I had a bad trip the other night. But I'm pretty good at thinking myself out of that stuff.

Here's what to do.

1. Go to the bathroom to collect yourself away from others.

2. Take a few deep breaths - but not too deep, or you may trigger vomiting.

3. Sit down for a moment and put your head down for a moment (this may or may not help depending on the cause of your anxiety). Rub your temples and give yourself a scalp massage.

4a. Identify the thing that is freaking you out. Often this might be overstimulation. Maybe you didn't get enough sleep. Maybe you don't trust the people you are with. Maybe things are just too crazy - like at a party or something.

4b. Get a handle on your anxiety - identify the concrete things in your physical environment that might be causing your bad trip. If nothing, then think about what in your life is nagging at you. You might need to find a quiet spot or go outside if you can't immediately identify the trigger.

5. Pee. Sometimes it can help get toxins out and help you feel better.

6. Wash your hands with cold water and splash a bit on your face.

7. Two more deep breaths.

8. Go outside, if needed, or return to party and monitor yourself after sitting quietly for a moment. Drink a glass of water.


This ritual unto itself can be comforting, as it is something concrete and familiar to return to in a tense situation. Concrete is important - don't let yourself stray from reality too far when having a bad time.

Oh yeah - and about me, the other night - I thought the bathroom tile was moving and doing crazy shit. It freaked me out until I was like, "But wait, dude, that is SO sweet." Positive attitude and a trusting outlook are super-important. You gotta trust the drug to lead you somewhere good, and it probably will.