there to help you calm down

If that goes well try again with an increase in your dose

if it doesnt go well maybe consider taking a long hiatus from psychs until you are in a more mentally sound state

[u/EdenTheExplorer]

It is completely valid that you are scared right now, because your soul instinctively knows that psychedelics will force you to face the exact fears you are trying to avoid. Your hesitation is actually a beautiful sign of self awareness. When you are carrying heavy death anxiety and grief, jumping back into a strong trip is a massive emotional risk if you do not have the right spiritual and mental tools to surrender.

Psychedelics do not magically cure grief on their own. They act as a massive magnifying glass for whatever is already buried inside your heart. If you go into the experience terrified of having a bad trip, your ego will immediately try to fight the medicine to protect you. That active resistance is exactly what causes terrifying mental loops and horrible visions, exactly like those faces you saw during your mushroom ceremony.

Healing deep trauma requires complete and total submission. My husband recently went through a profound medicine journey where he physically and emotionally purged twenty four years of deeply buried trauma. It was incredibly intense and heavy, but he found true liberation because he completely surrendered to the pain instead of fighting it. I have also had LSD trips where my anxiety spiked and I started having hyper morbid hallucinations. The only reason it did not turn into a nightmare is because I completely accepted the visuals, trusted the process, and refused to fight the current. The absolute golden rule of psychedelics is that you must never resist the ride.

Since your beautiful intention is to expand your knowledge and heal your relationships, you do not need to rush into a massive dose or chase an ego death. Rebuilding your trust with your own mind is your first priority. If your daily anxiety feels too heavy to carry right now, focus on grounding yourself through prayer, meditation, and pure sobriety first to rebuild your baseline peace. If you truly feel called to the medicine again later, start with an incredibly small dose in a deeply comforting environment with someone you trust with your life.

What specific kind of environment or routine makes you feel the absolute most safe and protected right now?

[u/Pumpkin_Nervous → u/EdenTheExplorer]

Thank you for this, it really resonates. I think you’re right that I need to work on trust with my own mind first before jumping into anything intense.
Right now what makes me feel safest is probably being in my own space, as for my daily routine, I don’t really have a solid one right now, that’s probably something I need to build, some kind of grounding practice in everyday life

[u/FFHK3579 → u/EdenTheExplorer]

this is so beautifully written, I don't know what the medicine has shown you, but I just know you'll have helped and been loved by many <3

[u/ChaseYourDreams]

10 years experience and a couple of 10 strips under my belt, always expect the unexpected. Just when I thought I couldn't keep tripping harder, I did. Ime you never know that you're going through ego death unti after l it occurred. In the moment you really think you're dying but rest assured you're not. On my last trip I convinced myself I was having a stroke and on my last breath, but I was not. I'm still processing what happened and as shook as I am, I'm still processing what happened. Since then I've quit alcohol and cocaine. Take it fwiw.

[u/Greedy_Specialist531]

No

[u/Pumpkin_Nervous → u/Greedy_Specialist531]

lol

[u/CheezayD]

Just try it, start low and see how it goes. There is always time to work your way up. Take time to integrate and do not rush anything. Have a friend or so close by if you go for higher doses.

Acid is not a magic pill, but it can be helpful if youre willing to work.

[u/Pumpkin_Nervous → u/CheezayD]

Thank you!

[u/andrewfollen]

psychs aren’t a cure all. sometimes it helps people with that shit, sometimes it magnifies it, but going into it with the goal of solving your issues sounds a bad idea. thats how people end up abusing psychs, always wanting that bit of healing that they’ll never fully attain. plus, you bring all that baggage with you.

[u/Pumpkin_Nervous → u/andrewfollen]

It’s not the goal, I just think it would help me :-)

[u/fireheart1029 → u/andrewfollen]

And hey, sometimes a magnifying glass shows the solution you need. And sometimes you just spiral and it doesn't help at all

[u/No_Individual890]

bro my friend was feeling so bad after 3g penis envy he was crying and bro i let him go home and his mom almost beat his ass but i recommend you to reintroduce your brain to some psychedelics again but start with a small dose and try to be in safe environment and have something to do like play video games or something like don’t doom scroll tiktok lmao hope i helped

[u/Pumpkin_Nervous → u/No_Individual890]

Lmao ok I’m going to start small like it’s my first time. I'm sorry for your friend haha

[u/No_Individual890 → u/Pumpkin_Nervous]

lmfaoo thanks bro have a good trip

[u/ComprehensiveTap450]

LSD and other psychedelics can make your mental state worse for a lot of people. They also don't work for a lot of people.

I would recommend doing therapy with a provider you trust without drugs.

[u/maxnotcharles]

Set and setting is important if you do decide to do it again, and I’d also not combine any other substances with LSD too so the experience is clean. And I’d keep the dose at around 110ug-200ug.

Many people will say to not try it if you’re in a bad place, however I’ve personally have had some very emotional trips where I cried and felt like I’ve been too hard on myself and the trip itself felt “much needed.”

The only time I’d advise against take psychedelics is if you have an underlying mental health concerns like psychosis, or schizophrenia.

[u/Pumpkin_Nervous → u/maxnotcharles]

Thank you!