If someone is suffering from depression, would they increase their chances of having a bad trip?

I'm not sure what kind of state of mind someone should be in before taking DMT.

It is possible to increase the chances, but it depends how bad your mindset is. If you go in with open mind, and with not to many expectations DMT can work with you in a gentle way or a brute force way. It depends on the person.

DMT can be a deeply healing tool. There has been discussions about what is a BAD Trip. I tend to agree with the side of the thought that there isn't really any BAD trips but just UNCOMFORTABLE trips. My most healing trips have been slightly uncomfortable but they were just that for a reason. They peal back the veil of us and get to the meat of who we truly are. By facing some of the stuff that clogs us up at times being humans can be very rewarding.

Its easier said then done but try not let fear of a Uncomfortable trip hold you back unless you mind is in a really dark place and your in no mood to sort some deeply personal things out. Just my opinion and I wish you the best of luck.

I deal with a bit of depression, most of the time nothing unmanageable. I have used DMT while depressed, and most of the time it's just meh. Some times it has taken me to a completely different mindset and dissolved my depression, at least for a time.

I think as long as it's not serious depression, it's safe for some lower end DMT use. I can't really say as far as break through doses, though. Sub breakthrough doses have been quite therapeutic for me at times.

its possible

although there are countless folks, including myself, whose depression was greatly helped through careful psychedelic use and integration. even just low doses of changa put me in the most giddy, loving, and positive mood. i think a lot of other aspects of ones lifestyle go into using them for that. but i do think psychedelics can do amazing things for depression

if you choose to try it, maybe just start off with a low dose of changa out in nature somewhere beautiful and safe...and don't forget to smile, it helps tremendously

Also, you may have a "rough" trip that isn't necessarily bad, but an important part of your personal growth..it could just be rough in the sense that it shows you a reflection of aspects of yourself...aspects of you and the world that you have neglected and need to face. Longer lasting experiences lend themselves better for that kind of work though, in some respects at least

Now i haven't tried DMT but I think that with psychedelics in general, depression can add to or help bring about a bad trip. I really began to use psychedelics often during a time when I was quite depressed and after I guess what I would call the closest thing I've ever had to a bad trip, I realized I had become a person I didnt want to be. I think It depends a lot on your mindset and since then I have improved my mindset and continued to trip. If i had anything I could add to help really i'd say not to over worry about a bad trip and if you find yourself thinking negative thoughts or something just try to think about something else.

I think psychedelics can dig up anything you carry with you, from your birth trauma to your current depression. They can make you confront it, and this can be quite painful at times. Doesn't have to be a bad trip though.

I would say a bad trip is a trip where you come back feeling worse than before. Otherwise it's just a difficult one.

But bad trips do exist. They are rare, but they exist. I think what really causes a difficult experience to turn into a bad one is ones own unwillingness to let go of something or to change something that is obviously hurting you or to accept something.

I don't know of any statistics linking bad trips to depression. So I can't say if it will make it more probable. I think what one should ask oneself is, what happens if I come out feeling even worse than now? With no answers. If you can stomach it then maybe it's worth a try. If not, well, wait a bit till you are feeling better - or rather until you know you are ready to change.

I have taken DMT only in form of Ayahuasca with Shamans, and i would definatly say that it helps fighting depression/anxiety. Its IMHO the best medicine for that.

I think it's the best psychedelic to use when dealing with depression, because the trip is so short and so intense. LSD and mushrooms, especially in lower doses, can leave in you in a limbo for hours, giving you lots of time to ruminate on the bad stuff, while taking away some of your defenses.

I would add that it is important to allow a period for reintegration after a major psychedelic journey, something many people tend to ignore. If you go somewhere very deep and then the very next morning are off to work/school/etc as usual I think you miss the opportunity to really deal with what your experience is telling you. Maybe this isn't as big of a deal with something short acting liked smoked DMT as with ayahuasca, mushrooms or acid, etc. but if you have any anxiety at all about this going in, I recommend you schedule the next day free of obligations.

A walk in the woods the next morning can do wonders.

If that someone suffers from severe chronic depression (and possibly diagnosed), and knows (or thinks) that someone closely related (parents, grand-parents) suffered/suffers from chronic depression, he/she would be advised to not take the risk at all.

Important: if this someone is taking SSRIs or any serotonin increasing medication, and insists on trying it, they are advised to look into reducing their dosage (if it is wise) before engaging DMT, unless they know the medication/dosage is mild.

Actually I thought that SSRI´s and the like decrease the Spice´s effects because there aren´t that much free Binding Sites it can bind to. Taking an MAOI would be another Storie.

But anyhow, I would strongly advise against it. While Psychedelics can heal, this is mostly under supervision or guided tripping or with experience on the substance. When vaporizing, anything can happen. This is no Psychotherapie. I would recommend to get somewhat stable before trying Spice.

DMT trips have a fascinating unpredictableness to them. At least for me they do.

I admit that going into them with idealized sets and settings really does seem to help. BUT, going into it having felt a bit depressed and moody lately, more often than not, I find the dose to be very curative and healing. Perhaps it's the blast to my serotonin receptors (& others) - I do not know.

But, I'm not talking major clinical depression here. Nor am I talking about doing it while being on powerful mood altering prescriptions. In this case, I just do not know and would advise deep caution and like universecannon, keeping doses low.

Also perhaps worth noting, I find that a very very weak LSD dose, like in the 15-30 microgram range, can destroy depressed feelings and paste an authentic smile on my face all day, as well as leave me feeling cheerful for about a week after. Again, perhaps I just get a neurotransmitter blast, I don't know. I just know it works for me.

You'll never know unless you try. I would suggest trying very small amounts and finding your comfort zone if you have concerns, ease into it, there is no rush.

It is not the effects or the lack thereof that would be worriesome, but the significant excess of serotonin, risking a serotonin syndrome. The mechanism of inhibiting the oxidation of amines (MAOi) is much milder than the effects of SSRIs (and tricyclics for that matter).

By today's lack of research on this topic, SSRIs and tricyclics should be avoided with DMT.

The only bad trips I've had on DMT occurred when I was in a funk. I dont suffer much from depression, but from time to time have anxiety issues. My advice is to enter hyperspace in a good mental space.

Thanks for the replies guys. This was helpful.

..it go either way..if used in a sensitive set and setting, without intrusion or stress afterwards, or the next day..and in combination with good diet, in some people..i don't think long term depression is a factor..
but, any kind of immediate trauma, stress, interruption, SSRI medication, junk food other drugs etc immediately before and afterwards can create a lot of stress..short-term that is..

it's hard to have a blanket answer for everyone (like Pandora and others say) ..but it's almost certainly not going to induce or worsen long term depression..
DMT is more 'perceptual'/'psyche' orientated, not mood-altering, although it certainly alters the short term mood depending on experience..

but one person's bad trip is another's 'teaching'..interpreting an experience and the affect it has on one is more 'karmic' i think than health driven..