Hi everyone,

I am new here obviously, but I need some advice. I'm going to Peru at the end of July 2012 to do Ayahuasca at a retreat with a shaman. More specifically, I'm going there to help me overcome my debilitating generalized social anxiety and depression problems. They are related. I've done a lot or research on this already so kind of know what to expect and also realize to come without expectations and go with the flow.

It seems that many of you are pretty experienced in DMT, obviously, but I also heard that the effects of smoked DMT are different from the brew.

I am planning on practicing meditation for 2 months beforehand to get the most out of my time there. I am also concerned about what will happen when I come home after the trip and falling back into old habits. I would really love any advice about this part as I'm not sure how long any insights will last.

Anyway, I am open to any advice regarding this kind or trip or tips on making the most of it. Anyone who has dealt with mental issues and was helped by this medicine would be great to hear from?

I anticipate that I may have a problem letting go during the experience as I am kind of tense a lot. Any thoughts or tips on letting go?

Thanks in advance

Well, I've never smoked it. I've only taken the brew >.>

One of the big differences is the length it lasts in you (though I'm sure they both can feel like hours, weeks, months, ect. depending on the person). Smoked it's anywhere from 30 min - 1 1/2 hours (from people I know here), and from my own experience drinking it can last anywhere from 3 - 7 hours. The after effects can go on for a long time. Drinking the brew can leave you with a nasty headache on your temples and down the center of your brain.

Tips on letting go... well, I guess my tip is just make sure to remind yourself as you're lifting off that all will be well! Another thing to keep in mind is that you're going to this place probably with an initial thought or reason, so keep that at a focus as it can really make a big difference depending on the person. Just some suggestions. I know it can be hard to tell yourself you'll be fine whilst all the stuff starts to happen to you though.

I'll give you an example of how I feel just as things start up:

This is how I feel just as I start to lift off (well sometimes anyways): My head starts to feel like it's gonna lift off my shoulders, familiar things start to feel/seem less familiar (like your bedroom would feel less like it was a place you lived in), colors have a sudden change (since you'll probably be doing this at night it wont matter so much), my body starts to feel cold, and my innards feel like they are an ice cold beverage. My body thereafter starts to feel like it's spanning and soon after it feels like I am breathing in fresh snowy mountain air and the air feels like it goes through my whole body and my body feels like its all breathing, and my body begins to feel like it's changing shape, stretching and dissolving into the air.

If you feel things like that, just remind yourself that it can be considered normal. If you feel like puking, hold off until you start to at least feel a noticeable change in the space around your body.

I think to some degree a shaman will help prepare you before you take that journey and he/she will be present with others while you go through the motions to make sure everything is going as it should.

Hope this offered some kind of explanation that may leave you with some comfort

Welcome to the Nexus!

Did you check out our health and safety section? The integration part has some good tips.

I think that if you go back to your old life and you keep everything exactly the same, it can indeed happen that you tend to fall back into at least some of the old possibly negative habits. So if I were you I would use the opportunity when you come back and change things physically so that symbolically/psychogically it can help you. Maybe moving to another home, or just adding something to your room, or also some change in your daily schedule, adding some specific thing like a new hobbie/exercise or a change in diet, whatever. Then you can somehow "anchor" yourself in the change and take together the other positive changes you want to make.

I dont know, just something that came to my mind..

As for letting go, breathing and remembering "This Too Shall Pass", detaching from judgement of things that might seem harsh or negative, is how I do usually it for myself, but you'll have to figure your own way. Youll see that holding on will just lead to more pain, letting go is the natural way.

I wish you well on dealing with the issues you have to deal with. Maybe ayahuasca will give you want you want, but maybe it will give you something else entirely. Regardless, your path will continue once youre back, and I hope you keep strong in it, always learning, always trying to be more aware.

See you around!

Hi there!

Welcome to the forum! Ayahuhuasca can help give you a chance to experience things without judgement. The idea is that you can face the facts without the ego getting in the way and stopping it. The best thing to do is just let go, and go with the Ayahuasca thing. Leave your homelife behind, make the most of getting both literal distance and Aya distance. Make notes, and write those insights down on paper before they vanish. Then make it happen!

Ayahuasca is only part of the medicine, the rest of it is you through your ACTIONS. Nothing changes untill you actually do something about it.

-The answer to social anxiety and depression is to STICK to social situations and ride them out, give praise for your achievements, and keep moving onwards. Depression is something that taking positive action can overcome. Do things that work for you, and do them more often. It ain't rocket science!..Aerobics, weight training, bars and discos, travelling, out and about, chatting to strangers, making small talk...all good fun!