Ketamine can alter your perception and emotional state. While many people report a calm state and insight, some experience fear, confusion, or panic.
In this article, we’ll look into what a bad trip on ketamine can be like, and how to stay safe and grounded during and after these challenging experiences.
Key Takeaways
- Ketamine has a variety of effects that can vary from person to person.
- A bad trip may involve fear, panic, dissociation, or loss of control.
- Calm, supportive surroundings and a trusted sitter reduce risk and help during difficult experiences.
- Grounding is essential after a difficult trip.
- Lingering feelings like depersonalization or derealization usually fade, but professional support is available if needed.
- Clinics and therapists can provide guidance and support for challenging experiences.
What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine was first developed as an anesthetic in the 1960s and has been used in hospitals and clinics for decades. More recently, it has gained attention as a fast-acting treatment for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.
Outside of medical settings, ketamine is used recreationally, in party settings and nightclubs. It is psychoactive, and some people find the experience euphoric or uplifting. Ketamine also has psychedelic properties, and some use it to explore their mind and different states of consciousness.
What Does Ketamine Feel Like?
Ketamine affects both the mind and the body. It works by inhibiting NMDA receptors, which are proteins that help control how nerve cells communicate. By altering normal brain signaling, ketamine changes thinking, perception, and the sense of self.
The most noticeable effect of ketamine is dissociation. On ketamine, you may feel dreamy, floaty, or detached from your body. At higher doses, you may feel completely disconnected from your physical body and surroundings, also known as a “K-hole.”
During K-hole experiences, some people feel as if they enter different realms of reality, often described as a “void” or as if they’re moving through tunnels and space. While the K-hole is interesting and sought-after for some, others find it extremely confusing and distressing.
Ketamine also changes thought patterns. At lower doses, you may feel more lucid or able to see things clearly. These effects can play a crucial role in ketamine’s therapeutic capacity, as individuals break away from rigid patterns of thinking and gain insights. At higher doses, confusion, anxiety, or racing thoughts can occur.
Physically, the effects of ketamine can vary from person to person. It can cause people to feel dizzy and nauseated. It can also increase heart rate, which may be more noticeable in some individuals than in others.
What Is a Bad Trip on Ketamine?
A bad trip happens when the experience becomes frightening, confusing, or overwhelming.
As high doses of ketamine can make it hard to act and speak, you may feel powerless and unable to bring yourself out of a bad trip, which can make you feel more distressed.
Bad trips are more common in unsupervised settings with unknown doses, loud or chaotic environments, or a lack of support. Nonetheless, they can still happen in clinics. There have been instances of people having bad trips during clinical ketamine therapy, although generally, staff can guide you through intense emotions and help you stay grounded.
What to Do During a Bad Trip on Ketamine
A bad trip can feel overwhelming, but there are ways to reduce fear and stay safe. If you’re in a deep dissociative state, it can be challenging to act or even recognize that you’re having a bad trip, so preparatory measures help.
Unsupervised Settings
Preparation includes ensuring you’re in a safe, familiar environment with no trip hazards nearby. It’s also essential that you don’t mix ketamine with other drugs, as this can both increase the risk of a bad trip and be extremely physically dangerous.
Set and setting matter. Not only do you want to be in a comfortable space, but you should also avoid using ketamine if you’re already feeling distressed and anxious.
Having a sober, trusted person with you can make a big difference during a difficult ketamine experience. This person is not using drugs and alcohol, so they’re fully able to support you through the experience. They can reassure you that what you’re feeling is drug-induced and that it will pass.
If you’re at a nightclub or party, your friends may not be sober, but they can still help guide you to a quiet spot to sit or lie down. If welfare staff are available, try to speak with them for additional support.
Importantly, remember to do long, slow, deep breathing. This can help calm your nervous system and reconnect you with your body’s sense of awareness. Generally, the main effects of ketamine wear off within half an hour, so you can keep reminding yourself that the experience will be over soon.
Medical Settings
When choosing a ketamine clinic, look for one with good reviews and experienced staff. Some clinics offer a preparation session to help you understand ketamine’s effects and reduce the risk of a difficult experience. If a preparation session isn’t available, ensure that you follow any guidelines provided by the medical team prior to your session.
If you start to feel overwhelmed or like you might be having a bad trip during the session, let the staff know. They can guide you through the experience and provide support to help you feel safe and grounded.
What to Do After a Bad Trip on Ketamine
After the effects wear off, your body and mind may feel tired or unsteady. It’s essential to ground after these experiences, which helps you reconnect with your body and a sense of safety.
Grounding Ideas
Emotional Effects
Lingering feelings after a bad trip are common. You may feel detached from yourself (depersonalization) or from the world around you (derealization). These sensations often fade, but, in rare cases, can last well after the drug experiences have worn off.
If you have lingering negative effects following ketamine, there are different support options available. If you’ve used ketamine in a clinic, you should contact your ketamine provider to see what support they offer. If you are outside a clinic, you could talk with a trusted friend to help you process the experience, or consider speaking with an integration therapist for professional help.
FAQs
What Causes a K-Hole?
Check out our article on the Neuroscience of K-holes.
Can Bad Trips on Ketamine Happen at Low Doses?
While less common, difficult experiences can occur at lower doses, especially if you feel anxious, stressed, or unsafe in your environment.
How Long Do the Effects of Ketamine Last?
A ketamine experience usually lasts 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the dose and method of use. Residual effects, like mild dissociation or fatigue, can continue for a few hours afterward.
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