Good advice all the way around. I agree too, in starting with mushrooms.

As for being grounded, have you ever worked with crystals? Try meditating while holding some tourmaline or smoky quartz. Many people don't feel crystal energies right away or ever, but you don't know until you try. My introduction to stones as a medicine was in a bar during a panic attack I was having from taking on the energies of all the people around me. This really nice fellow said, "You need one of these!", pulled this HUGE chunk of black tourmaline out of his pocket, then explained how the stone helped ground him. I tried it, it worked, and I have now been working with stones/crystals for years.

I also really agree with Enoon's last post. IME, being your authentic self makes you happier and naturally attracts people who resonate with that energy, the people around you now who do not resonate with that energy fall away. Practise detachment and mindfulness, while keeping in mind that the only constant is change. This greatly alleviates any suffering. Be patient. With your self and others. Finding myself in an "isolated" setting does not cause me to struggle for company or acceptance, I use the time to focus on my personal projects. When I'm caught up with a group, I roll with that too. A really big lesson I was taught in Peru w/ Ayahuasca was SURRENDER. Surrender to the medicine, surrender to the will of the spirits.

It really feels good to be at peace, no matter the setting.

And to answer the question in your first post, yes working with many different medicines at many different times has GREATLY helped me get to this place in my life. It wasn't always easy, sometimes it still gets hard, but in the over-all big-picture, it all works out GREAT. For me anyways.

Welcome to the Nexus!