what is the actual cause of a bad trip when taking mushrooms?
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There’s no simple answer because “bad trip” refers to a category, not a specific phenomenon. Some bad trips are a result of circular thought patterns. You’ll hear people say things like *”I got stuck in a loop”*. Other bad trips are a result of fighting against intrusive thoughts. Usually, they’re memories of or residuals from unresolved trauma that the person refuses to confront and integrate. Still other bad trips are caused by fear and anxiety. Maybe the person’s not in a safe, comfortable environment and they enter a sort of “fight or flight” mode in which they begin to hallucinate manifestations of their fears. This is why people advocate the principle of [Set & Setting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_and_setting) as a tool for avoiding bad trips.
Generally speaking, a bad trip is an experience primarily characterized by unpleasant emotions. Interestingly, even though there’s not a single cause, there is a single solution: Let go of fear and accept the experience. It’s mental, it’s temporary, and it’s part of you but *it’s not you*. You are not your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. They are an object of your consciousness, they are a reflection of your mind, and they are trying to show you something about yourself. Sit, breathe, listen, observe, and let it flow over and past you.
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