Psychedelics are sometimes presented as a kind of shortcut to happiness or healing. Honestly, that is not how it works. A level-headed piece about what an experience does and does not do for you, so you go in with the right expectation.
What an experience can do
Many people experience a different perspective during or after a trip, a sense of connection, or insight into something that had been on their mind. That can be valuable. But note that word, insight: an experience can show you something, and that is different from solving it for you.
What it does not do
Here we are honest, even when it sells less well:
- It does not solve your problems for you. At most you see them more clearly.
- It does not repair a relationship and does not change your life on its own.
- It is not an escape. Whatever you are fleeing is still there afterwards.
- It is not a quick fix and not a miracle cure.
- It is not a replacement for professional help if that is what you need.
Why that is actually good to know
An honest expectation protects you from disappointment and from unnecessary pressure. If you expect a trip to solve everything, it quickly feels like failure when that does not happen. If you expect that at most it can show you something that you then pick up yourself, you are closer to the truth.
So what expectation is right?
The best approach is calm curiosity, without having to achieve anything. Not to repair something, but to experience and see what it brings you. If you are unsure whether this is the right moment, read when you are better off not buying magic truffles. And what you do with an experience afterwards, you can read in the day after your trip.
This article is informational and not medical advice. If you are dealing with mental health issues, seek appropriate help, for example through your GP.