LSD Trip Report: A Sudden Shift in Experience
Table of Contents
1. Introduction and Brief History
2. Pre-Trip (~4:45 PM)
- Uncertainty and Excitement
- Invitation and Surprise
- Trusting the Trip Sitter
3. Dosing (6:00 PM)
- The Walk and The LSD Tab
- The Influence of Cannabis
4. See? I'm Fine: The Onset (6:50 PM)
- Initial Euphoria and Connection
- Arriving at Home and Playing Music
5. The Unexpected Shift
- Things Begin to Turn
- The Role of Uncertainty
1. Introduction and Brief History
On May 10th, 2017, I, a 19-year-old male weighing 125 lb, decided to take LSD again after having several positive, spiritual experiences with it in the past. I had taken 1-2 blotters on around eight different occasions before, each trip providing meaningful insights and enhanced perspectives. These experiences had helped me manage my borderline personality disorder well, giving me the emotional stability I needed. However, one experience from two years ago with a different substance, 2C-I, left a negative impact.
While attempting to trip with 2C-I, I had an overwhelming and unpleasant visual experience, which made me feel a sense of arrogance. This is when I thought to myself, “I’ve never had a bad trip from LSD. Only from research chemicals.” I dismissed the importance of careful trip preparation, and in hindsight, that was a significant mistake. This arrogance would play a role in my next trip.
2. Pre-Trip (~4:45 PM)
Uncertainty and Excitement
The trip was a spontaneous decision. I had invited my best friend over to my house on a Wednesday evening, but I didn't expect to be tripping. My friend, who was more of a laid-back "hippie" type but not an experienced psychonaut, arrived around 4:30-5 PM. He had not provided a specific time, and when he arrived, he presented me with an acid tab. This unexpected gift of LSD brought a wave of excitement. I was happy and thrilled at the thought of revisiting my past positive psychedelic experiences. But underneath the excitement, I felt a sense of uncertainty—was I truly prepared for this, or had I let the spontaneity of the moment override my better judgment?
Invitation and Surprise
The idea of tripping hadn't been planned. When my friend showed up with the LSD tab, I realized that I would be tripping that day. The spontaneity made me feel elated, but it also triggered a sense of unease in the back of my mind. Nevertheless, the excitement overshadowed this uncertainty, and I let my emotions take over. I didn’t stop to assess my readiness. Even when my friend reassured me that I would be fine, I ignored the rational side of my mind that urged caution.
Trusting the Trip Sitter
I trusted my friend to be my trip sitter, but in hindsight, this was a mistake. While he had good intentions and was a calming presence in my life, he wasn’t well-versed in the responsibilities of a trip sitter. The role requires more than just being present—it demands a level of attentiveness and readiness to guide the tripper through potentially challenging moments. At the time, though, his reassurance helped me push aside my doubts.
3. Dosing (6:00 PM)
The Walk and The LSD Tab
Around 6:00 PM, my friend and I set off on a walk down a dirt path near my neighborhood. We were looking for a relaxing place to settle before returning home. The LSD tab, stored in a small baggie in my vest pocket, was removed and placed on my tongue. It dissolved quickly, and I felt no bitterness or numbness (common traits of 2C-x substances). We had already smoked a 1-gram pre-rolled joint from the dispensary an hour prior, and I wasn’t aware that this cannabis might affect the LSD onset in unpredictable ways.
The Influence of Cannabis
Looking back, I realize that the cannabis consumption was a mistake. The time distortion from the marijuana made it seem like the joint was smoked hours ago, and I convinced myself that I was fine. I didn’t fully consider how the lingering effects of cannabis might alter the course of the trip. The combination of cannabis and LSD can amplify the intensity of the experience, and I would soon learn that the blending of these substances wasn’t as harmless as I initially believed.
4. See? I'm Fine: The Onset (6:50 PM)
Initial Euphoria and Connection
By 6:50 PM, after a brief time spent talking at a park filled with grass and pine trees, I realized that I was beginning to come up. The familiar euphoria of the music my friend played was amplified by the LSD. It was the kind of euphoria that made everything feel enhanced—the world seemed brighter, more colorful, and alive. The music washed over me, lifting my spirits. We laughed, joked around, and I felt more connected to my friend than ever before. It was reminiscent of my past LSD experiences, where I felt at peace with the world. I felt euphoric, carefree, and deeply content.
Arriving at Home and Playing Music
We arrived at my house around 7:10 PM. As soon as we entered my room, the excitement and happiness carried over. We decided to play guitar and sing together, something we often did as musicians. At first, the music felt incredibly uplifting, and I was filled with joy. I felt deeply present in the moment, and the experience felt like a spiritual high. However, as we continued to play and sing, something started to shift.
5. The Unexpected Shift
Things Begin to Turn
As I basked in the euphoria of the music and the good vibes, an unsettling feeling began to creep in. The feeling of joy and connection from earlier started to fade, and anxiety began to take its place. It was a subtle shift at first—a creeping unease that I couldn’t shake. The euphoria that had filled me moments before began to feel fragile, as if it could break at any moment. My thoughts became increasingly disorganized, and I started to second-guess the entire trip. The uncertainty I had felt earlier in the day now seemed to come to the forefront, amplifying my sense of unease.
The Role of Uncertainty
The combination of factors—unplanned spontaneity, the influence of cannabis, and a lack of solid trip preparation—seemed to create the perfect storm for this shift. The earlier confidence in my ability to handle the experience now seemed misplaced. I realized that the very excitement I had felt was masking the deeper uncertainty inside me. Despite my past positive experiences, I wasn't fully prepared to handle the intensity of this particular trip, and that realization caused a sudden loss of control.
