Big scare!

[JKW]

Two days ago, I had the scariest experience I've had on DMT.

Weighing what my scale said was 30mg, instead of my usual 40mg: I guess I didn't want such a heavy trip.

I vaporized in a GVG and took in all of the DMT in one drag. Immediately, the DMT took effect, and it was intense, way too intense. The scary part was that I felt a somewhat painful pressure on my forehead, and the first thing that came to mind was: "I'm having a stroke."

I open my eyes hoping that the pressure goes away. The room is completely distorted, and the pressure doesn't go away. I started to panic, but just sat there immobilized feeling like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. "Oh no! Heart attack!"

To make a short story long; the fear stayed with me after the effects subsided. My vision felt blurry. I go check my face in the mirror to see that nothing is drooping. I make all sorts of faces; I have control of my face. I move my limbs around. Everything is normal. Not a stroke. Some relief, but still scared.

I've never had a scary experience on DMT before. Dark or unpleasant, yes, but I never saw anything that scared me. This was terrifying. I wasn't afraid of dying, but foresaw the prospect of living life immobilized, and that was terrifying to me.

Has anyone here had a scare like this? I hope it's not too abnormal. Just to be sure, I bought a blood pressure monitor to use before I do DMT from now on.

I also may need a new scale. That did not feel like 30mg, but more like 50mg.

 

[coAsTal]

The panic and physical sensations you experienced are not uncommon with really strong hits-- it's usually all mental though-- my understanding (and personal experience) is that all the physical pressure sensations that feel abnormal are really just your heightened awareness of normal physical sensations (combined with the common hard heart-beat).

If you know you have actual physical conditions that are related to your circulatory/nervous system or something than of course you should take that into account and consider either only using small amounts or nothing like DMT at all in the name of safety-- but if you are generally healthy, I would not be too concerned.

This feeling can be mitigated by adding some extracted or herbal harmalas like caapi leaf or rue (taken either orally ahead of time or smoked alongside) and other relaxing herbs to your use, (for example, Mugwort, Damiana, Skullcap, and others) that are quite nice and can take the edge (if not the intensity) off a strong experience.

I also always listen to music, because it allows the power of the experience to melt into the framework of harmonic beauty, which directs the experience for me in a positive way.

 

[JKW]

The panic and physical sensations you experienced are not uncommon with really strong hits-- it's usually all mental though-- my understanding (and personal experience) is that all the physical pressure sensations that feel abnormal are really just your heightened awareness of normal physical sensations (combined with the common hard heart-beat).

If you know you have actual physical conditions that are related to your circulatory/nervous system or something than of course you should take that into account and consider either only using small amounts or nothing like DMT at all in the name of safety-- but if you are generally healthy, I would not be too concerned.

This feeling can be mitigated by adding some extracted or herbal harmalas like caapi leaf or rue (taken either orally ahead of time or smoked alongside) and other relaxing herbs to your use, (for example, Mugwort, Damiana, Skullcap, and others) that are quite nice and can take the edge (if not the intensity) off a strong experience.

I also always listen to music, because it allows the power of the experience to melt into the framework of harmonic beauty, which directs the experience for me in a positive way.

That's a relief. I am pretty healthy and never had high blood pressure; but it was up last time it was checked (I did have four coffees). Better safe than sorry.

Unfortunately, I take Wellbutrin. I am unable to use MAOIs. I took ayahuasca twice, and had to wean myself off the meds for two months prior. Not pleasant.

I've tried music, but it distracts me from the trip. I have found that bright lighting makes for more colorful trips, while darker lighting makes for darker, more momochrome trips.


Thank you for your insight.

 

[FranLover]

Yes this happens. Things dont always go acording to plan. One just has to let 15 minutes pass while lying down. No thoughts and just focus on breathing. If one feeds into it it can break one's composure.

Its tough, hope you get over it soon!^_^

Once I entered a senseless, horrible universe through my brain. Everything was just squigly lines. Dullness, disgust, and stupidity. I had destroyed my brain. I have no idea why that happened and not a dmt trip. But the prospect of never being human again loomed over me for a couple seconds.

 

[SpaceGandalf]

Hi JKW.

