Bad Trip

(Psychs, Dissos, Cannabis, but applies to other substances too!)

Characteristics

Psychedelics can alter a person's perception of time, space, and reality, and this can cause a person to become easily startled or anxious. Providing a safe and comfortable environment can help to minimize any anxiety or discomfort they may experience. Avoid sudden movements or loud noises that could startle or distress them.

Be a profoundly personal experience and cause a person to experience intense emotions or revelations, some of which may be difficult to articulate. Interfering with their experience can be detrimental. Avoid trying to control their experience or force them to do anything uncomfortable. Be non-judgmental and avoid criticizing or belittling their experiences. Offer support and reassurance to help them process their experience. Most psychedelics can last several hours, and a person may experience a range of emotions and experiences during this time.

Procedure

Once you have collected sufficient information to determine that the helpee has not taken any dangerous doses, substances, or combinations, reassure them that they are safe. Most often, psychedelics, weed, and dissociatives are perfectly physically harmless when used responsibly, and this can be helpful for a helpee to hear.

Bad Trip / Thought Loops

We have a complete guide on how to deal with a bad trip.

Encourage the helpee to find some distractions. Often thought loops emerge when someone becomes "stuck in their head." Finding something external to focus on, such as a movie or tv show, an activity like drawing, playing with a trip toy, or just having a fun conversation about one of their interests can help a lot. Encourage the helpee to make changes to their environment. Changing music, moving to a different room, going inside/outside, etc., are all great suggestions that can drastically change someone's mindset. Use your imagination to find something relevant that the helpee finds interesting. Engage them in a subject they find interesting! For example, ask them what type of music they like and then respond with your preferences. Perhaps link them to some chill tunes; chill music is always wonderful when tripping. A simple conversation can be calming to the tripper.

Remind the helpee that the trip will end and that they should try to enjoy it while it lasts. Hopefully, this will help ground the helpee, and they will realize the effects they are feeling are only temporary and that they should try to make the best out of their experience.

Suggest a breathing or grounding exercise. TripBot has a few breathing exercises (see Helpful TripBot Commands) and a grounding exercise. Deep inhales through the nose, holding it for a few seconds, slowly exhaling through the mouth, and holding breath briefly before repeating it. Tripbot has several gifs in ~breathe that can serve as a visual aid for the tripper.

Sometimes a helpee might be working through some life stressors while they are under the influence. You may also engage with the helpee about these life issues if willing and able. However, be cautious about spending too much time on these topics, as getting stuck in thought loops is easy. If it becomes apparent that their continued focus on that issue is becoming detrimental, commend the helpee for their work and encourage them to give themselves a break by focusing on something lighter. If someone seems to be encountering challenges that would benefit from longer-term support, such as ongoing substance use or mental health challenges, refer them to the appropriate resources.

Generally, we do not encourage people to take more drugs to counteract the ones they have already taken. This includes using benzos, antipsychotics, or other downers to cancel a "bad trip" or help with a stimulant comedown. Most often, all the helpee needs is someone to help break them out of it. If someone insists on using those substances, inform them of the realistic outcomes: benzos and opiates will not kill a trip; however, they will make it less intense and reduce anxiety. See Medical Advice for more information on this.

Seek medical attention if necessary: If the person is experiencing severe anxiety or distress or has taken a dangerous amount of drugs, seek medical attention immediately.