How to start with Psychedelics?

[Vem94]

I've been interested in the use of psychedelics since I discovered Leo's YT channel in early 2017.

Here is my story:

My journey of Self-Actualizing began 2012-2013 with good progress in serveral areas of life.
In 2017 a huge backlash due to the loss of a loved one happened and manifestated in symptomes of depression.

Low motivation, food and porn addiction and some kind of pessimistic view towards life are since then lowering the quality of my life.

Being a prudent man I always thought of myself not being "ready" to start with psychedilcs yet.
There has always been an excuse e.g.
- my thoughts are filled with negativity
- I have a bad day/week/time right now
- I am too obligated in my work
- There would be better times in the future

I realized there will always be an excuse - so it's pointless to always delay my plans on starting with psychedelics.

Want do I want to get out of that experience?

- cure my addictions, or at least better understand them
- strength my motivation
- overcome that trauma of losing a loved one
- being open to what ever is waiting for me in the realm of psychedelics

What have I done so far to face my problems?

- talked to a lot of people
- psychotherapie
- reading books and consuming related content online
- mindfulness practice


Any advice from you on how and what substance to take would be highly appreciated.

[AncestorOfAisle6]

Low dose of shrooms to test the waters. maybe 0.5 to 1 gram. 

[Forestluv]

15 minutes ago, Vem94 said:

Want do I want to get out of that experience?

- cure my addictions, or at least better understand them
- strength my motivation
- overcome that trauma of losing a loved one
- being open to what ever is waiting for me in the realm of psychedelics

There are a variety of approaches depending on one’s orientation and intentions. Your primary motivation is personal healing and development. For this, I would recommend starting with a relatively low dose and working your way up. I would commit to taking three trips. I would recommend starting with a gentle or standard psychedelic. The most gentle psychedelics include al-lad, 4-ho-met and San Pedro. Standard psychedelics include lsd, 4-aco-dmt and shrooms. I would avoid highly visual psychedelics like dmt - the visuals can be distracting and complicate insights and integration.I would also use a psychedelic with a trip duration of 2-6 hrs. 

There are many variables that impact a trip. The  variables lens that you have control over is dosage, setting and mindset. I would use a moderate dose the first time (about 75-100ug lsd) - high enough to perceive with a new lens, yet not so high that it fully dissolves the ego. For some, this can cause anxiety and the insights can be so “out there” hat it is very difficult to integrate. I would create a safe, comfortable setting without any distractions, bells or whistles (e.g. not a concert). A serene space in one’s home or out in nature is good. For mindset, the week heading into the trip, get yourself together as much as possible. Clean your house, eat healthy, read healthy, meditate, yoga, exercise, spend time in nature etc. Do those nagging errands. Don’t head into the trip stressed out with a bunch of worries of things you need to do. Have a sense of lightness, with space to allow insights to arise. This orientation will help create the chance of a positive trip.

The week heading into The trip, some people like to set an intention. This might be a inquiry question like “what is love?”. Or something more specific like “What are my blocks?”. Or something like “How can I heal?”. This can set an atmosphere for related insights to arise. Yet do this as humble requests and be open to whatever the trip reveals. Having a mindset of demands, expectations and trying to control the trip is counter-productive. Imagine yourself entering the passenger seat of a car, making a request on the trip, and then letting go and going with the flow of the ride. 
 

The most important part is after the trip. Your mind will want to make sense of the trip in terms it understands. Allow yourself space of “What just happened?” and “I don’t know”. Go deeper than thought stories trying to define the trip. Sit still and integrate. Write. Create art. Walk in parks/nature and ponder. Explore. If you work with an advanced therapist, they might be helpful. Yet others are only there to help bring forth what is inside you.

[Vem94]

Thank you very much!