I'd like to open a constructive discussion on what causes bad trips. I feel that there are too many people out there that are getting into psychedelics with a fear of having a bad trip, and from this fear it is quite possible that you will have one. But I think this is fear is unfounded, to a very large extent. Too many people warn others that they need to be careful or else they may fall into psychosis or some other similar bullshit. This is coming from first hand experience. In high school everyone told me to be careful with mushrooms, and to make sure to take them on a good week. Well I ended up doing them on a trip to Colorado with some friends. We were having a blast the day before. We found some connects and went out to Durango to get some shrooms. This whole time my ego was telling me to be careful, that these substances could give me a bad experience. I hid this feeling from my friends, got back to the room, and consumed around 4 grams. Short story: I had one of the worst experiences of my life. What I later discovered is these substances are not at fault, it is our own sense of fear and unwillingness to allow the drug to take us over. I attempted to turn my back on the drug, even though I had already chosen consciously to consume it. At that time, I was unwilling to let my ego go, and what it tries to control from its half remembered experiences. I would like to hear other peoples beliefs on what causes these unpleasant, sometimes wasteful, sometimes learning experiences. I don't think many people understand what they are doing when they warn people about the possibility of having a bad trip. They are actually helping create one for that person in the future. Also feel free to explain what can help someone pull themselves out of a bad trip. My beliefs are what Terence McKenna advises: 1. Sing. 2. Don't be afraid to tell the drug that you don't like where it is going, and to be kind. 3. Smoke weed. 4. Also stop resisting the drug. When you resist you often begin to focus on what is already transpiring, which will not help the drug move through its course.
I had a few bad trips in the beginning and now I just don't have them anymore. They weren't "completely" bad, .. so I guess I shouldn't even be calling them bad trips... I just temporarily experienced an extreme state of fear, and then once it passed I felt as though I had never felt better.. lol Honestly I think it's just holding onto the fear itself, and not letting go. Like you said, you hear shit from your friends about this and that -- honestly they're just giving you advice that's tailored to their own negative experience (or rather just a trip they'd label as negative, since they couldn't get around their own road blocks). "Watch out for this and that, don't do it when this or that is happening", bla bla bla. They make you worry in the midst of your experience and that's where it all goes wrong. Like you said, you go from consciously choosing to take it, .. to suddenly wanting to back out and not embrace what you are about to feel and experience. Seeing as it's a purely psychological drug it's safe to say that a bad trip is mere placebo, or so that's come to be the truth in my own experience.
I have seen and heard better success from adding it to the experience then not. It could get you off of what you are stuck on. But I suppose it is relative to the individual. If you feel anxiety easily on marijuana then it might not be a good choice to smoke it during a bad trip.
I think the key is not smokeing ALLOT of pot. Through experience I've found that pot sort of boosts psychedelics like LSD, and makes them more intense, but the pot tends to open your mind more, and you will easily accept the effects and not resist (which is where it can help stop a bad trip). The times I've taken acid, and then smoked a nice bowl, are by the far the most enlightening experiences I've ever had.
Fear is undoubtedly the most common factor, whether its fear of the trip due to bad reputation, fear of losing control, or fear of what your realizing and how its shattering your current beliefs. Sometimes its possible to rationalize your way out that negative thought proccess, and I would reccomend this as it allows you to come to terms with those thoughts/feelings, instead of other methods which you kind of run away and have unresolved issues that one is always skirting around. Of course, this is not easy or possible sometimes due to the psychadelic state of mind. Other options of getting out if thinking your way is impossible or is just leading you down to a darker place, are watching a movie. I usually keep one handy, pop it in, then focus on the movie, instead of my thoughts. A safety playlist consisting of good music thats not too trippy and has a positive vibe. Personal preference is some jimi and jefferson airplane. Changes in the enviorment are also helpful, whether its moving to another location, changing the lighting, adjusting the volume of the music, etc. Finally, I have heard of people keeping a sleeping pill handy and just passing out to avoid it. Never tried it myself so I can't comment on how the drug affects you once your asleep, but I'd say stay away from this method unless your fearing serious psychological damage or physical damage (maybe suicide is sounding pretty good). As for weed, its very much up to the individual. I used to smoke weed on peaks and had a blast. After doing it on acid however, shit got way to crazy and initiated the only trip I would classify as "bad". I still do usually smoke after the comedown tho.
