Bad Trip

Bad trips can occur if someone is overwhelmed with the effect of one or more psychedelic substances (eg LSD, Mushrooms, 2C-B). This situation can also be overwhelming for you as a (first) helper. Respect your limits and do nothing that makes you feel uncomfortable. If you need support, get help.

Symptoms

Disorientation, panic, fear (horror trip), overstrain with the situation u. ä.

Action

Provide security: If possible, bring in known / trusted people and go to a quiet place. Tell him / her who you are, that you are there to help and stay with the person. Body contact or physical proximity can promote a sense of security. However, be careful with a stranger, you could also scare her into it.

Give Orientation: Often those affected lose the sense of space and time: tell the person from time to time how much time has passed and where you are. Talk calmly and try to steer your thoughts in positive directions. Tell her over and over again that her current condition derives from the substance consumed, that the trip passes by and that everything is fine.

Promote well-being: Give her / him something to drink (no coffee, energizer or alcohol, since they can interact with previously ingested substances). Make sure the person does not cool or overheat. Breathing the person too fast ("hyperventilating"), make sure to breathe quietly or give her a paper bag to breathe in.

Get help: If you want to call in another person or a doctor because you can not or do not want to be able to handle the situation on your own, talk to the person concerned about it. Overloads the whole thing or you can not assess whether the person requires medical help: Call the rescue service.