Take a moment to travel back in time to the 1950s, when LSD research is rife. In order to better understand how this mind-altering substance affects the brain and body, scientists are conducting studies on it.
But puzzling results start to surface. Participants in some research report anxiety-fueled paranoia, while in others they report glowing wholeness and tranquility. While some participants claim to have hindered thought processes, others claim to have sharper cognitive abilities. Some people can’t wait to have the same experience again, while others promise never to do it again.
How can one substance cause such a wide range of reactions?
These striking changes were attributed by early psychedelic researchers to set and setting, or your state of mind and surrounding circumstances throughout the trip. This research was put on hold, however, by the widespread criminalization of psychedelics in the 1960s.
These days, a new group of academics is examining this phenomena and trying to figure out how much set and environment affect how a person reacts to drugs. Can a substance’s effects be distinguished from the environment in which they are consumed?
What do setting and set mean?
Timothy Leary, a Harvard psychologist, coined the phrase “set and setting,” arguing that psychedelic substances had the effect of a magnifying glass on one’s consciousness.
Leary characterized a person’s set, or mindset, as their personality, level of experience preparation, anticipation, and goal when ingesting psychedelics. Setting describes the setting in which a psychedelic experience occurs.
According to the set and setting principle, non-pharmacological factors have a significant impact on how certain medications affect their users.
studies on the setting and set in psychedelics
With the advent of LSD research in the 1950s and 1960s, a growing understanding of set and setting emerged. Researchers studying psychedelics saw how disparate study findings were highly connected with seemingly insignificant characteristics. The severity of adverse effects during an LSD trip was exacerbated by anything as small as changing a staff member’s approach toward a patient from warm and friendly to cold and impersonal.
The experiences of the individuals were also impacted by other adjustments. Patients who were required to complete tests experienced worse side effects from the medication. On the other hand, people who had more control over their activities reported happier outcomes. Additionally, LSD trips were more likely to be upbeat in familiar environments versus uneasy and anxious in unfamiliar ones.
In the late 1950s, pioneering LSD researchers and therapists started to actively apply this information, increasing the setting and atmosphere in studies using calming music, candles, and flowers. They also helped patients develop goals for their travels and thoroughly prepared them for the experience.
The effects of a substance might be enhanced or diminished by these intangible aspects, which include how a person feels about using a substance. There is a growing understanding that the ideal setting can maximize psychedelic benefits and reduce negative effects.
Set and setting, however, don’t just apply to psychedelics. There is evidence that setting and set may affect how users of various drugs, including alcohol, cocaine, Ritalin, and cannabis, perceive such drugs.
Cannabis, setting, and set
Although the concept of set and setting has its roots in psychedelic science, many cannabis users and experts contend that it also applies to cannabis, even if there is less study on set and setting’s impact on cannabis.
In a study of 97 baby boomer cannabis users, the majority of individuals used setting and set to exercise restraint and reduce risks. Others abstained from cannabis use in public to avoid emotions of worry or paranoia about being judged or detained by authorities, enhancing setting. Some people avoided consuming marijuana when they felt down, improving mentality.
“Cannabinoids can have the effect of amplifying the chemical pleasure molecules already circulating around,” said Dr. Ben Caplan, cannabis clinician and Chief Medical Officer at CED Clinic and eo care. “If you’re enjoying cannabis while relaxing alone or amid the joy of laughter with friends, cannabinoids can have the effect.” On the other hand, cannabis products can just as easily intensify the unpleasant if the body is already overflowing with anxiety, stress, or pessimism.
Caplan pointed out that getting set up correctly is very important for cannabis beginners. He added that the set isn’t simply psychological; it may also affect the reality of the physical world. A person’s attitude sets off a series of physiological reactions in the body that cause them to physically and emotionally react to their environment.
In addition to making you feel uneasy, smoking marijuana while you’re tense or upset can also make you feel jittery and cause your heart rate to elevate.
Cannabis, according to Caplan, is a spice cupboard full of potential for great experiences, but when combined with negativity or pessimism, it can still produce a very unpleasant experience. On the other hand, for someone with a positive outlook, cannabis’ chemical effects can amplify those positive sentiments, making them even more enjoyable and delightful.
The advantages of setup
Utilizing set and setting may result in improved treatment outcomes in addition to enhancing your chances of having a positive experience. Regardless of whether you use psychedelics or cannabis, setting awareness may be the key to triggering potent and fulfilling experiences.
According to reports from psychedelic researchers, good circumstances are probably a factor in successful outcomes. Two weeks after having a peak experience, which is a transforming moment characterized by amazement, wonder, or exhilaration, psychological well-being has been shown to improve.
Challenging psychedelic experiences can be helpful, but only if the person gives themselves time to analyze their feelings and personal discoveries afterward—indicating the importance of mentality.
Additionally, it seems that music enhances wellbeing. A 2018 study indicated that the music patients listened to during a psilocybin session favorably improved their experience. Participants reported that listening to music carried them into a variety of psychological landscapes where they might otherwise have been afraid to go. They described music as a source of direction and foundation. One week after the session, depression reductions were significantly predicted by positive music experiences.
How to use psychedelics to create a happy environment
Experienced psychonaut Winston Peki, chief editor of Herbonaut, has traveled with psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca numerous times. He claimed that due to the power of the hallucinogenic experience, using psychedelics in the proper environment is essential.
“You can become more terrified the more you try to control the experience,” he stated. The greatest attitude for using psychedelics is to give in to the experience and let go of any attempts at control.
Peki added that creating the ideal sensory environment will improve a psychedelic experience. He claimed that listening to upbeat music will “color your experience and emotions towards the uplifting side.” “Visuals are the same. similar to odors.
Trips in serene, tranquil areas might also be beneficial. Many psychonauts advise taking trips outside, but stay away from public parks, or in a comfortable space with plush furniture and cheering colors.
Your experience will be more chaotic the more chaotic your environment is, Peki stated. “This is a key one—you want to reduce unanticipated external stimuli because the psychedelic experience itself may be extremely overpowering,” she said.
It’s also a good idea to mentally prepare yourself for the loss of control or eventual ego death. Having specific goals can be beneficial as well. Peki added, “Contemplation also helps a lot. Get clear for yourself what the objective of this psychedelic trip is, what your intention is, and what you would like to process.
