When a Trip Gets Too Intense: Staying Calm and Riding It Out

A trip can sometimes take you a little deeper than you expected. The experience deepens, you feel more, and for a moment that can be quite a lot. That is part of it sometimes, and the most important thing to know is this: it passes, and you are safe. On this page you'll find calm, kind guidance on what to do when a trip feels intense, how the Trip Stopper can help, and how you can largely stay ahead of such a moment.

Last updated: June 2026

An intense wave is sometimes part of it

Psychedelics bring you closer to your feelings, and feelings come in waves. Most moments are light and lovely, and now and then a wave arrives that rises a little higher. That is not a sign that something is going wrong. It usually means you are in deep, and that the substance is quietly doing its work.

Worth knowing: psilocybin is physically gentle. Your heart, your breath and your body simply keep going, even while your thoughts wander in every direction. And a trip doesn't last forever: every experience has a beginning, a peak and a soft ending, and you are always on your way to that ending, even if it doesn't feel that way right now.

What you can do in the moment

When a wave rises a little higher, you don't have to fight it. Going with it almost always feels easier than holding it back. The small things below help you feel some ground under your feet again. Pick just one if you like; you don't have to do them all.

The Trip Stopper: a little help to soften things

Sometimes you want something tangible within reach, and that is what the Trip Stopper is made for. It is a small kit with two dextrose tablets and two valerian capsules. The dextrose gives your body a quick lift and helps you ground; valerian has long been known for its calming effect.

It helps to know what it does and doesn't do. The Trip Stopper does not take the trip away; what it does is make everything a little softer and milder, so you can land more gently. Many people simply like having it nearby, even without using it. Just knowing something is ready brings a sense of calm.

Giving yourself the loveliest start

The loveliest trips begin with calm preparation. These few things make a gentle, lovely experience more likely, and let you enjoy it more.

• Start low. You can always take more, but never less. A modest amount of a mild truffle strain or grow kit is almost always the gentlest start. Our dosage calculator helps you on your way.
• Choose your moment and your place. A familiar, calm setting and a good mood make a world of difference. Our set & setting guide goes into this in depth.
• Do it together, especially the first time. Having someone with you who stays sober, a trip sitter, brings calm for both of you.
• Prepare gently. Our truffle guide walks you through it step by step.

An intense moment can give you something too

It may sound strange, but many people look back on the more intense moments with warmth. It is often exactly there that something gently shifts, that you let go of something you had been carrying for a while. You don't need to seek out such a moment, but if it arrives, you can trust that it rarely comes for no reason. Breathe, let it be there, and afterwards gently notice what it gave you.

Take good care of yourself and each other. Last update: June 2026 | Next Level Smart