Do you always feel nervous before vaping DMT?

[reun]

Hi all,

EDIT: apologies, I just realised that the thread title doesn't accurately reflect the body of the thread! I'm happy to focus on the anxiety part of vaping DMT, but I'd also love to hear the broader context of you experience, and I have sketched a few motivation questions for that below

I'm new to DMT, I've only had a handful of mild experiences and I have a few questions for those of you who are more experienced.

I would like to learn about your relationship with DMT. More specifically, I'm talking about freebase DMT, not harmala mixes.

• Those of you who do use vape pens: what are your preferred configurations? I'm talking about (1) voltage setting, (2) cart ratio, (3) inhalation regimen -- N inhales over K seconds and J second holds (by the way: I figured that perfecting your inhalation technique is not trivial!)
• Do you take it regularly? If so, do you always have the pre-flight jitters?
• Do you take it in small quantities or do you aim for moderate to high doses? The reason I'm asking is because I'm finding that even small doses can induce a lot of stress
• How does DMT impact your sanity and anxiety? Admittedly, none of my experiences were scary so far, they were just somewhat psychologically destabilising, but I often feel intimidated doing it. I also worry sometimes that some experiences may hit you psychologically harder than others. At the same time, usually coming out of an experience, I feel enriched, which is why I still want to do it. But I do wonder if simple exposure makes it easier with time. For reference, I have a lot of experience with other psychedelics, but DMT is in the league of its own!

I have a variable-voltage vaporizer and a cart with a 1:1 ratio (DMT to carrier liquid), I smoked it a few times. Only once I managed to get into the geometry space, but it wasn't a classical breakthrough. I made the following observations about DMT so far:

• I always feel terribly anxious before doing it
• I feel like small quantities can be just as destabilising and uncomfortable as big doses
• I never plan to do it ahead of time, otherwise thinking about it stresses me out. I only do it spontaneously when I have the time and headspace
• I feel like I must be in a positive state of mind to do this. This fits into the standard set and setting guidelines for psychedelics
• DMT is a terrible nightcap and taking it before bedtime even in small quantities can be destabilising
• I prefer to do it when it's still somewhat light outside. Coming back to earth after DMT can feel cold and alien, and I find sunlight very comforting and grounding

As an aside, I have also recently discovered harmalas for myself and wanted to explore where that thread would take me, but I discovered that harmalas seriously disrupt my sleep and they also interact dangerously with so many substances that aren't even on the contraindication list, so I certainly feel discouraged from pursuing that road, but I still want to see where DMT could take me. I just don't quite know what to expect from my relationship with DMT. There was a time when achieving a DMT breakthrough was a bucket list item for me, now I'm less concerned with the breakthrough specifically. As for DMT in general, I oscillate between thinking that DMT could scar me psychologically and thinking that it can enrich my life. I had to invest a considerable amount of time and resources to come into possession of DMT, which is why I don't want to give up just yet.

Lastly, it's worth adding that like with other psychedelics, I don't expect DMT to be fun, but I would like it to be enriching in some way. Still, I will only do it if the experience happens to be a net positive.

 

[Voidmatrix]

Unfortunately, my response will encapsulate both DMT and changa, as I do both regularly.

Do you take it regularly? If so, do you always have the pre-flight jitters?

You bet your...!

I am not really posting in this thread anymore, but it may be of use:Why DMT Scares Me It's good to normalize it, because from my experience, and many others that I know, no it doesn't go away, you just learn to be with it better. The experience creates for many people, because we have primate brains that are used to information being presented in more "acceptable" ways, a strong sympathetic response. We have to steel ourselves against that.

I often feel intimidated doing it.

Me too. I did it twice today.

Do you take it in small quantities or do you aim for moderate to high doses? The reason I'm asking is because I'm finding that even small doses can induce a lot of stress

The body knows something is up as soon as you even think about it. Even just a little bit. Even a dose you know you can handle. Be with those feelings, examine them, with compassion and curiosity. And I generally aim low, but I am pretty sensitive. I had a pretty visual experience on only 10-12mg yesterday.

How does DMT impact your sanity and anxiety? Admittedly, none of my experiences were scary so far, they were just somewhat psychologically destabilising

Ground down, integrate as long as you need to, then get back to smoalkin! Some people will actually purposefully dose themselves very lightly first before taking a stronger dose that takes them further. The idea is that once a toe is in the door, it's easier to relax into the experience. We allow time for the jitters to burn off.

I never plan to do it ahead of time, otherwise thinking about it stresses me out. I only do it spontaneously when I have the time and headspace

Here's another one for you: Impulse Experiences: Ongoing Compilation

I feel like I must be in a positive state of mind to do this. This fits into the standard set and setting guidelines for psychedelics

As you develop more skill you may find yourself playing in that space in different states of mind. For various reasons, I don't really ever feel I am in a "positive" headspace, and if anything, smoalking helps me get to one often times. However, go at your own pace, and set your own standards. Your path, your choice.