I’m sorry to hear you had a bad experience. It sounds like the painful sensation on your forehead caused you a lot of psychological discomfort and you panicked. First of all you’ll be glad to hear that a pain in your forehead is NOT a symptom of a stroke. The brain itself doesn’t actually have any nerve endings - open brain surgery is actually normally done with the patient fully conscious. Discomfort in the forehead is actually often caused by inflammation in the sinuses (which are not just your nasal cavity). However what you described sounds like it could be caused by ocular (eye) strain. There are other possibilities too, including “psychosomatic”, meaning created by your mind. I would not be medically concerned if I were you, unless it persists or repeats.

You also mentioned that you are on Wellbutrin. While it’s not known to directly interact with DMT (although this is not a properly researched subject) may I recommend you do some research into using the two together. Wellbutrin Is known to lower the threshold for seizures, which could potentially cause problems. There are also different forms of the drug, based on how it’s released (you can have a 1, 2 or 3 tablet a day version). I’m curious as to why you are taking it. Wellbutrin Is known to cause anxiety is some people, although it can be used to treat it in others.

 

[JKW]

Yes this happens. Things dont always go acording to plan. One just has to let 15 minutes pass while lying down. No thoughts and just focus on breathing. If one feeds into it it can break one's composure.

Its tough, hope you get over it soon!^_^

Once I entered a senseless, horrible universe through my brain. Everything was just squigly lines. Dullness, disgust, and stupidity. I had destroyed my brain. I have no idea why that happened and not a dmt trip. But the prospect of never being human again loomed over me for a couple seconds.

I guess it's just part of the thing. Glad to know it was nothing serious.

 

[JKW]

Hi JKW.

I’m sorry to hear you had a bad experience. It sounds like the painful sensation on your forehead caused you a lot of psychological discomfort and you panicked. First of all you’ll be glad to hear that a pain in your forehead is NOT a symptom of a stroke. The brain itself doesn’t actually have any nerve endings - open brain surgery is actually normally done with the patient fully conscious. Discomfort in the forehead is actually often caused by inflammation in the sinuses (which are not just your nasal cavity). However what you described sounds like it could be caused by ocular (eye) strain. There are other possibilities too, including “psychosomatic”, meaning created by your mind. I would not be medically concerned if I were you, unless it persists or repeats.

You also mentioned that you are on Wellbutrin. While it’s not known to directly interact with DMT (although this is not a properly researched subject) may I recommend you do some research into using the two together. Wellbutrin Is known to lower the threshold for seizures, which could potentially cause problems. There are also different forms of the drug, based on how it’s released (you can have a 1, 2 or 3 tablet a day version). I’m curious as to why you are taking it. Wellbutrin Is known to cause anxiety is some people, although it can be used to treat it in others.

Thank you for clarifying all this. Of course it was panic of taking too high a dose. My guess is that my scale was off.

I take it for depression. It's not an SSRI and does not work on the serotonin receptors. You are right about seizures, but I've never had one. I take the minimum therapeutic dose which is 300 mg (maximum is 450mg). It's the extended release version, taken once a day.

 

[SpaceGandalf]

Doesn’t DMT always feel like you’ve taken too much when you do it right?

Like I said, you may have strained something, it’s easily done. When I tried DMT a month ago I clearly pulled something in my neck from tensing up and have had a tingling sensation on my scalp that’s slowly been easing off (either that or I’ve left my crown chakra open ), the irony is that at the same time my sciatica has eased up at the other end of my spine!

You’re absolutely right about it not being an SSRI, and the need to stay well clear of MAOIs. Like I said it can aggravate anxiety in some - it’s worth keeping an eye on if you find yourself getting more panicked about things more than usual. I’m only reiterating this because you clearly got into a panicked state, but you would probably have already noticed if it was a problem.

I have to say, I’m not a big fan of a lot of the way depression and anxiety gets treated clinically - but I have zero idea about what your situation is (I’ve had issues with depression - and ptsd - so I’m not being dismissive of what it’s like, I know real depression is fucking grim).

 

[DansMaTete]

...
Weighing what my scale said was 30mg, ...

I vaporized in a GVG and took in all of the DMT in one drag. ...

... That did not feel like 30mg, but more like 50mg.

Did you clean you GVG ? Some residue could stay in the pad/GVG from previous attemps and a perfect vaporization would be 30mg + residue = 50mg.

 

[JKW]

Doesn’t DMT always feel like you’ve taken too much when you do it right?

I have to say, I’m not a big fan of a lot of the way depression and anxiety gets treated clinically - but I have zero idea about what your situation is (I’ve had issues with depression - and ptsd - so I’m not being dismissive of what it’s like, I know real depression is fucking grim).

