Slight digression, I realized the other day that people who do drugs have some massive balls. My friends have had a shitload of bad trips and still continue to do drugs like it was nothing. I can't really figure out why (other than the good trips of course but some bad marijuana trips were almost enough to stop me from smoking it); either they're not afraid of anything or they just like to laugh at fear in the face (that sounded smarter when I was high). Either way, I've gained new respect for them. I felt kind of embarrassed when they were trying to convince me to do the acid and reassure me everything was going to be ok.

Since you're here, I've read about your bad trips, and I figure you've had plenty of others you haven't mentioned. So, why do you (still) do drugs, and how do you deal with fear (or have dealt with it) (if you ever had or still have any)?

The question goes to anyone else in this thread.

I like to embrace the unknown. I like to be reminded that every little detail in the way my consciousness works without any drug is so fragile and contained that it is a miracle it works at all. I smoke plenty of bud in party situations, but psychedelics are more important than that for me. They are not meant to be partied with, but to be taken seriously as educational tools. I don't support people taking them unless they can approach it with a similar mindset. Underestimating a drug is the best way to get a freak out.

Bad marijuana trips? What the hell kind of weed are you smoking?

I've only tried weed once, at a party. I had already had eight beers and was quite drunk. My friend who smokes all the time, this girl who smokes alot that I met at the party, and another of my friends(a first timer too), shared a small-medium joint. I probably smoked the most, maybe half the joint, and the smoking friend and the girl said I held it in quite well.

The smoking friend said I would probably get high, but I didn't feel any different than before. I'm wondering if I didn't take enough or if the beer masked the effects somehow. If it's the former how much would it take to get high?

That usually happens when MJ causes an anxiety attack in anxiety-prone people. Happened to me a lot when I smoked really good weed. It's one of the reasons I stopped doing it altogether. It would just make you feel like you were going insane.

I always drew a parallel between that and bad acid/shroom trips, although they were a lot more intense... but still caused by the same issue, so there was the same tone.

Weird. I can't say I've ever experienced that or known anyone else who has either. I've known a couple people who get mildly paranoid or whatever, but nothing serious like you're describing.

Yea, it would be the difference between mild paranoia and a full-on anxiety attack.

you didn't inhale properly. after you hit it, keep breathing in for 10sec or so then hold for as long as you can comfortably. don't forget to exhale.

I dunno man... I didn't get noticeably "high" my first time because I had absolutely no idea what "high" was. I had nothing to relate to. I remember feeling different, but I didn't know if that was the weed or if I was expecting something so much that I was fooling myself into the wrong thing.

The second time, was better. I think the third time I did it I really began to figure out what to expect and to appreciate those effects.

Then, years and years later...

yep, you learned how to inhale. i don't think it is something you have to train your brain to be aware of.