Adding a Trip Sitter To Your Next Psychedelic Experience

Starting a psychedelic journey can end in a number of very different ways, especially when doing shrooms for the first time. You’ve probably heard that you want people you trust around, and that’s always a good start. We call our trusted guide for a mushroom experience a trip sitter.

A trip sitter guides and protects you making sure you stay safe and have a good time as you explore new ways of thinking. Below we’re going to take you throw what a trip sitter’s duties are, why they’re important and how they’re going to enhance your shroom trip. If you’re interested in psychedelics or want to help someone else explore them, this guide will give you the skills to create a safe and meaningful psychedelic experience.

What is a Trip Sitter?

A trip sitter plays a vital role in psychedelic experiences. This person stays sober to protect and care for someone taking psychedelic substances. You can think of them as a watchful protector keeping an eye on you while you venture into altered states of mind.

Roles and Responsibilities

Trip sitters aim to create a secure and comforting setting for the person using psychedelics. Here’s what they do:

1. Remain present for the whole experience, which can go on for more than 12 hours in some instances.
2. Help with everyday chores that might become tough under the influence, like getting food or bringing water.
3. Act on any dangers or crises that pop up, including getting medical help if needed.
4. Give mild guidance or comfort when needed, without meddling in the experience unless asked.

A good trip sitter tries to be subtle staying out of sight unless someone needs their help. Sometimes, they might even support from afar using webcams or phones.

Qualities of a Good Trip Sitter

A good trip sitter should have these key traits:

1. Empathy and patience
2. Familiarity with psychedelics or other altered states
3. Understanding of health care or medicine
4. Knowledge of psychedelic research and writings
5. Ability to stay calm during tough situations
6. Kindness and open-mindedness

While having tried psychedelics can help, it’s not the most important quality. Being willing to help, staying sober, and keeping a relaxed and accepting attitude matter more.

When a Trip Sitter is Needed

A trip sitter plays a crucial role in these situations:

1. First-time users of psychedelics
2. When people take strong drugs like psychedelics, dissociatives, or deliriants
3. For those who feel uneasy or unsure about their trip
4. In cases where extra help might be necessary

Before the trip begins, the user and trip sitter need to talk about what they expect and set boundaries. This involves agreeing on ways to handle possible distress, as what soothes one person might make another uncomfortable.

Keep in mind, a trip sitter’s job is to create a safe and meaningful psychedelic experience. Their presence has an impact on harm reduction and helps to ensure your journey into altered consciousness stays safe and positive.

Trip Sitter Essentials

To be a trip sitter is an important job that needs preparation, knowledge, and a helpful attitude. To ensure a safe and good psychedelic experience, you need to understand the basics of trip sitting.

Preparing for the Day

Before the psychedelic journey starts, you need to have a deep talk with the person you’ll watch over. Talk about what they expect, what they want to achieve, and any worries they might have. This chat helps build trust and creates a base for a safe experience.

To get ready well:

1. Look into the drug being used how it affects people, and what dangers it might pose.
2. Get to know the person’s health background and any pills they take.
3. Pick a cozy and known place to have the experience.
4. Make sure you have enough time – 8 to 9 hours for medium to high amounts of psilocybin.
5. Find a backup sitter or someone you trust to call if things go wrong.

Things A Tripsitter Needs

As a trip sitter, you need to have some things ready to keep everyone comfy and safe:

1. Basic first aid kit
2. Emergency contact list, including local medical services
3. Water and light snacks
4. Comfortable seating or bedding
5. Music playlists with calming tunes
6. Adjustable lighting options

Tasks of a TripSitter

While the psychedelic experience is happening, you have several jobs to do as a trip sitter:

1. Stay calm and avoid judgment during the whole trip.
2. Keep an eye on how the person looks and feels.
3. Help with simple things like giving water or making the room warmer or cooler.
4. Make the place feel safe by talking when needed.
5. Give the person space but be there if they need you.
6. Be ready to handle tough moments by reminding them that this won’t last forever.
7. If needed, change where you are or take a walk to improve the mood.

Keep in mind, your main job is to keep things safe and be a steady presence. Don’t drink or use drugs during the session so you can think . If you stick to these basics, you can help make the psychedelic trip safe and worthwhile for the person you’re looking after.

Getting Ready for a Safe Psychedelic Trip

To have a safe and meaningful psychedelic journey, you need to prepare . This means setting clear goals, making a comfy space, and thinking about how much to take and what kind. Let’s look at each of these things in detail.

