Many people distrust and even fear psychedelics. There are certain psychedelics that people find scarier than others. Peyote and Ayahuasca generally escapethe discrimination of unwarranted reputation. Each of these substances are traditional to sacred ceremonies and therefore may seem more substantive and legitimate than other psychedelics, many of which were purposefully slandered by the government during the 1960’s, a period marked by cultural upheaval.
Although LSD, synthesized in a laboratory, bore the brunt of the disinformation campaign, magic mushrooms were not spared despite their rich ceremonial past. The campaign strategically highlighted the risk of “bad trips,” portraying them in the most alarmist and dangerous light possible. This fearmongering tactic ignored the nuanced history and cultural significance of these substances, choosing instead to cast them uniformly as dangers to individual and public health.
Public service announcements from the era graphically depicted the dangers ofLSD while using symbols associated with magic mushrooms. Viewers were shown individuals, ostensibly under the influence, recklessly running into traffic, resulting in their deaths. Animated segments portrayed exaggerated scenarios, such as a person so detached from reality that they stood on the brink of a high-rise building, oblivious to the fatal risk. These stark, fear-inducing images aimed to deter psychedelic use by highlighting extreme, negative outcomes.
While there were never any deaths attributed to the use of psychedelics, the “bad trip” label became rigidly attached to what many users experience asbasically scary without any necessary risk to one’s life or limb. Some have even begun to use thisterminology to describe what they would characterize as simply uncomfortable. Others embrace it because they wish for a more hallucinatoryor wavy trip.
What You Can Expect to Feel
The amplification of emotions and feelings is one of the characteristics of psychedelics or plant medicine. If one is feeling upbeat and is without worry, the ingestion of psychedelics will more than likely result in a joyous, expansive and uplifting experience. On the other hand, if one is worried or stressed about something even if that something isn’t top of mind, the holistic medicine will most likely magnify those feelings, as well.
The unexamined grief of a loss or even unrealized fears may contribute to uncomfortable experiences. If someone is generally a pessimistic and anxious person, they may always have constricted experiences and then again, they may not. All psychedelics have traditionally been considered mysteriousand magical and that is precisely due to the nature of the experience. One can never be sure what the plant medicine will reveal.
The true definition of a bad or challenging trip refers to a psychedelic experience that becomes overwhelming, frightening, or disorienting for the person consuming the mushrooms.
It’s important to note that most individuals report positive, even transformative experiences. However, factors such as an individual’s mental state, environment, and dosage can contribute to the likelihood of a challenging experience.
In some cases, an unwelcometrip may involve intense anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations perceived as negative or frightening, a distorted sense of time, or a feeling of loss of control. Again, there have never been any verified reports of permanent psychological or physical damage as the result of a so-called bad trip. At best, they are as frightening as a nightmare.
One’s subconscious mind is full of memories, some of which may be considered traumatic. They contribute to dreams, nightmaresand psychedelic experiences. While undesirable, these types of experiences shouldbe quite positive in their eventual outcome. Most therapists and guides would agree that the processing of triggers and trauma happens most transparently when the client is aware of them or when it has been revealed as the source of unwelcome behavior.
The Importance of Set and Setting
Still, it is crucial to approach the use of psychedelics responsibly, with awareness of set and setting, which corresponds to one’s mindset and the environment in which one has an experience. This concept has been shown to have a meaningful effect on the constructs involved in the psychedelic journey.
Research into the therapeutic use of psilocybin and other psychedelics is ongoing, and there is evidence to suggest that, when used under controlled and supervised conditions, they may have therapeutic benefits for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and even obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD.
It is essential for individuals considering the use of magic mushrooms or any psychedelics to be well-informedand to prioritize their mental and physical well-being. Consulting with healthcare professionals and experienced guides in a controlled setting can also enhance safety and mitigate the discomfort of challenging experiences.