I have also recently discovered harmalas for myself and wanted to explore where that thread would take me, but I discovered that harmalas seriously disrupt my sleep and they also interact dangerously with so many substances that aren't even on the contraindication list, so I certainly feel discouraged from pursuing that road

Post in thread 'Changa Musings'

Jun 27, 2026

Just a lil harmala safety data

A Comparative Analysis of Reversible and Irreversible Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors: Mechanisms, Applications, and Safety Profiles

One love

Irreversible MAO Inhibitors: These compounds, which include well-known drugs like phenelzineand tranylcypromine, form a covalent bond with the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactorof the MAO enzyme.[3][6] This binding is essentially permanent, rendering the enzyme inactive.[3][7] Restoration of MAO activity is not possible until new enzyme is synthesized by the body,a process that can take up to...

• Voidmatrix

• 

Known substance-interactions and their effects - DMT-Nexus Wiki

wiki.dmt-nexus.me

Harmalas should be avoided with many things, but many dietary restrictions appear overblown (see research in first link).

here was a time when achieving a DMT breakthrough was a bucket list item for me, now I'm less concerned with the breakthrough specifically.

This is kind of a good thing, for there is so much to DMT aside from the "breakthrough." The Term 'Breakthrough'



One love

 

[reun]

@Voidmatrix thank you for such a thoughtful response! I also enjoyed reading the relevant posts you linked.

Well, at least I feel like I'm not alone in this fear. The strange thing is that, like you, I've managed the experiences I've had so far quite well, and I actually profoundly enjoyed them in some sense, but the idea is still terrifying. I heard someone describe DMT being like a bungy jump, which I thought was pretty apt.

It's also somewhat freeing to hear you say that you never find yourself in a strictly positive headspace -- perhaps it is an oversimplification. Nonetheless, I feel like doing DMT in a negative headspace is a bad idea. But the jitters I described earlier can easily turn a regular day into an anxious one. I also like your idea of starting very light first to get comfortable with this feeling and then go deeper. But you are absolutely right: even thinking about intentions to smoke DMT cause a sense of panic in me, and the smell of it intensify those fears.

As for breakthroughs, I have actually sort of dropped the idea, to be honest. From what I understand, chasing it is generally not going to get you there. Also, there appears to be a lot of mythology around this space and it's hard to even tell what is a breakthrough from the point of view of your own subjective experience. One thing is certain: DMT can induce most profound states of mind, and there are many flavours to that.

 

[Voidmatrix]

I ought to have added this thread as well: PREFLIGHT ANXIETY & RAW FEAR

Well, at least I feel like I'm not alone in this fear. The strange thing is that, like you, I've managed the experiences I've had so far quite well, and I actually profoundly enjoyed them in some sense, but the idea is still terrifying. I heard someone describe DMT being like a bungy jump, which I thought was pretty apt.

I've certainly been the distance before. But in recent years, deeper work has necessitated lighter doses. But what you're experiencing is well within the range of normal. I can't reiterate that enough.

It's also somewhat freeing to hear you say that you never find yourself in a strictly positive headspace -- perhaps it is an oversimplification. Nonetheless, I feel like doing DMT in a negative headspace is a bad idea.

What follows, I don't recommend you do, I am sharing so you know what's possible, and bear in mind everyone is different. Sometimes, when I am pissed off, angry, or any other related emotion, there's an indifference that can come with it, and that sense of indifference can be liberating relative to what inhibits us in the space. Then I usually come out the other side not being so pissed off. But that's why I mentioned skill above, as how one navigates those experiences is what determines if it's a good call for them. I've even smoalked balling my eyes out, sometimes only to ball my eyes out more. And after the catharsis is all said and done, I feel balanced, regulated and ready to move on.

As for breakthroughs, I have actually sort of dropped the idea, to be honest. From what I understand, chasing it is generally not going to get you there. Also, there appears to be a lot of mythology around this space and it's hard to even tell what is a breakthrough from the point of view of your own subjective experience. One thing is certain: DMT can induce most profound states of mind, and there are many flavours to that.

You'll be well off to continue with this orientation.

One love

 

[reun]

@Voidmatrix thank you again for sharing. Just wanted to respond to one remark, in particular -- the one about consuming DMT in a distressed state. I can actually relate to this in some matter, although I haven't done this on DMT. I have consumed mescaline and LSD in a state that I can describe as despair and I was profoundly grateful for what emerged. In fact, these experiences were defining in my life. I find that psychedelics can offer many things: joy, unity, a sense of wonder, but I feel like their true gift is their ability to drive lasting positive change. And from my experience, this change does not emerge from a strictly pleasant trip. That said, psychedelics can also give you sheer terror and potentially drive you deeper into the abyss. Psychedelics pose deeply uncomfortable questions -- these questions can break some people and elevate others.

