I've recently started trying Changa (40% DMT) - previous psychedelic experiences limited to LSD (~20 trips), not counting weed (10 years, love it but never felt that psychedelic to me) or MDMA (only a few times, again didn't feel psychedelic at all).

Biggest question is... when I smoke, I feel this pressure building in my head. It's uncomfortable but not exactly painful... it feels like there's a build up of blood pressure. Don't know if that's the actual cause, or just my imagination. But it distracts me - I don't generally get anxious on any drugs, but I find it hard not to keep thinking "is this OK? Is it OK to smoke more?"

I'm only smoking in joints (either on its own or with a little tobacco) - I don't have any pipes/bongs around and since I've quit weed, and am soon moving somewhere where I won't be able to smoke anything indoors, I can't really be bothered to go buy anything.

Typically I aim for 100mg - 150mg of changa (40-60mg DMT) to get through, knowing that some of it will burn off in between tokes. But the pressure comes pretty much with the first effects, within 10-20 seconds.

I also get slight shortness of breath, but I think this is related to anxiety caused by the feeling in my head - I can deal with this no problem just by taking long slow breaths (same as I've dealt with anxiety the couple of times I overdid coke and weed at the same time...)

I've never broken through... the strongest experience so far (I've only done it 3 times) the room around me started pulsating and changing colors a bit, but it was mostly visual... visually it felt like a really strong acid trip to me, but mentally not much happened. And I was very aware all the time of what I was doing / why I was seeing things.

What I would like is.... either to be able to enjoy those sorts of visuals without a.) the nuisance of physical issues and b.) therefore worrying about them during the trip and/or to be able to break through.

Can anyone give any advice at all? Thanks

Pressure on/in the head or eyes is pretty common. Its one of the first things that stands out, apart from the geometrics/patterns. If the dose is high enough you stop noticing it soon after you hit the right threshold.

Cant say anything about the shortness of breath, havent experienced it. Perhaps it is indeed related to anxiety. Try mixing in some relaxing herbs or taking them just before.

Thanks, nice to know it's not just me

The breathing does sound like it's from anxiety, as for pressure I get it sometimes, it could be in the middle of my forehead, on top my head, even had it in my back and arm. I just relax close my eyes and let it do its thing, very rarely do I keep my eyes open, much more interesting stuff going on behind the eyelids. But for pressure issue I just figured this was caused by a slight spike in blood pressure during the fast onset. This may or may not be what's happening I just figured it was. Now it doesn't happen much and if it does by the time I realize it I'm toast and don't even know I'm breathing.

Yeah pretty sure it was anxiety, smoking it since I stopped worrying if the pressure was normal and breathing isn't a problem. Thx