What If I Have A “Bad Trip?” - Navigating Difficult Psychedelic Experiences
A common concern about psychedelic therapy and ketamine therapy is the possibility of a difficult or uncomfortable experience. In other words, the dreaded “bad trip.” What makes a psychedelic experience good or bad? How can you navigate a difficult psychedelic experience, and how does your therapist help guide and support you?
What Is A Good Trip Vs A Bad Trip?
In psychedelic therapy, we don’t categorize a psychedelic experience as good or bad. Whether a client is using ketamine, psilocybin, MDMA or some other psychedelic substance, the experience of the trip itself is approached with openness, curiosity and care.
A psychedelic experience is unique to the individual. There can be periods of bliss and joy, and periods of processing difficult emotions like sadness, loss and fear. Often, a psychedelic experience encompasses both.
While a “good trip” might be enjoyable, a “bad trip” may bring up important emotions to be processed. These difficult experiences are often more powerful and healing than a blissful psychedelic experience.
An example of a “good trip” is one where there are feelings of happiness, lightness, joy, connectedness, silliness and letting go of daily concerns.
An example of a difficult trip is one where deep issues are confronted, processed, and explored. There might be moments of fear or discomfort. Keep in mind most psychedelic experiences span the range of pleasant and unpleasant emotions and thoughts.
How Can I Have A Good Trip, and Avoid a Bad Trip?
There’s no guarantee of what may come up during a psychedelic experience. However, there are some best practices that a psychedelic therapist will help with to set you up for a good trip:
Set and Setting
Set and Setting are the parameters that help ensure a client feels safe and secure enough to immerse themselves in the psychedelic experience. It’s a stable platform from which to launch yourself into your own psyche. Set refers to your own mindset going into the psychedelic experience. Ideally you feel safe, calm, grounded, supported, and educated about what’s about to happen. You know your intentions. You have done your homework. You feel ready.
Setting is the context in which the psychedelic experience happens. This includes where you are, whom you are with, your physical surroundings and what’s expected of you during the psychedelic experience. Ideally, you' have no responsibilities during this time. You are with someone you feel safe with, knowing they are taking care of the “outside world” so that you can go within. A professional psychedelic therapist ensures this safe and supportive setting, tailoring your soundscape with a playlist and there for you every step of the way.
A Professional to Support You
Most people feel safest (and therefore have the most healing experiences) while being guided by a professional. Whether that is a licensed therapist or a tripsitter, having someone with the knowledge to guide you is important. For most people, having a licensed mental health professional with training in psychedelic therapy is important. When surveyed, most people state that they prefer a psychedelic therapist to have had psychedelic experiences themselves, as part of their personal growth and professional training.
A Medical Evaluation and Clearance
Most psychedelic substances are physically safe. However, there are still side effects and dangerous interactions that can occur with preexisting medical conditions and other medications. At Psychedelic Growth, we work with ketamine which is prescribed by our medical parters at Journey Clinical. Our clients receive a thorough medical and psychiatric evaluation before a ketamine prescription is tailored to a patient. This safe approach ensures a physically safe and comfortable psychedelic experience. Working with an underground therapist, or an illegal substance, can be risky as there is no medical or professional oversight.
4. Preparation before the Psychedelic Experience
Preparation can ensure that you feel ready to undertake your journey. Good preparation includes education and information about psychedelics, about your particular medicine and dosage, about what the trip feels like and how to respond to anything uncomfortable that may come up. A psychedelic therapist will provide all this information and help you set your own intentions for your journey.
5. Integration after Your Journey
Integration refers to the processing and meaning-making from your trip. This is usually where the healing actually happens. Having a licensed therapist with your throughout your journey will help you begin to integrate your experience immediately. Having someone to talk to about your experience that understands and can help you utilize that experience for your own treatment goals is key.
A Difficult Trip Can Be A Healing Trip
It’s important to remember that no matter what happens during a psychedelic journey, your brain can benefit from its antidepressant effects and boosted nueroplasticity. Moreover, a difficult trip usually refers to the confronting of old trauma or difficult emotions. These issues and emotions are best worked through, rather than avoided. With a trusted psychedelic therapist, these uncomfortable trips can turn into powerful healing work to address depression, addiction, PTSD and other issues.
Whatever form the journey takes, it can be part of growth and healing. It’s encouraged to approach any psychedelic experience with openness, curiosity, self-compassion and a nonjudgemental stance.