Risks and Help
Hype can hide risk. If someone is struggling, the priority is safety and professional support.
This page exists for one reason: to reduce preventable harm. Psychedelic experiences can be intense and unpredictable, and some people experience panic, confusion, or longer-lasting distress afterward.
This is not a guide to using substances. It is a guide to recognizing when something is going wrong and what to do next in a safe, legal, and responsible way.
Key takeaways
- Not everyone responds the same way. What seems fine for one person can be destabilizing for another.
- Risk increases when structure is missing. Unsupervised experiences often lack screening and aftercare.
- Help is a strength move. If symptoms are intense or persistent, professional support matters.
Common problems people report
During an intense experience
- Panic, extreme fear, or feeling out of control
- Confusion, disorientation, or paranoia
- Risky behavior due to impaired judgment
- Agitation or inability to calm down
Afterward
- Emotional crash, anxiety, or persistent fear
- Sleep disruption
- Intrusive memories, rumination, or feeling "stuck" on the experience
- Mood changes that do not fade
Rare but serious
- Suicidal thoughts
- Psychosis-like symptoms such as hallucinations that continue, severe paranoia, or loss of touch with reality
- Dangerous behavior toward self or others
If someone is not safe, treat it as urgent, not embarrassing.
Risk is not evenly distributed
Some factors that may increase risk include:
- A history of severe anxiety, panic, or trauma symptoms
- A personal or family history of psychotic or bipolar-spectrum disorders
- Current high stress, sleep deprivation, or unstable living conditions
- Lack of trusted support or a safe environment
- Mixing substances, uncertain substance identity, or unknown purity
This is why screening exists in legal clinical models.
Is this discomfort or danger?
Green: uncomfortable but manageable
- • Person is oriented, can communicate, and can be calmed
- • Symptoms are mild and improving
- • No self-harm talk, no aggression, no medical warning signs
Yellow: concerning, get support soon
- • Persistent panic, severe anxiety, or confusion that does not improve
- • Inability to sleep for an extended period
- • Distressing thoughts that feel uncontrollable
- • Symptoms that continue into the next day or longer
Action: contact a trusted adult, a healthcare professional, or a crisis line.
Red: urgent, get emergency help now
- • Threats of self-harm or suicide
- • Violence, severe agitation, or inability to ensure safety
- • Extreme confusion, fainting, seizures, or breathing problems
- • Psychosis-like symptoms that do not fade and cause unsafe behavior
Action: call emergency services.
Immediate safety steps
Keep this clear and practical. This is allowed safety guidance.
Assess safety first.
If there is any risk of self-harm, violence, or medical emergency, call local emergency services.
Stay with them.
Do not leave them alone if they are confused, panicking, or unsafe.
Reduce stimulation.
Move to a quieter space with soft lighting if possible.
Speak calmly and simply.
Short sentences. Reassure them that the feeling can pass and that help is available.
Remove hazards.
Move sharp objects, car keys, or anything that could be used to self-harm.
Get professional guidance.
If in the U.S., call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for immediate support. If outside the U.S., use your local crisis line or emergency number.
If someone has taken an unknown substance and seems medically unwell in the U.S., you can also contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance.
If it does not go away
Some people feel shaken for days or longer. That does not mean they are "broken," but it does mean they should not try to handle it alone. If anxiety, sleep problems, intrusive memories, or mood symptoms persist, a licensed mental health professional can help with stabilization and coping strategies.
If symptoms are severe, escalating, or paired with thoughts of self-harm, treat it as urgent. The right next step is support, not another intense experience.
Boundaries
We do not provide instructions for using illegal drugs.
We do not provide dosing, sourcing, or "how to" guidance.
We do not replace medical care, diagnosis, or treatment.
We focus on safety, legality, and informed decision-making.