Mushroom Trip: Fast-Acting Methods For A Quick Comeup

The come-up is a term used to describe the onset phase of a psychedelic mushroom trip. The experience of the come-up varies from person to person and can be influenced by factors such as mindset, setting, mushroom strain, and previous experiences with mushrooms. During the come-up, individuals may experience a range of feelings and sensations, including aversive feelings of illness, anxiety, panic, lethargy, and despair. Visual, auditory, and sensory distortions may also occur, with colours appearing more vibrant and music sounding richer. At low doses, mushrooms can induce a tingling body feeling, a sense of euphoria and lightness, and nausea.

The 'weirding' of thoughts, expressions and feelings

The experience of taking psychedelic mushrooms is often described as a 'trip' because it is a long (4-6 hours) and powerful experience that takes one beyond normal perception and then brings them back. At low doses, mushrooms induce a tingling body feeling, a sense of euphoria and lightness, and sometimes nausea. An individual may feel happy and giggly, and perceive colours as more vibrant and music as richer. The normal filters and screens between one's conscious mind and the outside world are loosened, and at higher doses, they are completely erased. With these filters down, more information enters one's consciousness, and they become aware of things normally filtered out by their mind. They sense more, think more, and feel more.

The "come-up" phase of a psychedelic mushroom experience is often characterized by negative feelings that resemble an acute stress reaction. This can include feelings of illness, anxiety, panic, lethargy, and despair. However, the "come-down" phase is more often characterized by positively-valenced feelings. This transition from a negative to positive experience may help explain why individuals often report emotional breakthroughs or therapeutically relevant insights during or after their psychedelic experiences.

The weirding of thoughts, expressions, and feelings is a notable aspect of the "come-up" phase of a psychedelic mushroom experience. One individual described their experience as follows:

> "Everything is just fucking weird. My stomach feels weird. My thoughts are weird. Things are starting to look weird. I try to say things normal and they come out weird. I walk weird. My expressions are weird. But, it's 'weird' in the best way possible."

This sense of weirdness can be intriguing and exciting, offering a unique perspective that some individuals find enjoyable and enlightening. The feeling of being in the "passenger seat" during a mushroom trip, as opposed to being in control as with other psychedelics like LSD, contributes to the weirding of thoughts, expressions, and feelings.

The weirding of thoughts, expressions, and feelings during the "come-up" phase can be attributed to the altered state of consciousness induced by psychedelic mushrooms. This alteration of consciousness results in a heightened awareness of sensory information and a distortion of one's perception of self and the surrounding environment. The weirding effect can manifest as a sense of strangeness or unfamiliarity with one's thoughts, expressions, and bodily sensations. It is important to note that the experience of psychedelic mushrooms can vary significantly from person to person and can be influenced by factors such as mindset, setting, type of mushroom, and previous experiences.

Visuals: colours and pulsating patterns

The visual effects of consuming psychedelic mushrooms, often referred to as "shrooms", can vary significantly from person to person. However, some commonly reported visual effects include enhanced colour saturation, spatial distortions, and pulsating patterns.

One user describes their experience with shrooms as "weird", noting that things started to look weird, and they felt their expressions were weird. They further elaborate that this "weirdness" was in the best way possible. This description of enhanced visual strangeness aligns with reports of pulsating patterns, suggesting that the "weird" distortions some users experience may manifest as pulsating visuals.

Another user compares the visual effects of shrooms to those of LSD, noting that while LSD is "all colours and pulsating patterns", shrooms seem to induce more spatial distortions with higher colour saturation. This comparison highlights that while both substances can induce pulsating patterns, shrooms may be more likely to cause spatial distortions and a sense of enhanced colour saturation, making objects seem more open and the individual feel huge.

The visual effects of shrooms can also be influenced by factors such as dosage, mindset, setting, strain of mushroom, and previous experiences with shrooms. For example, a higher dose of shrooms may lead to more intense visual effects, while anxiety or come-up anxiety may "mute" the visuals, as one user speculated that their lack of visuals may have been due to the anxiety they experienced during their trip.

