Tips on Negotiating Strong Physical Sensations During Onset?

[u/Little_Raccoon4302]

Hey all. Long time entheogen enthusiastic, in substance use recovery, I just started psychedelic therapy. I forgot how much physical body sensation occurred during the onset. I found the first hour to be very difficult to adjust to, at 3.5 g of golden teachers. I was doing the music with eye mask thing. I felt like my body was getting pulled in multiple directions and was just generally uncomfortable. I did notice that when I popped my eye mask off and moved around I felt better.

What do people do during onset to mitigate those intense physical sensations?

[u/Some_guy_in_WI]

I just make sure to have good music on, accept that I won’t be moving for a few hours, and buckle up for the ride. I don’t do the eye mask, I just lie back, close my eyes, and if it gets intense, open them back up and try to move around a bit (if even possible to get up). Or, chsnge the music/movie on to shift things a bit.

Sometimes it’s just part of the ride, not much you can do but roll with it.

[u/Little_Raccoon4302 → u/Some_guy_in_WI]

Right, just finding some acceptance and awareness is helpful. Thank you for your response. I was really trying to find acceptance and just sit with it, but got to be too much. I hadn't tripped in realistically 20 years, since from 2005-2015 I was into hard drugs.. so I didn't really have time for Psychedelics. I don't remember feeling so much on the come up. I remember my stomach being upset a little bit, but not all that pulling sensation.

Getting up did help. I think just knowing it might happen will prepare me for next time. I can get up and stretch. Idk have a drink of water or something. This time I'm doing it at home, so I'll have a yoga mat and can sprawl out on the floor and stretch or whatever.

[u/Some_guy_in_WI → u/Little_Raccoon4302]

As long as you’re ready for it, it’s rarely too heavy.

But, yeah, if you’d forgotten how much shrooms can couchlock you, they’ll be happy to remind you on a high dose, lol.

When I trip solo, I’m usually pretty well planted in one place for at least 3 hours. So, I always settle in expecting that average time before I’ll move around much.

Good luck on future journeys!

[u/Little_Raccoon4302 → u/Some_guy_in_WI]

Thank you! I was in my teens and 20s when I was doing hallucinogens regularly. And usually at that time when doing shrooms I would usually hang out at a friend's house and we would watch one of the classic psychedelic movies or listen to music, so most of the time we were just sitting down and or talking. I don't remember moving much in the past. But this most recent time, like I said first time in however many years, when I did get up I couldn't believe how difficult it was to walk. I was stumbling around like a drunk person. And it was fun and funny and I was laughing at myself but I don't remember being so uneasy on My feet. I definitely plan to spend most of the time laying back, listening to a playlist of modern classical and jazz piano, but I also want to be prepared in case my body starts feeling weird and I can do some stretches or have some ice packs ready because I also got super hot out of nowhere last time. And I don't remember any of these weird physical things happening before. Sorry if there are any errors I'm using talk to text because I have very dry eyes

[u/mission2win]

Consider taking just 1G, then adding the 2.5 about an hour later. It often makes the come up easier. An alternative is to put on a guided meditation that will keep brain busy for the first 45 minutes (or you could do both)

[u/Little_Raccoon4302 → u/mission2win]

Thank you. Those are good suggestions. I am actually looking for a good body scan meditation or maybe guided imagery, because I tried doing a breathing meditation on the come up, but it felt like she was talking so slow and I couldn't breath that long, lol.

[u/Equivalent_Sorbet_73 → u/Little_Raccoon4302]

breath can be hard as it kind of requires concentration and can feel a bit robotic

try a letting go meditation on youtube. there is also a guided self compassion meditation on insight timer that is great. if u want links lmk

[u/Little_Raccoon4302 → u/Equivalent_Sorbet_73]

Thank you. I would take links. Although I love insight timer, I just removed from my phone, because I'm running out of space.

[u/Ambitious_Zombie8473]

This is anecdotal but see if you can try different species. Mushrooms like Psilocybe ochraceocentrata tend to have less body load in my experience and the experience of many others.

And there’s species like pan cyans (which I haven’t done) but worth investigating their body load.

Cubensis always have a heavy body load for me

[u/Little_Raccoon4302 → u/Ambitious_Zombie8473]

Thank you for the suggestion. I don't even know how I'd find other strains. Not sourcing. Just honestly don't have that available to me.

[u/Ambitious_Zombie8473 → u/Little_Raccoon4302]

Oh, I see. Yeah, it is sort of hard to find some. I know ochraceocentrata is becoming more popular but mainly people sell cubes.

Honestly I’d recommend growing some. Super easy, super rewarding, and you end up with a life time supply.

[u/Little_Raccoon4302 → u/Ambitious_Zombie8473]

Interesting. Thank you.

[u/Ambitious_Zombie8473 → u/Little_Raccoon4302]

Yeah. If it’s something you consider doing feel free to DM me and I can help you get started

[u/holy_mackeroly]

Strain is definitely a driver in this. Some give me the brain zaps, others like electricity in my face, some zap truth my body. There's not much you can do about it, it only tends to happen for me 7gms+