Types of Psychedelic Experience

A psychedelic experience, commonly referred to as a trip, entails a transient altered state of consciousness induced by the ingestion of psychedelic substances, with LSD, mescaline, psilocybin mushrooms, and DMT being among the most prevalent. For instance, an acid trip results from the consumption of LSD, while a mushroom trip stems from the use of psilocybin containing mushrooms. These experiences involve perceptual shifts, including visual distortions and a subjective loss of self-identity, often interpreted as mystical occurrences. The predictability of psychedelic experiences is inherently elusive, ranging from intensely pleasurable (termed a good trip) to distressing (referred to as a bad trip). The outcome of a psychedelic journey is profoundly influenced by factors such as the individual's mood, personality, expectations, and surroundings, collectively known as set and setting, and well as the amount of the substance ingested (the dosage).

As mentioned above, the type of psychedelic experience is primarily controlled through dosage, set, and setting, as well as the substance(s) involved. Exact dosages are substance specific, but the type of dose can be described in many ways which may at first sound confusing, such as micro, threshold, mini, museum, low, medium, moderate, high, very high, heroic, ultra, or mega. The “set” is refers to the mindset of the person including thoughts, mood and expectations. The “setting” is the physical environment one takes the substance in. The substance itself can influence the mindset through preconceived notions, its name, texture, flavour, or lack thereof, and its particular psychoactive properties will of course contribute to the type of experience, including the duration, sensations, progression, and physical feelings.

The psychedelic experience is comprised of three primary phases – onset, peak, and comedown, each of which may be divided into subphases, and each having their own associated attributes.

The onset can be divided into a pre-onset period, and a full onset period. The pre-onset period is the period between ingestion of a psychedelic, and the onset of the first perceivable effects. During the onset there can be heightened feelings of anticipation and restlessness, and sometimes a strong desire to go for a walk. Some people may feel some nausea, and others may feel euphoria, inebriation, or a mix of all three. Often the first effects to be noticed are visual, becoming more clear and in-focus, even to the point of not needing (or desiring) to wear one's glasses.

Depending on the dose and the substance, the peak may or may not have a significant plateau, but it represents the highest point of the experience, with the most pronounced effects, as well as the point where one should be having the most deep and inward part of the experience. This phase can include both the topmost pre-peak and post-peak aspects.

The comedown is the phase where the peak has been left behind, and the journey down to baseline has commenced. If the peak was particularly stressful, this phase may come as a welcome relief. Likewise if the peak was very enjoyable, then there may be a strong desire at this point to extend the effects. The comedown lasts until the effects are completely worn off and return to baseline.

While the set, setting, and dosage work together towards fostering the best mix for the intended experience, it is easiest to organize the type of experience in order of dosage, from lowest to highest, even though this a more of a general guideline:

At the lower end of the scale, with the micro, threshold, and mini doses the experiences tend to be more utilitarian – that is to be compared more to the usage of things like tea, coffee, energy drinks, vitamins, supplements, and nootropics, but some people have also used these doses to reduce their dependency on pharmaceutical medications. While these dosages rarely involve perceivable effects, users have reported definite improvement in mood, motivation, mindfulness, concentration, and creative problem solving, as well as aiding in leadership, and athletic performance.

The museum, concert, small, low, or sometimes even medium doses are sometimes used recreationally for such things as improved art and music appreciation (hence the “museum” or “concert” dose), but also as an alternative to other recreational substances such as alcohol or cannabis, and can work well in group social settings to enhance social bonding, as well as alone for personal exploration.

As the dose increases, the user is more likely to experience pronounced altered perceptions, which could become overwhelming depending on the setting, so make sure to go easy, and know your limits. (See also managing an overwhelming psychedelic experience).

At this higher end of the recreational dose, the experience is often referred to as a “trip”, as it can sometimes feel like you have phased into an alternate dimension, where the familiar turns strange, and the mundane becomes fascinating. Colours and contrasts become vibrant, and sometimes the inanimate becomes animated.

For higher doses, careful consideration of set and setting is essential, and it is recommended to have an experienced guide (or facilitator) to “hold space” for the individual. The presence of a guide enhances safety and pr