What is a bad trip and how do I avoid one?
A bad trip occurs when the euphoria of an LSD trip changes into something more sinister and frightening. It can be triggered by a threatening or adverse environment, the surfacing of difficult unconscious memories or material, a sense of being overwhelmed by the power of the drug and by attempting to resist its effects, or by problems between you and anyone you may be sharing the experience with. People hostile to LSD are more likely to have bad trips. Bad trips are characterized by intense feelings of paranoia, sensations of dying, fear, and anxiety. This maybe accompanied by threatening or frightening visual hallucinations: spiders, blood, insects, monsters, skulls etc. It is a deeply uncomfortable and traumatic state but can be avoided or changed by taking careful precautions. See our bad trip guide.
