Bad Trip
PsychedelicResearchers' term for it is "challenging experience" — a psychedelic session that turns frightening or overwhelming instead of pleasant.
Example: A 2016 Johns Hopkins survey of nearly 2,000 people found 84% still called their worst psilocybin experience worthwhile afterward — see our full breakdown of the research, and what to actually do if you're having one. Separately, our reporting on overseas clinic safety found retreats where standard psychological preparation and support for exactly this scenario was inconsistent or absent.
What is a "bad trip"?
Researchers call it a "challenging experience" — a psychedelic session that turns frightening or overwhelming instead of pleasant.
Do people regret having a bad trip?
Not necessarily — a 2016 Johns Hopkins survey of nearly 2,000 people found 84% still called their worst psilocybin experience worthwhile afterward. See our full breakdown of the research.
What should you do if you're having a bad trip?
See our full breakdown of the research, and what to actually do if you're having one.