Stay calm, move the person to a quieter, more comfortable, and familiar setting, and speak in a slow, reassuring voice. Remind them the effects are temporary and drug-induced, encourage slow breathing, and reduce sensory overload with dim lighting and calm surroundings. Avoid restraining or arguing with them. Seek emergency medical help if there are signs of physical injury, chest pain, seizure, loss of consciousness, or suspicion that another substance was involved.
Safety Warning: If the person shows signs of a medical emergency — difficulty breathing, chest pain, seizure, loss of consciousness, or possible ingestion of a toxic look-alike mushroom or another dangerous substance — call emergency services immediately. This guidance does not replace professional medical or crisis response.
First Steps: Stay Calm and Reassure
Your own calm demeanor has an outsized effect on someone in a difficult psychedelic experience — anxiety and panic are contagious in this state, and a steady, reassuring presence can substantially defuse a spiraling bad trip. Speak slowly and gently, use simple and grounding language, and remind them clearly and repeatedly: "This is temporary, it's the mushrooms, and it will pass."
Adjust the Environment
Reduce overstimulation where possible:
- Move to a quieter, more familiar, and comfortable space if the current environment feels overwhelming or chaotic
- Dim harsh lighting and lower loud or jarring sounds
- Play calm, gentle music if it seems to help; turn it off if it doesn't
- Remove or avoid mirrors and other things that seem to be intensifying distress
- Keep the environment physically safe — clear away hazards, and don't let the person wander somewhere unsafe (roads, water, heights)
Grounding Techniques
Encourage slow, deep breathing, and offer a simple physical anchor — holding a hand (with consent), pressing bare feet to the floor, or focusing on a single steady object. Remind them who they are, where they are, and that people around them are safe and present. Avoid arguing with or contradicting whatever they're experiencing; instead, gently redirect attention toward the present moment and their breath.
What Not to Do
Don't restrain the person unless they pose an immediate danger to themselves or others — restraint tends to escalate panic. Don't leave them alone. Don't dismiss or mock what they're feeling, even if it seems irrational; to them, it's very real in the moment.
When to Seek Emergency Help
Most bad trips resolve with support and time, without medical intervention. Call emergency services if the person shows chest pain, difficulty breathing, seizure activity, loss of consciousness, signs of a serious injury, extremely high body temperature, or if there's any reason to suspect a toxic look-alike mushroom or a dangerous drug interaction was involved.