Hesitant

[CivilDisobedience]

My last shroom trip (4.5) resulted in a panic attack and the worst trip of my life, I have avoided all psychedelics since then, i fear that ill think back to it and cause another panic attack. Is there anything I can do to avoid that?

 

[Visitor Q]

Not really.

If you are still worried at all about the effects it will have on you or about triggering a flashback to your previous bad-trip, you will either be successful in doing just that or start obsessing about it for the duration of your trip.

You need to be in a calm, rested, relaxed and open state of mind in order to have a pleasant experience with psilocybin mushrooms or LSD. Any anxiety or irritation will DEFINITELY be amplified.

Once you have attained this relaxed state, you will KNOW that you are ready.
If you still feel unsure, back away. These psychedelics work in a way that your set/setting and mood play a HUGE role in the outcome of the experience.

Example: Mushrooms while relaxed in an empty grass field with friends surrounded with trees swaying in the delicate breeze.

VS.

Mushrooms during civil war in Kuweit while you are hungry, tired and stressed.

The same dose of the same substance will produce radically different results, guaranteed.

Hope this helps.

 

[RhythmSpring]

Example: Mushrooms while relaxed in an empty grass field with friends surrounded with trees swaying in the delicate breeze.

ahhhhhh....:D

 

[Solipsis]

Two important things to remember are probably:

- If you fear that you will go to that same place again, that fear itself will become that place or feeling if you let it. Freeing yourself of it is the only option, and that is by going through and accepting, rather than trying to deviate around and deny it. Be careful about entering the exact same setting since panic attacks can happen by situation replication.

- Prepare you set and setting very well to arrange for an experience that gives you lots of freedom to do what you want, rather what you need actually. Try a small dose next time instead of the same as before. You want to get a dose that will not take the upper hand too
fast so that you can process and integrate your doubts and fears without risking it happen at an overwhelming rate.

(There are opinions saying that a huge dose is actually the best medicine because it propels you straight through. I think that method is a proven shamanistic approach but may very well be too risky to attempt this unguided. Some people decide themselves to dive in the deep end to do a hard reset, but it's tricky, harsh and forceful - probably not the way to go if panic attacks are involved!)

 

[JackARoe]

^ Solipsis is correct. Oh and and one simple command, stop fearing. Just as there are Yes/No duality, the Fear/Love duality is important to master. How many times as human being are we fearing something (Job Interview, dating, etc...) only to say to ourselves to stop fearing and go forth in confidence.

Head into it with love. Meditate and get that under control first if you have too. Nothing can harm us. Some things can scare the piss out of us. But at that moment we can control our mind and turn it around and learn something. Take charge. You are in charge of yourself.

Have no fear, maybe start slow. Work your way up.

I have to say when I was younger I could handle everything. Having gotten older I really have to prepare if I am to partake, which is few and far in between. Hardly at all these days except a check in. Anxiety comes easier with age for some unknown reason, probably all the responsibilities we have. But I do remember.

 

[donvliet]

apart from the good advice already posted above, what really works for me is: I only trip when I'm 100% sure that I want to commit to the experience. When I consider to trip, I remind myself that this means surrendering control and accepting and working through whatever the trips throws at me. Only when I'm sure that this is what I want right now, I decide to trip.

Whenever things get rocky, I remind myself of my commitment to the trip and the knowledge that working through whatever I encounter is the road to healing. This has turned some potential bad trips into very rewarding experiences.

 

[graugeist]

My last shroom trip (4.5) resulted in a panic attack and the worst trip of my life, I have avoided all psychedelics since then, i fear that ill think back to it and cause another panic attack. Is there anything I can do to avoid that?

Start with very low doses and do not take more. Let the trip ride out. You know, sometimes psychedelics can be much more enjoyable and rewarding at lower doses. If you happen to have another bad reaction you don't need to count all psychedelics out; just the ones that you don't enjoy/can't handle.

 

[Teotzlcoatl]

This is very common and happened to me on mushrooms as well.

Consider another entheogen... such as peyote, san pedro or ayahuasca.

 

[chaosbydesign]

One of the most important things for you to do in my opinion is "ease into psychedelics", if you still want to be using them.

Also, remember that an ego struggle is normal while tripping and is bound to happen sometimes; an ego struggle does not have to be a "bad trip". It can be turned into a wonderful learning experience. However, panic attacks are a bit more difficult to control...

But yes, 4.5grams was probably too much for you to get into just like that, especially if they were good shrooms. ; Just take lower doses to start off, and you will be less likely to have an "out of control" trip.