Report on Psychedelic Experience and Its Aftermath

Date: May 2017
Gender: Male
Weight: 92 kg / 203 lbs
Age: 35
Medication: Mirtazapine 30mg nocte (commenced 2 weeks prior), clonidine 150μg nocte, promethazine 7.5mg nocte.
Diagnosis: c-PTSD, GAD, severe agoraphobia

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Preparation and Consumption of the Elixir
• Trip Experience
  • Building Tolerance
  • The Peak Experience
  • Post-Peak Experience
• Unexpected Events During the Trip
  • The Car Alarm Incident
  • Encounter with Aggressive Individuals
• Conclusion

Introduction

In May 2017, I, a 35-year-old male weighing 92 kg (203 lbs), embarked on a psychedelic journey involving magic mushrooms, which I had cultivated myself. I have a history of severe agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (c-PTSD). These mental health conditions have been managed, to an extent, with medication: Mirtazapine 30mg at night, clonidine 150μg at night, and promethazine 7.5mg at night. Despite these challenges, I have not generally experienced negative comedowns from psychedelics, although this recent experience was a reminder of how intense and unpredictable these journeys can be.

Preparation and Consumption of the Elixir

The mushroom season of 2017 was exceptional, with magic mushrooms being plentiful in my area. I began collecting mushrooms daily, quickly accumulating a significant supply. Late in the week, I decided to experiment by making an elixir using apple cider vinegar and honey. For this, I used over 800 mushroom caps in various stages of drying. However, I made an error in my weight calculations, resulting in an excessively potent liquid. The final solution, measuring 816ml, needed to be transferred into a 750ml wine bottle, and I had 66ml left over.

I tasted this remaining 66ml of liquid to test its potency before consuming the rest. At this point, I had already taken a relatively intense "level four" trip the day before to build tolerance, anticipating that the elixir might be stronger than expected.

Trip Experience

Building Tolerance

To safeguard myself against the possibility of overdoing it, I deliberately consumed a moderate amount the day before—what I would classify as a level four experience. This dosage was intense but manageable, and my hope was that by building a tolerance, I could avoid overwhelming effects from the elixir.

The Peak Experience

Despite having built up a tolerance, the potency of the elixir took me by surprise. The trip began intensely, characterized by vivid open and closed-eye visuals, compelling auditory and tactile hallucinations, and a profound emotional impact. At the height of the experience, I would estimate that I consumed the equivalent of around 100 mushroom caps, whereas a typical dose of 15-20 caps would usually suffice for a solid trip.

The peak of the experience was brief, but the aftereffects lingered for several hours. The visuals remained striking, and the emotional and sensory intensity was overwhelming, pushing me beyond what I was accustomed to.

Post-Peak Experience

After the peak, the effects of the elixir began to subside, but they did not dissipate quickly. I found myself navigating a "level 2-3" experience that lasted for more than six hours. While not as intense as the peak, these hours were still filled with vivid sensations and altered perception. The effects were manageable, but they had a lasting impact on my state of mind.

Unexpected Events During the Trip

The Car Alarm Incident

As I was nearing the end of my trip, I felt myself growing tired and ready to settle in for the night. However, just as I was about to wind down, an unexpected event occurred that intensified my anxiety. My car alarm went off, and I learned that someone had thrown a rock at my car, shattering the windshield.

I was on a phone call at the time and quickly contacted the police, staying on the line while I rowed to shore to investigate the damage. As I was dealing with the situation, the stress and anxiety from the trip began to overwhelm me, compounding the already unsettling event.

Encounter with Aggressive Individuals

About 30 minutes later, the car from which the rock had been thrown returned, and I attempted to catch a glimpse of the number plate. The car parked up the road, and I, still on the phone with the police, moved to a safe distance in my dinghy, positioning myself around 50 meters away from the incident.

When the car returned to the area, two large men exited and approached me aggressively. They accused me of stealing the wheels from my other car, which had been left on blocks after its wheels had been stolen a few weeks earlier. The situation escalated quickly, and their behavior was threatening, which intensified my anxiety and confusion, already heightened by the psychedelic effects.

Conclusion

This particular psychedelic journey, while providing profound experiences and insights, also highlighted the unpredictability of such trips—especially when combined with external stressors. Despite my preparation, the potency of the elixir and the subsequent stressful encounters led to an overwhelming experience. In retrospect, while the magic mushrooms provided a vivid and immersive experience, it became clear that psychedelics in such extreme doses can intensify emotional and psychological reactions, particularly in someone already managing mental health conditions like anxiety and PTSD.