How to prepare for a psychedelic trip

If you are new to psychedelics, the first trip can be intimidating, even scary. By approaching the experience consciously and taking the time to adequately prepare for the psychedelic trip, you can help mitigate the nervousness you are experiencing and be prepared when it gets overwhelming.

If you’re new to psychedelics research, you may have heard the terms “set” and “setting.” These are important things to keep in mind when using psychedelics, especially the first time. We’ll discuss these and some other things to consider when preparing for a psychedelic trip.

Set – Your mindset before preparing for the psychedelic trip

When people talk about set and setting, set refers to your mindset.

You want to enter the psychedelic experience with as much confidence and calm as possible. So what can you do to ease your nervousness?

Consider doing some of the following things to relieve nervousness:

• Do your research to understand how the psychedelics will affect you.
• Talk to others about their experiences to better understand what you might be experiencing.
• In the time leading up to your first dose, engage in activities that help you stay calm.
• Remind yourself why you are choosing this experience (we will discuss this further when setting intentions).
• Remember to go with the flow. You may experience some intense emotions, but it will end, and it may be something to learn from, which is often the goal of many people.
• Read the rest of this guide and take the time to prepare properly.

setting

The setting is the physical space in which you plan your psychedelic trip. The most important aspects are your physical and emotional safety. You want to make sure you are in a comfortable and safe environment and with people you trust.

The ideal environment in terms of comfort will likely vary from person to person, but here are a few things to consider when choosing the best setting and making it comfortable.

• Easy access to water and a bathroom.
• Access to comfort items such as pillows, blankets and a place to lie down.
• Consider the ambient noise and consider queuing music that you find soothing.

You should also think about removing possible distractions or interruptions.

set intentions

Setting intentions for the experience can make you feel more confident about stepping into it. Of course, you can’t predict how the experience with psychedelics will go, but taking the time to think about what it might be like and what you want to get out of it can help guide the experience.

Consider the psychedelic dose

Once you have your intentions in mind, you can determine the appropriate dose for the experience. You may decide that you prefer to micro-dose rather than take a full psychedelic dose.

If you decide to take a psychedelic dose but are still a bit nervous, you can take a smaller dose. A typical dose of dried mushrooms is between 1g and 5g. Where it is expected to experience ego dissolution (or ego death) at a dose of 3-4g.

You should expect to feel the effects for around 45 minutes to an hour. So if you feel comfortable after an hour and a half, you can always increase your dose.

Don’t plan anything for the day as the entire psychedelic trip will last 5-6 hours.

Consider a sitter

If you consume a higher dose of psychedelics, you might want to consider a trip sitter. This is a sober person (not consuming with you) to support you throughout the experience. Ideally, a trip sitter should be someone experienced with psychedelics to guide you through any challenges that may arise.

Final thoughts on preparing for a psychedelic trip

Taking time to prepare is an integral part of the psychedelic experience as it helps set the tone. Regardless of what you do to prepare, however, unexpected feelings may arise. Do your best to go with the flow and let the experience guide you. And remember, no matter what happens, it will end.

Psychedelics can be therapeutic and healing, but they are not without risk. Please use responsibly.