What is Psilocybin?

Psilocybin is classified as a recreational drug, it provides feelings of euphoria and sensory distortion that are common to hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD, MDMA and PCP. Psychedelics are a class of drugs that produce unique and profound changes of consciousness over a period of several hours.

People normally consume psilocybin as a brewed tea or prepare it with a food item to mask its bitter taste, or they may eat them as is. Manufacturers also crush dried mushrooms into a powder and prepare them in capsule form, which is often referred to as micro-dosing. Additionally, some people who consume them cover them with chocolate.

Mushrooms containing psilocybin are small and usually brown or tan. In the wild, people often mistake mushrooms containing psilocybin for any number of other mushrooms that are poisonous.

How does Psilocybin Work?

Psilocybin is a hallucinogen that works by activating serotonin receptors, most often in the prefrontal cortex. Psilocybin exerts it effects on the brain, causing a change in perception, mood, thinking, and/or behaviour. Hallucinogens affect other regions of the brain that regulate arousal and panic responses.

After ingestion and the body will then convert it to psilocyn, prior to absorbing it. The hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin usually occur within 30 minutes of ingestion and last around 8+ hours, depending on the dosage and strength.

Psilocybin does not always cause active visual or auditory hallucinations. Instead, it distorts how some people that use the drug perceive objects and people already in their environment. In some individuals, the changes in sensory perception and thought patterns can last for several hours to several days.

Before You Start

1. Think about why you would like to get high – It’s best not to use hallucinogens as a way of avoiding or coping with problems.
2. Know your supplier – It’s best to choose someone you feel safe with and who knows about the drugs they sell.
3. Find a buddy (who will be sober) – Using shrooms when alone can mean coping by yourself if you get injured or have a bad trip.
4. Plan your trip – Choose a safe, peaceful place to hang out, knowing that most trips last 8-12 hours. Talk to your friend about things you could do if you have a bad trip.

When You’re Tripping

1. Make sure that you are in the right state of mind – Using hallucinogens can be fun, spiritual or educational if you embrace the experience. It can also be scary, especially if you try to control rather than “roll with it.”
2. Avoid unpleasant experiences – Steer clear of climbing up on things, looking in the mirror, or having sex with anyone other than a familiar partner. Activities that are unpleasant will have unexpected results.
3. Stick to one substance at a time – Using a combination of drugs at once while tripping can change your experience in unpredictable ways.
4. Keep away from the steering wheel – Your judgment and coordination may be greatly impaired, so plan ahead!

What’s a Bad Trip?

The term “trip” refers to the alteration of your perception of the world, in that it changes so dramatically that it can feel as if you have taken a trip to a strange, new land. You hope that it will be a pleasant experience, and it might be, but it can quickly turn unpleasant. This unpleasant experience of hallucinogen intoxication is referred to as a “bad trip”.

It is common for occasional unpleasant sensations, hallucinations, and thoughts to occur during a trip, and it does not necessarily mean that you are having a bad trip. These experiences can sometimes seem interesting or funny, rather than upsetting or frightening, and they can pass quite quickly.

“One of the earliest documented bad trips was reported by Albert Hofmann, the chemist who discovered LSD. He had started experiencing a bad trip, and in an attempt to soothe himself, requested some milk from his next-door neighbor, who appeared to have become “a malevolent, insidious witch.”

Can Certain People Avoid Bad Trips?

The short answer is no; when people begin experimenting with psychedelic, they occasionally go through what they call a “honeymoon period” leading them to believe that all trips are great. Some tend to believe that they are “safe” from bad trips or that bad trips only happen to people with the “wrong attitude”. Some believe that bad trips are a myth dreamed up by the establishment to try and discourage people from becoming enlightened or having a good time. Others think that taking the drug with friends or a “guide” will prevent a bad trip.

The idea that certain people can avoid bad trips is farfetched, and more than likely provides a sense of false security to help maintain a positive attitude. Despite what some might say, bad trips are commonplace.

What to Do When You’re Having a Bad Trip?

1. Stay in a safe environment!
2. Keep yourself hydrated!
3. Play soothing music this will help take your mind off of what is going on!
4. Surrender to the experience rather than trying to control it.
5. Try to meditate or relax, and reassure yourself that in time the experience will pass.
6. Don’t take more drugs! You may be tempted to do so, but please don‘t, for everyone sake.
7. Think positive thoughts – Your mind is going to give you all sorts of thoughts to think while you‘re on a bad trip, and trying to figure out which are real and which are just the drugs talking can send you into a real spiral. Stop focusing on what is true or false and just focus on what is helpful.
8. Acknowledge that this is a collective experience – One of the most helpful thoughts you can think is to realize your bad trip is a collective experience. There are people that are having their own bad trips right along with you. Probably hundreds. You are not going through this alone.