Set and setting: Difference between revisions

Setting is the physical and social environment that the trip takes place in. It is able to guide or influence the course of the experience, both consciously and subconsciously. Since psychedelics often [[emotion enhancement|enhance the emotions]] or mood one is currently feeling, stress, fear, anxiety due to an unfamiliar, uncontrollable or otherwise disagreeable environment may result in an unpleasant or hazardous experience ([[bad trip]]) that may be inconsistent with the experiences one may have had in the past, even with the same dose of the same drug from the same batch. Conversely, an environment that provides a sense of safety, familiarity, control and comfort is more likely to result in a pleasant experience.

One of the most important factors to consider as a user (especially an inexperienced one) is one's current state of mind. Many substances exponentially [[emotion enhancement|enhance a person's current state of mind]], emotions and general perception of the world which is a process that can go in either a positive and euphoric direction or a negative, terrifying, and [[anxiety]] ridden direction. It is because of this that many substances should not be used (especially by the inexperienced) during stressful or negative periods of life and users should be fully aware of the ways in which hallucinogens and other drugs, particularly psychedelics, have been known to consistently force a person to face and directly deal with their deepest personal problems and existential anxiety (including any past trauma) that is common to all human beings.