Re-Dosing After a "Bad Trip"

[CrispyTripsy]

A few weeks ago I had taken 1 hit of some pretty potent LSD that I get. Since then I haven't re-dosed, merely due to the fact I had a pretty terrifying panic attack. I'll start by saying I've done LSD a handful of times (4-7x) before the last time. Each time being a euphoric, enjoyable, self exploration. For the most part, when I do it, it's alone in my bedroom, which is in the basement and consist of concrete walls. This last time dosing, I put on a good album and laid on the bed for a good 2 hours listening to it on repeat. It was almost overwhelmingly enjoyable, the notes of the song were massaging different parts of my body and it felt so great, and somewhat relaxing. Well, out of no where I started focusing on my breathing, which made me freak out for no reason. I started having a panic attack, I didn't feel like I could breath right. I realized I was breathing normal and my sober mind kept saying everything was fine, yet I still couldn't get rid of the panic and it got to the point where I was getting chest pains. These weren't imagined chest pains either, my chest was literally starting to hurt from my elevated heart rate and shortness of breath. Eventually I had to wake my little brother up, tell him what was going on, and have him sit me through it. Even still while laying down trying to just watch TV and not worry him too badly, I kept feeling like I was going to die. Like I could have literally gave in and let myself die if I just stopped panicking and worrying about doing so. Every time I would start to get relaxed I'd still feel the chest pains when breathing and it would make me feel like I was disconnecting from my body somewhat. There were a few split seconds where I felt as though I died but immediately regained consciousness and these split seconds felt like a LONG time yet I still could comprehend it was only for a split second due to the dialogue of the TV characters. During these short "deaths" I didn't remember anything although I feel as if, to this very moment, that each one of those dying sensations had a very short dream to it.
Anyways I don't know if anyone can relate to these sensations but I figured I'd give an explanation as to why I'm hesitant to re-dose on lsd. I used to have similar panic attacks on cannabis, minus the dying sensations. In retrospect, cannabis panic was MUCH worse then that of the LSD. Although I was very scared while panicking on LSD, it wasn't all that bad after rethinking the situation while sober, I've had worse. I just don't want this panic to reoccur. Has anyone panicked on LSD and been able to prevent it in a future dose, or will it always be on the back of my mind and make me panic from here on out?

 

[Deleted member 290563]

You need some benzos handy. Its always a good idea when doing psychedelics to have some handy incase a panic attack happens. And just having them there will let you feel at ease going into the trip and you won't be worrying that you'll be so screwed if panic hits.

 

[webbykevin]

It is often said that the so called "bad trips" are the ones that give the greatest insights or the most profound and helpfull lessons, So my question to the OP is.. "what (if anything) did you take from the experience ?"

 

[pmoseman]

How long before taking LSD had you used marijuana?

 

[CrispyTripsy]

I don't smoke Marijuana and did not for months prior to taking the LSD. Marijuana, to the best of my knowledge, had nothing to do with the LSD panic attack. To answer webbykevin's question, from the experience I learned, or rather was TOLD by myself that I wasn't going to get anywhere or accomplish anything if I don't get up and do it. Which is common in my LSD trips for me to make this realization. I have big dreams and I always fantasize about how I might one day accomplish them and live happy. I always talk/ponder about how I'm going to accomplish them and what I'm going to do to make them a reality, but in reality I hold myself back with fear of rejection and doubt of my talents. So, I basically am all talk and no action. From the experience I was reminded that, not only with my dreams/goals, but in my daily life I need to stop being so passive and procrastinating to get things done and just take action immediately after conjuring up the idea. The following day, I woke up early, cleaned my car inside and out, straightened up my room, folded and arranged my clothes and started working on writing a bit of music. I feel as though, the occasional (Once a Month) LSD trip helps me stay in this productive mindset and helps me strive to progress instead of live the average stagnant life, but now I'm nervous as to whether I should re-dose.
I know I could dose without it even being on my mind and be completely calm prior to dosing. My sober mind worries that if I do dose again, my body will be reminded of the LSD euphoria triggering panic in the past, and instinctively it will trigger panic again. Hopefully that makes sense to everyone, it's easier to understand what I'm trying to say then to explain it in text.

 

[pmoseman]

Unfortunately, with no other information available (ie research) what you need to do is wait at least 6 months (residual effects to stop) and then try to put yourself through a panic attack, without taking anything. If you cannot put yourself into a panic attack, or you can but it takes extreme effort, then it is possible that the LSD was responsible. I see no other way to conclude this with a reasonable risk.

I wasn't going to get anywhere or accomplish anything if I don't get up and do it. Which is common in my LSD trips for me to make this realization. I have big dreams and I always fantasize about how I might one day accomplish them and live happy. I always talk/ponder about how I'm going to accomplish them and what I'm going to do to make them a reality, but in reality I hold myself back with fear of rejection and doubt of my talents.

Sounds a lot like me. I go through natural up and downs. A productive day is followed by a long lull and I get caught up in activities. I slip off that fast track and it feels like nothing was accomplished.

 

[CrispyTripsy]

Well, I finally went to the doctor for my Panic attack issue. It is something that I also deal with in my social life, while sober, though it ONLY occurs when I'm in social situations alone (School, Dates, Gym etc). He is prescribing me an SSRI, which I am very reluctant to take. I also am getting Xanax while I wait for the SSRI to kick in (3-4Weeks) I hear that SSRI wont allow me to feel the effects of psychedelics. As silly/stupid as it sounds I'd feel much safer having a positive psychedelic experience help with my anxiety rather than take a SSRI indefinitely to null the symptoms and coverup the problem.. Today is not a good day my friends... =/

 

[Solipsis]

I've experienced that as well on a combination of 4-AcO-DMT and coming down off other drugs that triggered anxiety amplified by the psychedelia, it was dead serious to me - when I finally gave up after riding my bike back and forth to the hospital about 4 times, each time feeling better when outside and relapsing upon my return home, I then admitted myself in the hospital / ER it turned out my panic attack and hyperventilation had caused my blood gases to go all out of whack, too much CO₂ caused metabolic acidosis and that gave me really weird and scary sensations in my chest region among other things.

It sounds like you got a script-happy doc who is giving you SSRI's for symptoms that don't sound like they warrant it. Anxiety is an off-label indicator to begin with for SSRI's - let alone a form of social anxiety which from the sounds of it you probably get because of natural reasons such as insecurity or (like me) being socially impaired due to having certain psychodynamic tendencies. That said, you should always take advice on these matters from people on the internet (including me) with a grain of salt... nevertheless I urge you to be skeptical about how you respond to the SSRI's, find a therapist who takes you seriously and doesn't dismiss you with some broad spectrum psychiatric medication that carpetbombs a problem that lives subterraneanly.

 

[porkstock]

great advice above me.

i would just like to add, for the next time that you might take LSD as start to feel uncomfortable. change up your setting. maybe go outside for a little walk. turn the music off. change the lights. little things like that can help a lot.