Doctor On Call: How do I know I’m having a bad trip?
On some occasions, the marijuana high can escalate into a 'bad trip', clinically known as a cannabis-induced psychotic episode.
Q: How do I know I’m having a bad trip?
Answer by Health Matters clinical psychologist Liesl Morris
Marijuana use, for medicinal and recreational purposes, is gaining in popularity.
Although many people believe that marijuana is a soft drug, there are risks associated with its use.
On some occasions, the marijuana high can escalate into a ‘bad trip’, clinically known as a cannabis-induced psychotic episode.
Unfortunately, no one can explain the exact cause/s of a bad trip, but your reaction is influenced by factors such as your mental health status, mood, and the marijuana’s cannabinoid profile.
There are numerous possible symptoms, including:
- Shortness of breath and elevated heart rate
- Excessive sweating and trembling
- Extreme fear and paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Thoughts of harm
- Nausea and vomiting
- Burning eye and dry mouth
An episode typically lasts for 30-45 minutes but may persist for several hours.
Research suggests that 20-50% of recreational marijuana users will experience at least one bad trip and regular cannabis use increases the risk of developing long-term psychosis.
From a psychological perspective, experiencing a bad trip is very traumatic, as the brain is unable to differentiate between a drug-related experience and a ‘normal’ traumatic experience.
For this reason, these episodes can cause generalised anxiety as well as a fear of developing psychosis in the future.
Should this have happened to you, please contact your local health care provider.
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