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Tips if You’re Having a Challenging Psychedelic Experience

1. Breathe.
Slow inhales, slower exhales. Your breath is the remote control for your nervous system.

2. Change the setting.
Lights too bright? Music too intense? People too people-y? Shift your environment: dim the lights, change the playlist, grab a blanket, or go somewhere quiet.

3. Don’t fight it.
Resistance creates more friction. Remind yourself: This is temporary. It will pass. You don’t need to control the trip, just ride the wave.

4. Talk it out.
Call a trusted friend or peer support line like Fireside Project (call or text 62-FIRESIDE) if you need a calm voice in the storm.

5. Ground into the now.
Touch something real (a rock, a sweater, the ground). Sip water. Feel your feet. Say your name out loud. These simple things remind your body you're safe.

6. Let it come up.
Sometimes your mind’s just doing a deep clean. Emotions, memories, or weird thoughts might surface. You don’t need to understand them, just let them move through.

7. Put on a soft movie or playlist.
Visual anchors like nature films or calming animations can shift your attention. So can instrumental or ambient music. Think less lyrics, more feelings. Check out our playlists here.

8. Rest.
If it’s safe, lay down. Use an eye mask. Total darkness can help soften sensory overload and kickstart your parasympathetic system (your “rest and digest” mode). Get the best eye mask here.

9. Afterward: integrate.
Journal, talk to someone, take a slow walk. Your brain just went on a trip, give it time to reconnect the dots.

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