But I've found that these questions can be exhausting. Well over a year ago, I had my most profound psychedelic experience on 500 ug of LSD. Since then, I improved my life in countless ways, thanks to a spur of motivation that emerged from this experience. But behind the scenes, I was also breaking down every single day. Eventually I returned to the baseline. Life normalised. I then went through a depression, mourning that I lost the fire that LSD had given me. But then I also realised that the pace at which I was operating was not sustainable and I needed to switch from a sprint to a marathon, so to speak. Still, I reached for DMT, partly because I've always wanted to try it, partly because I felt like it could stoke those ambers that LSD ignited. I had my first harmalas experience a few days ago, and I also ended up in tears, in spite of its calming properties. But I realised that I'm way too mentally exhausted to replicate the profundity of psychological experiences that mescaline and LSD have gifted to me, instead, I would simply like to lean into the cosmic wonder that DMT can produce. That said, you never really know what it will give you.

 

[northape]

@Voidmatrix thank you again for sharing. Just wanted to respond to one remark, in particular -- the one about consuming DMT in a distressed state. I can actually relate to this in some matter, although I haven't done this on DMT. I have consumed mescaline and LSD in a state that I can describe as despair and I was profoundly grateful for what emerged. In fact, these experiences were defining in my life. I find that psychedelics can offer many things: joy, unity, a sense of wonder, but I feel like their true gift is their ability to drive lasting positive change. And from my experience, this change does not emerge from a strictly pleasant trip. That said, psychedelics can also give you sheer terror and potentially drive you deeper into the abyss. Psychedelics pose deeply uncomfortable questions -- these questions can break some people and elevate others.

Strange how medicine tends to answer an honest cry for help. It was my own experience back in 2013, when it basically brought me back to life from a suicidal rut I was in.

But I've found that these questions can be exhausting. Well over a year ago, I had my most profound psychedelic experience on 500 ug of LSD. Since then, I improved my life in countless ways, thanks to a spur of motivation that emerged from this experience. But behind the scenes, I was also breaking down every single day. Eventually I returned to the baseline. Life normalised. I then went through a depression, mourning that I lost the fire that LSD had given me. But then I also realised that the pace at which I was operating was not sustainable and I needed to switch from a sprint to a marathon, so to speak. Still, I reached for DMT, partly because I've always wanted to try it, partly because I felt like it could stoke those ambers that LSD ignited. I had my first harmalas experience a few days ago, and I also ended up in tears, in spite of its calming properties. But I realised that I'm way too mentally exhausted to replicate the profundity of psychological experiences that mescaline and LSD have gifted to me, instead, I would simply like to lean into the cosmic wonder that DMT can produce. That said, you never really know what it will give you.

We've all been there - chasing a dragon. Suffering is an important part of life and your healing journey. It's basically your karma burning live. Staying conscious and present with it without falling into an emotional rollercoaster is as hard as navigating a DMT journey. Nothing lasts, though, so just continue on your path. Our Intent or power of Will is all that matters in the end. It'll lead us all the way.

 

[Davski]

Preflight anxiety is strong in this one, aka me, just thinking about inhaling DMT makes me anxious and I have done it alot over the last five years. To be honest a few years ago I was doing alot more than I am now, this year its only been five times or so, the fear but also the respect for the molecule and the time it takes to prepare mentally but mainly the fear!

I made changa over two months ago and still havent touched it, knock knock who's there, Mr fear..... never smoked changa before.

Will read some of the threads members have posted within this thread to help get myself back in the zone!

 

[brettsta]

If your only doing mild experience with vape cart , then you got nothing to be anxious about , it's unlikely go bad .
It's only when you start pushing past the breakthrough on heavier doses , does it start getting scary, at times .

I am normally very confident when going in , but when I get my ass kicked it knocks me back I get the fear , but I will not allow the fear to stop me , I'm not done with that place yet , and they not done with me .
I did one last night and I allowed the fear to get to me . I kicked myself after for not showing courage.
Tonight I will push on , I'll be thinking about it all day and evening untill it's time . And this time I will show courage.
I've been doing it years , I should know better but sometimes its like I'm going it for the first time .

 

[Davski]

I've been doing it years , I should know better but sometimes its like I'm going it for the first time .

This is me pretty much everytime, havent been on a journey for 7 weeks, that naughty preflight anxiety is there but the calling is getting stronger. But as you mentioned you are pretty confident when going in, hopefully I catch that bug!

I would love to blast off once a week, when I last went on a journey afterwards I thought, once a week bot a problem haha....very grateful never had a bad experience. When I have mixed with acid a couple of occasions things got pretty crazy but DMT on its own has been nothing but love.

