Understanding the Complexities of a "Bad Trip"
- Leo Fountaine
- Jan 17, 2023
- 2 min read
A recent Reddit post has sparked a conversation about the assumption that "bad trips" are always caused by a tripper's unwillingness to change their toxic behavior. The original poster wrote, "The assumption that 'If you had a bad trip, it meant you weren't willing to change your toxic behavior' is itself a form of toxic behavior." This statement sparked a lot of interesting discussions among the Reddit community.
Many users agreed with the original statement, with user "arnuga" sharing their personal experience, "My one and only bad trip had to do with setting and not being emotionally or mentally prepared for the dose I took. It had nothing to do with inner demons, I was just too damn high to cope." Another user "ShroomingIn0" added, "There is no such thing as a perfect person. That's all I'll say."
However, some users believe that there is some truth to the idea that bad trips are always caused by one's unwillingness to change their toxic behavior. User "psixotropiko" shared their perspective, "Naaah.... I believe all that happens in a trip is an expression of your subconscious psyche. You often don't control which parts of your near infinite psyche you will explore. However if you get a huge anxiety attack I believe that that says something about your relationship to anxiousness. If you start trembling from fear I believe that says something about your relationship to fear and so on. It's not random its not a coin flip its a reflection of you and that's why it hurts so much..."
Another user "Yogghee" added, "not always... but there is definitely a core of truth to the original sentiment. External circumstances (flat tire, roof leaking, witnessing an accident, etc) obviously not your fault personally. Realizing (and resisting) the fact that you are self-toxic and embedded against your will in a terminally toxic culture... yes, of course it is. Use your common sense to understand which is which."
In conclusion, it is important to note that bad trips can happen for various reasons and it is not always a reflection of one's unwillingness to change their toxic behavior. External circumstances and one's mental and emotional state can play a significant role in the experience of a bad trip. Additionally, it is important to remember that each person's experience with psychedelic substances is unique and personal, and it is not productive to make assumptions or generalizations about others' experiences.
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