Set and Setting

THERE IS NO GUARANTEE FOR A GREAT TRIP!! The experience will be different for everyone and unfortunately not all experiences are positive and some can even be dangerous. People seem to know that how much you take can impact your trip; however, equally as important are the environmental and psychological factors.[51] There are plenty of things that you can do to prepare your mind, body, and soul.

The first step I always take is to research whatever compound I am taking. This guide provides a very in depth look at a lot of compounds; however, there are plenty of websites such as Psychonautwiki or Erowid that will tell you the things you need to know. A couple of things to pay attention to are the dosage, time frame, effects, harm/toxicity risk, and if there are any adverse reactions with other compounds. An understanding of these will provide you a good base of understanding. You basically just want to get an idea of what this compound will do to you and what are the risks associated with taking it.

The next thing you should focus on is your set (shorthand for mindset) and setting.[68] Preparing these as much as possible will give you the best chance of having a fun and fulfilling time. **These tips are generally for psychedelics, however they can and should apply to other compounds**

Set:

Set refers to the mental state you bring to the experience, like thoughts, desires, feelings, mood, and any preconceived expectations about the experience.[68][82] A little more specifically, set can include individual drug sensitivity, previous experiences, expectations and mental state.[70] A often underlooked aspect of ‘set’, is the current physical state of your body; if one feels sick, injured or generally unhealthy these sensations can be amplified.[68] Along this, It is advised that those with serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder should not ingest recreational psychedelic substances due to the way they strongly amplify one's current state of mind and emotions as well as exacerbate latent delusions and trigger hallucinations.[68] Set is one of the most important things to think about before embarking on a trip. Many substances exponentially enhance a person’s current state of mind. Be honest with yourself and consider if right now is actually a good time for you to be tripping. If you are having a really stressful time at work or just lost someone you loved, tripping right now might now be a good time. I, along with plenty of other people, fall into the trap of wanting to trip because of free time and not actually being prepared for it. Generally, you should avoid tripping during stressful or negative periods of your life (especially if you are a new user). Psychedelics tend to force a person to face and directly deal with their deepest personal problems.[68] Overall, I think of it as: You'll be stuck in your head from anywhere between 4-10 hours, is that someplace you want to be.

Setting:

Setting can include a wide variety of factors, besides just WHERE you physically are. An important factor is how familiar you are with the compound. If it's your first time taking this specific substance and don't have a full idea what to expect, then this may lead to more anxiety. If it's your first time then I HIGHLY recommend you do it at home or someplace that is comfortable and calming. Where you take psychedelics has a huge impact on how the trip could go. I have taken psychedelics at home with close friends, and I have taken them at parties with a bunch of strangers. Although both were eventful, I can not recommend taking psychedelics in public, until you have an idea of how you react and can handle a psychedelic trip. The best place to trip, in my opinion, is either in the comfort of your own home, or in nature. I suggest that you take these precautions before tripping:

• Ensure that you are completely free of responsibilities such as chores or work. One should try to remain as calm, relaxed and comfy as possible.
  • NO DRIVING
• Avoid irrelevant people. Don’t trip if you have to avoid your parents or if you're with people you don't 100% trust. Sometimes the mere presence of people can cause anxiety
• AVOID BAD VIBES
  • Unsettling movies/music
  • The news
  • Emails/texts
  • WORK/SCHOOL

See Also

• Tripping Tips
• Bad Trip