Setting Goals

Setting goals has a strong effect on your psychedelic trip and can help you deal with tough spots. A goal is just a statement that shows what you want to do or find out during your journey. It’s not about having strict plans, but making a flexible outline for exploring.

When you set goals:

1. Figure out why you’re taking this path and what you want to learn.
2. Think about goals that relate to feelings or your body, as these are often easier to connect with during the trip.
3. Make your goals broad and open leaving room for surprises.

Keep in mind, intentions can be straightforward, like “I want to become a more caring person to myself and others”. They give you a guiding thought to come back to if you begin to feel lost or afraid during the experience.

Setting Up a Cozy Space

Where you have your psychedelic journey has a big impact on how it unfolds. Here are some key things to think about:

1. Pick a quiet spot away from things that might distract you.
2. Make sure the place gives you different choices:
   • A place to lie down
   • A place to sit
   • Easy access to a bathroom
   • Control over how warm or cool it is
   • A way to go outside (if it’s safe and makes sense)
3. Set up cozy seats or places to rest.
4. Have lights you can change as needed.
5. Make a list of soft instrumental songs to play in the background.

Keep in mind, you want to create a safe comfy space that fits with what you plan to do during your experience.

How Much to Take and What to Consider

Figuring out the right shroom dose and choosing the right substance play a key role in having a safe trip on psychedelics. Here are some key things to keep in mind:

1. Look into the substance you want to try learning about its effects and possible dangers.
2. In clinical trials, they often use 25 mg of psilocybin, which is about the same as 2.5 grams of dried Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms.
3. Keep in mind that dried mushrooms can have between 0.5-2% psilocybin, depending on the type.
4. If you’ve never taken psychedelics before, it’s better to begin with a smaller amount.
5. Take the substance when you haven’t eaten to get more reliable results. Most research involves not eating for 2-4 hours before you take it.

Keep in mind that people react to psychedelics because of things like genes and health issues. Always check with a doctor before you try any psychedelic if you have health problems or take medicine.

If you think about these things – why you want to do it where you’ll be, and how much to take – you can set yourself up for a safer and more meaningful psychedelic experience.

During the Psychedelic Experience

Providing Support and Reassurance

As a trip sitter, your role is to offer a calm and grounded presence throughout the psychedelic journey. Your support can significantly impact the person’s experience, helping them navigate their inner landscape safely . To provide effective support:

1. Maintain a non-judgmental attitude
2. Use a soothing tone of voice
3. Validate their experiences without dismissing them
4. Offer gentle touch if appropriate and welcomed
5. Remind them that the experience is temporary and they are safe

Remember, your presence alone can often be enough to keep the person comfortable and even enable deeper exploration of the drug’s effects .

Handling Challenging Situations

Challenging psychedelic experiences aren’t unusual and can sometimes disorient, confuse, or frighten people . When faced with difficult situations:

1. Stay calm and compassionate
2. Avoid reacting with fear or panic, as this can worsen the person’s distress
3. Speak slowly and softly, maintaining a reassuring tone
4. Ensure the surroundings are comfortable, quiet, and free from potential triggers
5. Encourage slow, deep breathing to help them relax and regain control
6. Consider redirecting their focus or engaging them in a calming activity

It’s crucial to avoid unnecessary meddling or assuming control over the person and their trip . Instead, watch and intervene only when necessary, without guiding or influencing the direction of the experience .

Maintaining a Calm Presence

Your emotional state can significantly impact the person’s journey. To maintain a calm presence:

1. Stay grounded and centered
2. Focus on providing support without judgment
3. Create a safe and nurturing environment
4. Continuously monitor the person’s physical and emotional state
5. Be prepared to take prompt and effective action if needed

By maintaining your composure, you help create an atmosphere conducive to a positive psychedelic experience. Remember, your role is to be physically and emotionally present, listening actively and responding with empathy and understanding .

In case of emergencies, always be prepared with a solid plan. Have a list of important phone numbers readily available, including local emergency services, medical professionals, and the person’s emergency contacts. Also, keep a basic first aid kit and any necessary medications on hand .

By following these guidelines and maintaining a supportive presence, you can help ensure a safer and more meaningful psychedelic experience for the person you’re sitting for.

Our Final Thoughts

Exploring psychedelics can open up deep insights but always put safety first. Having a trustworthy person to watch over you can make your experience both safe and alot more therapeutic. When you’re prepared it’s always more fun. We like to think that it isn’t about where you wind up, but the experiences and discoveries you encounter through the process.