It is important to note that while some individuals report enjoyable visual experiences with shrooms, others may find the distorted visuals and enhanced saturation overwhelming or uncomfortable. As with any substance, it is essential to approach shrooms with caution and be mindful of potential risks and side effects.

Negative feelings: illness, anxiety, panic

The "come-up" phase of a psychedelic mushroom trip often involves negative feelings such as illness, anxiety, and panic. These feelings can be intense and distressing, but it's important to remember that they are usually temporary and will likely be followed by a "come-down" phase characterised by positive emotions.

To reduce feelings of illness during the come-up, it is recommended to eat a light meal 4-6 hours before ingesting the mushrooms. This will ensure your body has enough energy to feel healthy throughout the trip. Most anxiety during a psychedelic experience occurs within the first 30 minutes to an hour after ingestion, as the user waits with anticipation for the trip to begin. To ease anxiety during this phase, some suggest engaging in a card game like Uno if you're in a group. Playing a game can help distract you from negative thoughts and worries about the experience to come.

It's also important to choose the right environment and company for your trip. Avoid crowded public places, as interacting with strangers or people who do not understand the psychedelic experience can induce paranoia and other negative feelings. Instead, opt for a private setting with plenty of space, and consider enlisting a "trip sitter"—someone who stays sober to guide you through the process and help with your needs.

Additionally, be mindful of the images and topics of conversation you engage with during the come-up. Looking at disturbing images or talking excessively about your experience can magnify negative feelings. Remember that the come-up phase is temporary, and the feelings of illness, anxiety, and panic will likely pass, giving way to a more positive experience.

Positive feelings: euphoria, giggles, happiness

The effects of consuming psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, can last several hours. The time it takes for the effects to kick in varies from person to person, typically within 20 to 60 minutes, or 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. The feeling of euphoria is one of the first signs of a mushroom "comeup", along with nervousness in the stomach. This is followed by more pronounced come-up signs, such as distorted lights and noises, and a changed state of mind.

Several factors influence the timeline of a mushroom "comeup". The consumption method, metabolism, and dosage all play a role in how quickly the effects are felt. For example, if mushrooms are consumed on a full stomach, the process may be delayed by up to an hour, depending on food intake, quantity, and digestion time. Soaking dried ground mushrooms in lime or lime juice before consumption can expedite the trip process.

The psychedelic effects of mushrooms are caused by the presence of psilocybin, which can also be injected, snorted, or swallowed in tablet form in its powdered state. These effects can be detected in the body for up to 90 days with a hair follicle test. However, mushrooms typically leave the system quickly, and the detection time depends on the type of test used.

Emotional breakthroughs and therapeutic insights

Psychedelic therapy is gaining recognition, and the psychedelic experience itself has been found to mediate subsequent long-term psychological changes. Emotional breakthroughs are an important and distinct component of the acute psychedelic experience, which appears to be a key mediator of subsequent longer-term psychological changes.

The active compound in "magic mushrooms", psilocybin, is a naturally occurring psychedelic substance that, when ingested, is converted to psilocin in the body. Psilocin acts on serotonin receptors in the brain, particularly the 5-HT2A receptor, which is thought to play a crucial role in mood regulation and cognitive flexibility. This interaction leads to altered states of consciousness, characterized by changes in perception, emotion, and cognition.

Psilocybin has been shown to reduce activity in the amygdala, a brain region associated with fear and anxiety responses. This dampening effect could help alleviate the hyperarousal and heightened stress responses characteristic of PTSD. Additionally, psilocybin appears to enhance connectivity between different brain regions, potentially facilitating more integrated processing of traumatic memories and emotions.

In a study, 80% of 29 subjects with life-threatening cancer reported relief from emotional distress that lasted more than six months after a single dose of psilocybin. In a long-term follow-up study, the effects persisted for nearly five years. Those who received psilocybin-assisted therapy overwhelmingly attributed positive life changes to it and rated it among the most personally meaningful experiences of their lives.

It is important to note that psychedelic therapy can bring you to both bright and dark emotional places. If you are considering home-based psychedelic therapy, do plenty of reading first, and consider having a friend with you in person or at a distance.

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