"It's my first time taking shrooms!" Frequently Asked Questions

"It’s my first time taking shrooms!" Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: It’s my first time! What can I expect?

Every trip is different, but there are some general similarities. The experience will be affected by many factors, e.g. dosage, set and setting, etc… (see below) These are the most common effects:

Physical effects: Muscle relaxation, weakness and twitches. Nausea. yawning, drowsiness, lack of coordination. Pupil dilation, watery eyes, facial flushing. Increased heart rate and body temperature. Body feels heavy or light, feelings of floating.

Psychological effects: Heightened sensory experiences and perceptual distortions. Auditory, tactile and visual hallucinations. Synesthesia. Difficulty in focusing and thinking. Sense of detachment from body and surroundings. Loss of boundaries. Altered perception of space and time. Emotions are intensified.

Anecdotal effects: Things seem more beautiful and meaningful. A new appreciation for nature and loved ones. Feeling at one with the universe. Insights into past and current affairs. Playfulness and child-like wonder.

 

Q: How much should I take?

The recommendations vary, but anything between 2g and 3.5g (dry shrooms) is usually good enough for a first trip. If you are very cautious or nervous, start out with a smaller dose like 1.5g and see how that goes. Larger doses (4g +) are not really recommended for inexperienced trippers.

If you are significantly larger or smaller than an average person, you may need to adjust your dosage with 0.5g more / less.

 

Q: How do I take them?

You don’t need to do anything fancy, it is totally fine to just eat them as they are. However, the general consensus is that the trip will be more intense / the onset will be faster if:

• You grind the shrooms into a fine powder before consumption

• You do a lemon tek

• You take them on an empty stomach

If you don’t like the taste or texture, you can:

• Make tea

• Make shroom chocolates

• Make jello

Many people have recommended taking shrooms with a bit of dark chocolate. There are lots of other ways to take them, just find one that works best you.

 

Q: Can I eat them fresh?

Yes! Fresh shrooms are 90% - 93% water, so adjust the dosage accordingly, e.g. 20g fresh = +-2 grams dry.

 

Q: Will I get nausea and how do I avoid it?

Not everyone will experience nausea, but some people are more susceptible than others. Nausea is mostly caused by ingesting the solid, fibrous part of the mushroom, which the stomach can have trouble digesting. Making a tea and straining out the solids can significantly reduce nausea. Ginger also helps. If you do experience nausea, it is best to just ride it out. It usually only lasts for the first hour after consumption, so try to distract yourself until it passes.

 

Q: How long will the trip last?

This is dependent on the dosage, but the typical timeline for a trip looks like this:

• Onset = 20 - 60 min. The length of the onset is usually dependent on method of consumption, e.g. taking shrooms whole or with food / on a full stomach will mean a longer onset, while lemon tek or tea makes the onset much shorter.

• Peak = 3 – 5 hours. This is the most intense part of the trip.

• Come down = 2 – 4 hours. The trip gradually becomes less intense as things start to calm down.

• Total duration = 6 – 10 hours.

An average first time trip of 2g should last about 6 hours. Keep in mind that just because the trip is over, you may not necessarily be ready to interact with the “real world” yet.

 

Q: What are “set” and “setting” and why are they important?

Set = your mindset, the way you are currently feeling and the things you are currently thinking about.

Setting = The place / environment that you will be tripping in.

The kind of trip you have is very much dependent on set and setting, since shrooms will make you much more sensitive to even the slightest stimuli. It is recommended that you only trip when you have a good set and setting, e.g. you are in a fairly stable and happy frame of mind, and the environment will be somewhere beautiful and peaceful. You are far more likely to have a negative experience if you trip while feeling lonely in a crowded bar full of loud drunk people, than if you trip with some good friends on the beach at sunset.

Some people do choose to take shrooms to help them deal with depression, death of a loved one, etc, but these trips are very heavy and best left until you have more experience with shrooms.

For your first time, wait until you have a good set and setting, even if that means delaying your plans a few times.

 

Q: What can I do to make sure I am fully prepared for my trip?

• Make sure you will not be disturbed. Turn your cell phone off, make sure that you have no other commitments and that you won’t be having random visitors dropping by.

• Maximize comfort. Have warmer / cooler clothes on hand. Have a place where you can lie down and relax. Make sure there is easy access to a bathroom. Water is always a good idea.

• Gather and prepare what you’ll need. E.g. Have a good playlist already queued up, since motor function will be impaired and navigating a computer can be difficult. If you think you may want to draw or write, have some pen and paper nearby. Have food ready and prepared for the comedown.

• Plan a rest day if possible, e.g. trip on Saturday and rest on Sunday. That way you have time to fully integrate everything that happened on the trip, and to recuperate. Trips can be physically, mentally and emotionally draining and it can be very rough to have to go right back to work / class the very next day.

 

Q: What is a trip-sitter? Do I need one?

A trip-sitter is a sober person who is nearby while you are tripping. They can be in the room with you, or just chilling nearby to give you your space. They are there to comfort you in case you start feeling overwhelmed, and to deal with things like the doorbell ringing or ordering a pizza so that you don’t have to. It is helpful if the trip sitter has had previous experience with psychedelics.

