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Comment by esotericsean | Hacker News Reader

I have anxiety and used to have REALLY bad anxiety. My girlfriend at the time encouraged me to try weed because it helped her. I was incredibly nervous and after just one inhalation I had one of the worst panic attacks of my life. It was as if I had no control at all.

I understand how psychedelics can help in theory, but man I'd be so freaking scared to even try them because I hate that feeling of losing control.

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It's important to reaffirm before, during, and after the trip that you're totally "normal" and going to stay "normal". In my experience a "bad trip" is an anxiety/panic attack through the lens of whatever drug you're on.

I've had success nearly 100% talking people down by engaging the panic and looking for the root cause. Most of the time it seems that people have some underlying anxiety that weed/hallucinogens bubble to the surface. They're suddenly and unexpectedly faced with a completely new manifestation of their fears.

"I thought weed was supposed to be fun? What do you mean it'll force me to think about my negative mental baggage???"

It can be overwhelming if someone isn't there to talk you through it and explain that it's completely normal.

Avoiding addressing that feeling of losing control is analogous to an obese person afraid of exercise and diet. It will certainly help but is extremely difficult and painful to start.

The first time I've used weed I had one too. I still do not enjoy weed. I've microdosing mushrooms and then I was way more relaxed when I took a large dose for the first time. I was scared in the begginning, and sensing an increase in my anxiety because my GF was watching me sober, then I excused myself and laid down on the bed, watching the sky with music on the earphones. I've concluded that I can't have a nice time with drugs having people with me.

It is a common opinion of people not acquainted to mushrooms that you will loose control, as if all drugs had the same effect as weed or alcohol. Loosing control with mushrooms is associated to high doses or previous psychotic conditions.

Periodic reminder that weed and psychedelics are _very_ different things, with different effects. One can't be compared to the other, though people sometimes describe "trippy" weed experiences. Each compound produces its own effect.

Of course you can compare different things to each other.

That's what comparison is for.

Just saying: if weed's effects didn't work for you, no reason to assume that psychedelics are not an option. They're different things.

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