 

[reun]

Strange how medicine tends to answer an honest cry for help. It was my own experience back in 2013, when it basically brought me back to life from a suicidal rut I was in.

Thank you for opening up about this. Admittedly, I was also close to that edge.

Staying conscious and present with it without falling into an emotional rollercoaster is as hard as navigating a DMT journey. Nothing lasts, though, so just continue on your path. Our Intent or power of Will is all that matters in the end. It'll lead us all the way.

These words hit deeply. Staying conscious and present without falling into an emotional rollercoaster... that's the fine line I am trying to walk. And that is the central project of life. I am terrified of sleepwalking through life. But I also felt that the emotional rollercoaster I fell into could have been the end of me.

As for the power of our will being all that matters in the end, this hits even deeper. It sounds very Nietzschean. And it is precisely this philosophy that has guided me out of the darkness, along with psychedelics.

 

[brettsta]

This is me pretty much everytime, havent been on a journey for 7 weeks, that naughty preflight anxiety is there but the calling is getting stronger. But as you mentioned you are pretty confident when going in, hopefully I catch that bug!

I would love to blast off once a week, when I last went on a journey afterwards I thought, once a week bot a problem haha....very grateful never had a bad experience. When I have mixed with acid a couple of occasions things got pretty crazy but DMT on its own has been nothing but love.

If your doing low dose, keeping it mild then one a week is fine , but when going for the " main event " , on higher dose , then one or twice a month is enough.

To me DMT is like a Ferrari , it's great when pottering around in it , no worry's, , but it's only when you push it to what it's capable of , is when You see it in its true light .

 

[Voidmatrix]

Relative to what depth can bring about what magnitude of difficulty, I think it should also be noted that one's own constitution plays a large role. I am not the happiest or most positive of people, and happen to carry a lot of anxiety, so weird stuff can happen even with doses so low there are no visuals. The work can show up at any level.

One love

 

[northape]

As for the power of our will being all that matters in the end, this hits even deeper. It sounds very Nietzschean. And it is precisely this philosophy that has guided me out of the darkness, along with psychedelics.

When there is nothing to hold on to, your mind stops thinking straight, and short-term memory is fried, you come down to absolute basics - willpower and faith in life.

Try asking yourself, "Why am I afraid to smoke?" Usually, your fear is about losing control. We are afraid of the unknown and what it implies. Consciously using the medicine is an act of absolute surrender and trust in life. Yes, you can brainwash yourself to a degree a few times, but then you know what smoking is deep in your bones. Any gaslighting would fall off like leaves in autumn. I feel one needs to acknowledge the courage it takes and see that the act itself, even if done through the ego, comes from a much deeper place. Basically, the universe itself puts a vape or a cup into your hands. I like this passage from Dune about fear:

Litany Against Fear

"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

The phrase derives from William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar:

"Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear,
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come."

 

[Voidmatrix]

The other thing, you can also become intimate with fear, inviting it to dinner or tea. Moving into it instead of away. Relating to it instead of from it. We can feel anything, the trick is realizing that we don't have to do anything just because we feel a certain way. Notice the fear arise, tell it you see it. Thank it for it's utility. And while feeling it in this way, tell it to sit down and shut up while you take your dose and smoalk moar!

One love

 

[northape]

The other thing, you can also become intimate with fear, inviting it to dinner or tea. Moving into it instead of away. Relating to it instead of from it. We can feel anything, the trick is realizing that we don't have to do anything just because we feel a certain way. Notice the fear arise, tell it you see it. Thank it for it's utility. And while feeling it in this way, tell it to sit down and shut up while you take your dose and smoalk moar!

One love

I fully agree. That's why sitting on the floor is such a good practice (or lying down in a corpse pose). You're not going anywhere. It forces you to learn how to be with yourself and your thoughts. Just sit, meditate, pray, and smoke. Invite everything in and be open. Sit and see - that's the whole practice, and it can easily be brought back into everyday life.

 

[Voidmatrix]

I fully agree. That's why sitting on the floor is such a good practice (or lying down in a corpse pose). You're not going anywhere. It forces you to learn how to be with yourself and your thoughts. Just sit, meditate, pray, and smoke. Invite everything in and be open. Sit and see - that's the whole practice, and it can easily be brought back into everyday life.

View attachment 111136

Perfect timing for something so well said, since after my shower I am taking a hit of changa (and yes I am nervous, but I am anxious anyway) and laying on the Shakti mat.

Presence.

One love

 

[universecannon]

Bigger doses yes

Low doses not much, usually just a bit before the first hit, then it mostly dissolves for further small hits, unless I'm doing other techniques to amplify it. I think I've smoalked low doses so much on LSD that on its own low dose DMT just feels very relaxing in comparison.