Possibly unpopular opinion, sober people generally have no ability to calm down someone freaking out on psychedelics. Exceptions of course for experienced or particularly empathetic people. Also having other people around, tripping or not, tends toward irritating. Of course from a bodily harm perspective having a sitter will be beneficial, but the risk is low either way.
I do a lot of volunteering work that involves helping people who are having difficult psychedelic experiences. You can’t actively try to calm someone like that down; as you said, it doesn’t work. The better thing to do is just to be there to hold space and act as a “reality anchor.” Mild reassurance can be helpful if the person wants it (especially the reassurance that the state is temporary), but inexperienced people usually try to “guide” the trip, which basically never works.
I got into it a million years ago when I was in college and got involved with Students for a Sensible Drug Policy. These days, I’m in a leadership position with the Black Rock Rangers, which is the public safety / conflict resolution volunteer group at Burning Man. That’s mostly where I do it now.
Agreed. That’s why I am skeptikal of these psychedelic therapies with a sober doctor. Theres a pretty good chance whatever they try to say to you will come off as super condescending since you know they’re not feeling the same way.
They would likely be using sub-trip doses. As someone that likes to take 0.5g on a lazy Sunday and go for a hike I can see it helping people relax and open up to a therapist if they’re particularly anxious/defensive.
I think sober people can, but they need to know they’re probably dealing with a person who has the intellectual and physical capabilities of an adult but with the mentality of a 6 year old
Possibly unpopular opinion, sober people generally have no ability to calm down someone freaking out on psychedelics. Exceptions of course for experienced or particularly empathetic people. Also having other people around, tripping or not, tends toward irritating. Of course from a bodily harm perspective having a sitter will be beneficial, but the risk is low either way.
I do a lot of volunteering work that involves helping people who are having difficult psychedelic experiences. You can’t actively try to calm someone like that down; as you said, it doesn’t work. The better thing to do is just to be there to hold space and act as a “reality anchor.” Mild reassurance can be helpful if the person wants it (especially the reassurance that the state is temporary), but inexperienced people usually try to “guide” the trip, which basically never works.
What a cool way to volunteer, how’d you get into that? Also this sounds like really good advice
I got into it a million years ago when I was in college and got involved with Students for a Sensible Drug Policy. These days, I’m in a leadership position with the Black Rock Rangers, which is the public safety / conflict resolution volunteer group at Burning Man. That’s mostly where I do it now.
Agreed. That’s why I am skeptikal of these psychedelic therapies with a sober doctor. Theres a pretty good chance whatever they try to say to you will come off as super condescending since you know they’re not feeling the same way.
They would likely be using sub-trip doses. As someone that likes to take 0.5g on a lazy Sunday and go for a hike I can see it helping people relax and open up to a therapist if they’re particularly anxious/defensive.
Ah yeah true.
I think sober people can, but they need to know they’re probably dealing with a person who has the intellectual and physical capabilities of an adult but with the mentality of a 6 year old