What is a bad trip?
A bad trip is a psychedelic experience with or without hallucinations that is mainly experienced as scary, causing fears to persist for a long time after a trip. Long-term suspicion and negative feelings can also be classified as a bad trip. In our opinion, a bad trip is not a psychedelic session that can be uncomfortable or frightening in the beginning and that can then provide valuable information and insights.
What makes for a bad trip?
There are several factors that ensure that a trip can become a bad trip and these factors often have to do with the intention, expectation and location (set and setting). There are also certain psychological conditions that significantly increase the risk of a bad trip and can therefore worsen the condition. People with the following conditions should not use psychedelics.
- Borderline
- Psychosis sensitivity
- Schizophrenia
- Severe anxiety disorders
The following conditions and solutions can trigger and remedy bad trips.
| Trigger | Solution |
|---|---|
| People in your area | Trusted or professional tripsitter |
| Music | More positive music or turning off music |
| Afraid of the eternal trip | The knowledge that there is life after the trip |
| Seeing one's own fears | Know that it is just information |
| Hallucinations that are too intense | More light in the room and take dextrose |
| Hyperventilation | Someone who indicates breathing rhythm |
| Too much glutamate in the brain | Increase GABA before the trip |
A good trip
Bad trips almost never occur if good guidance is available. The presence of a professional tripsitter is often reason enough to enter the session calmly, calmly and confidently. Good preparation can also benefit the psychedelic session a lot. A study already showed that increased glutamate in the hippocampus could be an indicator of a bad trip. By taking a neurotransmitter test in advance and balancing the neurochemistry based on this, the chance of a good trip increases significantly.
Do you want a good trip?
Through an intake and questionnaire, we look at how you can optimize your neurochemistry for a positive trip through supplements and nutrition. We can also give you tips to read certain books or watch videos to prepare the mindset for a psychedelic session in your right setting.