Oh, I've had some intense trips, even more intense than this on the visual sense. The difference was the physical aspect of it that caught me off guard.


I'm not a fan of anti-depressants either. I actually tried quitting them in 2017 and microdosed LSD instead. It worked for about 10 months, and then I had a very severe relapse. If I had a working alternative, I would take it.

 

[JKW]

...
Weighing what my scale said was 30mg, ...

I vaporized in a GVG and took in all of the DMT in one drag. ...

... That did not feel like 30mg, but more like 50mg.

Did you clean you GVG ? Some residue could stay in the pad/GVG from previous attemps and a perfect vaporization would be 30mg + residue = 50mg.

Yes, I clean it with alcohol when I see it's dirty. Every two to three uses.

 

[○]

I vaporized in a GVG and took in all of the DMT in one drag. Immediately, the DMT took effect, and it was intense, way too intense.

Clearing things in one hit's serious business, especially if things line up accordingly and it catches you on the right day, ime.

To speak on the rest of what you'd experienced - I'll say for me personally that this experience can literally pull out all the cards to make you doubt and/or convince you that something very wrong is happening. It can bring about a wide variety of sensations, physical && otherwise. I can't even count the amount of experiences to where I had experienced all kinds of different varieties of pressures, sensations, vibratory/physical & whatnot. These sensations and whatnot are temporary though, they only last but a moment, unless of course you put your attention on the issue ..then ..worry can spiral. Attention on any one particular, especially a seemingly physical issue, that attention [ime] can bring about more momentum/energy on that particular thing, turning something from a 'oh no potential problem' to 'oh no what have i done, something's seriously wrong!?'. A thin rope to walk here.

These experiences didn't happen all the time. Learned to accept them. Some mighty strange and disconcerting things can happen when you take that first puff.

Sometimes for me my whole face and/or body is under this pressure heavily, especially towards the ascent to the peak, building and building, slicing down through every layer as it revealed itself. I've had this experience/these entities distinctly reaching into the bridge of my nose, which had caused a pretty intense pressure that I think most might consider uncomfortable, though it eventually gave way into the rest of the experience. I've had times to where I threw up that entire realm/place into my immediate vicinity, I've had the inverse of this happen also to where I've had it all crammed relentlessly down my throat. I never put alot of weight on these moments in these experiences, as so much else was going on along with these things.

I've had experiences on the initial climb to the peak, as the experience would build and build. At times very frightening, especially at the speed, breadth & depth of it as it was happening as it continued to climb. I'd think:

"!?This can't possibly become any stronger, it has to slow down right!?, this is too much!?"

and with that - the experience effortlessly pushed that thought of mine aside as it kept relentlessly building and building, laughing at my hopes of it contorting to my hopes or wishes. Hehe, it certainly did not.

This experience done sufficiently is more powerful than we could ever understand..


Hope you keep trudging forward, try not to be put off by it. :thumb_up:

 

[JKW]

I vaporized in a GVG and took in all of the DMT in one drag. Immediately, the DMT took effect, and it was intense, way too intense.

Clearing things in one hit's serious business, especially if things line up accordingly and it catches you on the right day, ime.

To speak on the rest of what you'd experienced - I'll say for me personally that this experience can literally pull out all the cards to make you doubt and/or convince you that something very wrong is happening. It can bring about a wide variety of sensations, physical && otherwise. I can't even count the amount of experiences to where I had experienced all kinds of different varieties of pressures, sensations, vibratory/physical & whatnot. These sensations and whatnot are temporary though, they only last but a moment, unless of course you put your attention on the issue ..then ..worry can spiral. Attention on any one particular, especially a seemingly physical issue, that attention [ime] can bring about more momentum/energy on that particular thing, turning something from a 'oh no potential problem' to 'oh no what have i done, something's seriously wrong!?'. A thin rope to walk here.

These experiences didn't happen all the time. Learned to accept them. Some mighty strange and disconcerting things can happen when you take that first puff.

Sometimes for me my whole face and/or body is under this pressure heavily, especially towards the ascent to the peak, building and building, slicing down through every layer as it revealed itself. I've had this experience/these entities distinctly reaching into the bridge of my nose, which had caused a pretty intense pressure that I think most might consider uncomfortable, though it eventually gave way into the rest of the experience. I've had times to where I threw up that entire realm/place into my immediate vicinity, I've had the inverse of this happen also to where I've had it all crammed relentlessly down my throat. I never put alot of weight on these moments in these experiences, as so much else was going on along with these things.

