Well, that was crazy. Now what?

Maybe you just tripped balls at a music festival, had the time of your life, and never thought about it again. Maybe you took some shrooms with your best friend last weekend while camping and you don’t know what to make of all the uncomfortable feelings that are still bubbling up.

Or—maybe you ate some shrooms in college a decade ago and have been terrified to touch the stuff since. Either way, the emerging field of psychedelic integration therapy (yes, that’s a thing) has some tips for how you can leverage the visions, feelings, and thoughts you had for growth. It’s never too late.

1.     Remember Why Your Taking The  Psychedelic 

Seeking clarity on a tough relationship? Aiming to reconcile with past trauma? Your intention of entering the trip likely influenced the outcome. Even without a clear goal, the state of your life at that moment shaped your journey, perhaps without your realizing it. Reflecting on what you sought from the experience is a crucial step toward leveraging the emotions and insights that surfaced, enabling you to transform your life. It’s vital to recognize that there’s really no such thing as a “bad trip”—don’t dismiss valuable lessons just because they came wrapped in discomfort.

2. Find Support: Join a Psychedelic Integration Community

Sharing and listening to others’ psychedelic experiences can be a powerful way to process your own journey. The commonalities in these stories reflect the broader human experience, offering valuable insights and reflections.

Major cities like New York, Portland, Boston, and Los Angeles host community-led circles accessible through Meetup. Further support can be found through local integration therapists listed in the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) online database, or you can attend psychedelic events conferences or psychedelic integration retreats. These resources provide a platform for connection, sharing, and healing within a community that understands the profound impact of psychedelic experiences.

3. Developing a Mindful Meditation & Microdosing Routine

Starting a meditation practice is always a good move, and it’s even more accessible after experiencing psychedelics, as clinical studies suggest.

For newcomers, consider meditating for 10 minutes daily after your trip. If you’re already practicing, enhance it by extending your sessions or meditating more than once a day. Preparing for this by meditating before your trip and setting intentions can also be beneficial.

Incorporating a microdosing routine alongside meditation can further deepen the practice, allowing for a more consistent, reflective approach to both. Consider aligning your microdosing days with specific meditation goals or themes, creating a synergistic routine that supports your mental and emotional well-being.

4. Respecting Your Mental Boundaries: Understanding Psychedelic Limits

For those who have journeyed through the intense world of psychedelics, the depth and complexity of these experiences are often hard to put into words, a feeling that’s been called “indescribable” in studies. The challenge is not because of the experience itself but also because of how we process and make sense of it during or afterward.

Finding ways to connect with and express this deep, unspoken wisdom is key. Creative outlets like art, movement, dance, and bodywork can bridge the gap, helping us tap into and share these insights. Revisiting the images, sounds, feelings, and sensations you encounter can be incredibly enriching. Writing down your thoughts right after, listening to the same music again, or visualizing the experience can help you grasp these elusive insights.

This process, often referred to as “embodiment,” is crucial for integrating what you’ve learned, no matter when you start. This mindful approach to integration, aligned with our mental boundaries, enriches our understanding and application of these indescribable experiences, making them a valuable part of our personal growth.

If a previous dose was too high, consider starting with microdosing. It’s a gentler way to experience psychedelics, helping to manage and learn from past intense experiences with a more subtle approach. This can ease you into understanding and benefiting from psychedelics safely.

5. Consider a Psychedelic Integration Therapist

Access to a psychedelic integration therapist isn’t a must for everyone, but for those interested, they’re available nationwide via the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) online database.

If local options are scarce, many therapists offer video chat sessions. Considering a few sessions might be beneficial, especially if you’re struggling to process a recent experience or an unresolved challenging trip. Clinical research supports the significant role that therapy sessions can play in helping individuals understand and integrate their psychedelic experiences.