For first timers, a trip sitter is recommended, especially if you intend to trip alone. Even if they are not with you, it will be a comfort to know that there is someone you can call if you need them.

 

Q: Should I trip alone or with other people?

There are pros and cons to both, so choose the option that suits you best.

Alone: You may feel overwhelmed and confused, especially if this is your first experience with psychedelics. However, if you want a more introspective trip, then having other people around can be a distraction.

With others: If you don’t know a person very well or if there is any underlying tension, then you may react negatively in their presence while tripping. However, with a good friend, a shared trip can be an amazing bonding experience and fun adventure.

 

Q: Should I take them during the day or at night?

Both experiences are beautiful in their own way, so it really depends on your setting. Don’t trip at night if you are going to be out in the wilderness and could potentially get stuck somewhere unsafe in the dark. Don’t trip during the day if you are worried about people coming over and disturbing your trip. Light transitions (sunrise and sunset) are very beautiful while tripping.

 

Q: What is a bad trip and how do I avoid having one?

When you take shrooms (or other psychedelics) and you have a negative experience, some people label this as a "bad trip". Common features include: extreme anxiety, feelings of terror and alienation, overwhelming sadness, paranoia, confusion, loss of self-identity, and physical discomfort. Some people are of the opinion that there are no "bad trips", only "difficult trips", and that working through the issues that come up during these trips can present great opportunities for growth and healing.

How to avoid bad trips:

• Proper preparation (see above)

• Proper set and setting (see above)

• Have a trip sitter

If the trip starts going bad:

• Focus on remaining calm. Take some deep breaths and drink some water

• Change something, e.g. change the music, get up and walk around / go lie down / go outside

• Talk to someone and let them reassure you

• Remember that the trip is temporary and will end in a few hours.

In general, bad trips are quite rare, and if the above advice is adhered to, it is extremely unlikely that you will have a bad trip.

 

Q: I’ve had experience with other drugs, how do shrooms compare?

Shrooms are a psychedelic, putting them in the same category as LSD, DMT, mescaline, and other hallucinogenic drugs, so there are certain similarities between those experiences. While shroom trips have their own unique flavor, if you have tried other psychedelic drugs you will not be in completely unfamiliar territory.

Stimulants (cocaine, caffeine), opiates (heroin, morphine) and alcohol produce very different effects from shrooms. People who prefer the effects of these drugs may not necessarily enjoy psychedelics.

The most common drug that people have experienced before trying shrooms is marijuana. It is important to note that shrooms are not just “a stronger version of weed”, so even if you are a heavy smoker, you will most likely still be unprepared for a shroom trip. At high doses, marijuana can produce mildly psychedelic effects, so the experiences are not wholly unrelated.

If you have never tried any other drugs before taking shrooms, that is totally fine. While previous experience can make the trip less jarring, it can also interfere with the trip if you have expectations and try to make comparisons.

 

Q: Can I combine shrooms with other drugs?

This is a rather subjective question, but it should be noted that shrooms do not need to be combined with anything, and that taken by themselves, can produce an excellent trip that needs no “enhancement”. For first timers, it is recommended that they take shrooms only, so that they may fully appreciate what a shroom trip is without interference from other substances.

Combining shrooms with stimulants, opiates or alcohol is generally not recommended since the effects are very different. Shrooms have been combined with other psychedelics with varying results. Combining shrooms and MDMA is called hippie flipping and most people report positive experiences with this mix.

Shrooms are most likely to be combined with marijuana, and the reports have been very mixed on this experience. Some say that it enhances the trip, that it helps with nausea and calms anxiety. Others have found that marijuana has a negative effect on their trip, increasing anxiety and confusion.

 

Q: Am I too young to take shrooms?

The general consensus is that before the age of at least 20, the brain is still developing. As such, not only shrooms but other substances like marijuana and alcohol should also be avoided, since they can affect this development in a negative and permanent way. However, there are many people who have taken shrooms while younger than 20 and do not think that it has had any significant negative impact. It is your choice and the consequences are your responsibility.

 

Q: Can I take shrooms in my bedroom while my parents are asleep?

If this will affect your set and setting in a negative way then you probably shouldn't take shrooms. E.g. if you are going to spend the whole trip locked in your room, unable to go outside, paranoid about making a noise or your parents discovering you, then it isn't really worth the stress. If you think that this won't be a problem for you, then go ahead.

 

Q: I am on medication / I have a medical condition, is it safe to take shrooms?

Unless the person giving you advice is a medical doctor or psychiatrist, then it is merely speculation on their part, and it is best to err on the side of caution. Even comments by other users with similar conditions / medications cannot be viewed as a guarantee that you’ll have the same experience. You need to do your own research and take responsibility for your own choices.

If you are on an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) for depression etc, then you should probably steer clear of shrooms. While some say that the SSRI’s weaken the trip, others claim that it can lead to serotonin syndrome, which can be fatal, and still others have taken shrooms while on SSRI’s with no ill effects. Please keep this in mind if you plan on taking shrooms to help with depression if you are on medication.

 

Part 2 continued in comments...