I've had experiences on the initial climb to the peak, as the experience would build and build. At times very frightening, especially at the speed, breadth & depth of it as it was happening as it continued to climb. I'd think:

"!?This can't possibly become any stronger, it has to slow down right!?, this is too much!?"

and with that - the experience effortlessly pushed that thought of mine aside as it kept relentlessly building and building, laughing at my hopes of it contorting to my hopes or wishes. Hehe, it certainly did not.

This experience done sufficiently is more powerful than we could ever understand..


Hope you keep trudging forward, try not to be put off by it. :thumb_up:

I don't think I'm put off yet. I've had some intense experiences during which I thought:"Oh shit! I took too much!", but this is the first time I have a physical reaction to it.
30 gm in one drag may have been the culprit, now that I think of it. I normally do two drags. I'll keep it that way.

 

[TalkingGarden]

Reading about the pressure in the forehead brought me back to 2 of my very very early experiences. Did you give it time of just sitting and calming the body down before hand is that something you normally do? twice it got bad in the forehead area once it continued to my whole skull pressure just kept building and building i kept thinking OMG my head is going to latterly explode and splatter all over the place i couldnt take it (wich that though in that state is NOT GOOD!) but both times i was kinda rushing to get things done i don't take those couple mins to sit and calm myself...so now i try to do that!!

Also curious about the med. May i ask do you find dmt puts you in a worse mood or more depressed less motivated later on?? Not during but say later or next day? I have a friend on a similar med who has yet to have a really profound experience but he says everytime he does it he finds later or the next day or 2 he is just not motivated to do anything at all...wich is part of the reason i think he is still holding back. Just curious to know if you have had similar things go on? it might be different as he has been slowly working his way up the dmt scale but that's part of whats preventing him from going farther.

 

[HagRaven13]

i feel this! for me though i tend to think after i open my eyes to intense visuals that im not going to be able to be a sane person and im going to live the rest of my life in a psych ward(where i work....the irony:? ). but the heart attack phase is probably the scariest thing ive experience, like "oh no ive done it this time". what i took from my last scare is i needed a break, which i am still on, and i dont know if its been good or bad, i have an urge to do it again but i havnt felt like the time is right, so ive been procrastinating. id recommend giving it another try soon, before the anxiety builds up.

im curious to what your set and setting was? and when you decide to go again id say try somewhere different where u r comfortable, ive learned rooms where bad trips had happen can add anxiety, at least in my case. Hope your next journey goes better!:d

 

[JKW]

Reading about the pressure in the forehead brought me back to 2 of my very very early experiences. Did you give it time of just sitting and calming the body down before hand is that something you normally do? twice it got bad in the forehead area once it continued to my whole skull pressure just kept building and building i kept thinking OMG my head is going to latterly explode and splatter all over the place i couldnt take it (wich that though in that state is NOT GOOD!) but both times i was kinda rushing to get things done i don't take those couple mins to sit and calm myself...so now i try to do that!!

Also curious about the med. May i ask do you find dmt puts you in a worse mood or more depressed less motivated later on?? Not during but say later or next day? I have a friend on a similar med who has yet to have a really profound experience but he says everytime he does it he finds later or the next day or 2 he is just not motivated to do anything at all...wich is part of the reason i think he is still holding back. Just curious to know if you have had similar things go on? it might be different as he has been slowly working his way up the dmt scale but that's part of whats preventing him from going farther.

Yes, I normally sit with my eyes closed and take long deep breaths before DMT.

DMT usually improves my mood. I started using it for my depression, until I got shut out.

 

[JKW]

i feel this! for me though i tend to think after i open my eyes to intense visuals that im not going to be able to be a sane person and im going to live the rest of my life in a psych ward(where i work....the irony:? ). but the heart attack phase is probably the scariest thing ive experience, like "oh no ive done it this time". what i took from my last scare is i needed a break, which i am still on, and i dont know if its been good or bad, i have an urge to do it again but i havnt felt like the time is right, so ive been procrastinating. id recommend giving it another try soon, before the anxiety builds up.

im curious to what your set and setting was? and when you decide to go again id say try somewhere different where u r comfortable, ive learned rooms where bad trips had happen can add anxiety, at least in my case. Hope your next journey goes better!:d

The setting is normally my living room, which is a safe and comfortable space.


Thanks!