[Opgelost] If I experience fear, confusion, or intense emotions during the psychedelic trip session, how should I relate to them?

Experiencing fear, confusion, or intense emotions during a psychedelic session is common — and it can be a valuable part of the healing process if approached in the right way. 

When fear arises during a session, it's rarely just about the immediate sensation. Often, fear is a kind of guardian that stands in front of a deeper emotional truth or past experience. Instead of seeing fear as the problem, it's helpful to ask: "What is this fear trying to protect me from?" or "What does this fear want me to know?"

In many cases, fear is there to shield us from unresolved pain, rejection, vulnerability, or memories we’ve pushed away. By approaching it with openness and compassion — rather than resistance — you create space for those deeper layers to be revealed. This can lead to profound insights and emotional breakthroughs.

Confusion often emerges when the rational mind tries to make sense of a non-linear, symbolic, or emotionally charged experience. Psychedelics work beyond logic; they operate on the subconscious, sensory, and emotional levels. When you try too hard to "figure it out" in the moment, the mind can spiral into overthinking or anxiety.

A helpful way to relate to confusion is, indeed, to stop trying to understand. Let the experience unfold without resistance. A powerful technique is to surrender — as if you're about to fall asleep. This doesn't mean losing awareness, but rather entering a state of deep trust and receptivity. Softening your mental grip can allow insights to emerge organically, often after the journey ends.

When intense emotions like grief, rage, love, or ecstasy arise, the most healing response is to let the body express what it needs to. Psychedelics open emotional pathways that are often tightly held in our everyday lives. In this expanded state, emotions can finally move — sometimes through shaking, crying, laughter, or spontaneous movements.

The key is to allow it without trying to analyze or interrupt it. Thinking too much can block the natural release process. Instead, trust the intelligence of your body. It knows how to process and integrate emotions — often better than the thinking mind.

During guided sessions like a psilocybin therapy session or truffle ceremony, facilitators often say: “Let it happen,” or “Stay with it.” This is because emotions that are allowed to move freely often resolve on their own — leaving you lighter, clearer, and more connected to yourself.

So if you find yourself overwhelmed, try this mantra: “Let the body do what it needs to do.” Breathe. Surrender. Trust. That’s where healing lives.