How to Prepare for an Acid Trip
Before we tell you what stages of an LSD trip you need to be prepared for, it’s important to prepare in general. Depending on how much acid you take, you may experience different outcomes. Less acid equals less intense experience, but it will still alter your state of mind. In any case, you need to be prepared for a bad trip. That means ensuring you’re in a safe place, and having someone to take care of you.
You should also have plenty of water on hand, and eat before the trip. Satisfying your physical needs prior to the experience, allows you to enjoy the psychedelic experience to its fullest.
Stage 1: Taking the Acid
You may be wondering why taking acid is a stage of an LSD trip itself. The thing is, when you take LSD, you might not feel it “kick in” for some time. Some people feel the first effect of acid after 15 minutes, and some after an hour. People don’t realize it, but even when you’re “not feeling anything” your body and mind are already transitioning.
Sometimes, one can experience accelerated heartbeat and trouble breathing because their body hasn’t yet processed the drug. It should pass after a few minutes. If it doesn’t seek medical help.
Stage 2: First Effects and the Climax
Once the acid takes you in, the LSD experience begins. The first effects are usually just “trippy,” in other words, uncanny, dizzy, or strange. This is also when the hallucinations and visual distortions begin. Colors might switch places, and things can melt, bend or twist. The climax happens when you feel the reality in the strangest or most fantastic way possible. This stage usually lasts around 3 to 4 hours.
Stage 3: Active Tripping
The next stage of an LSD trip is active tripping. This happens when you have already gotten used to the altered state. Visual hallucinations may slowly retreat, but you can still feel bizarre and funny. This is also the stage where it’s more or less safe to engage in some activities. Some people like to take walks, or stargazing. Active tripping may take a few hours.
Stage 4: Comedown
At some point you will start feeling the effects of LSD less and less. This stage is often called a comedown. As the name suggests, you’re coming down from a high. Obviously, all LSD trips vary, but many people report that at this stage they feel hungry and dehydrated. A sweet snack, such as chocolate bars and candy, are good to take in moderation (so that you avoid nausea).
A bad comedown happens when you feel the effects stop sharply, and you feel very bad very suddenly. If you experience this, a good remedy is to calm down and wait it out. It doesn’t happen often, but it may, so it’s good to be prepared for it. Comedown most often passes after 2 hours or earlier.
Stage 5: Afterglow
The last stage of an LSD trip is the afterglow. Your rational thoughts come back, but you can still feel how amazing you felt just a few hours ago. This is a good stage for meditation or journaling. How long the afterglow will last depends entirely on your experience, however it will probably last around an hour.
Stages of an LSD Trip – Key Takeaways
Theoretically, there are as many stages of an LSD trip, as there are people. LSD experiences differ, and trips can go through many stages. Nevertheless, there are a few stages that are common and these are: climax, active tripping, comedown and the afterglow. A trip can last even more than 12 hours, so it’s important to be prepared to spend at least half a day on it.
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