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Please support us by disabling your ad blocker on our site., netflix's 'bad trip' packs a whole lot of chaos in 90 minutes, this hidden–camera prank comedy will have you at the edge of your seat—and then falling off of it from laughter..

Watch one episode of The Eric Andre Show , and you’ll see just how much comedic chaos one man can bring into the world. A master of jokes and pranks, Eric Andre spends his screen time interviewing celebrities and celebrity impersonators, shocking innocent civilians, partaking in what producers describe as “deranged” man–on–the–street segments, and wreaking havoc in the studio. 

Bad Trip , a recent Netflix release starring Andre, as well as actors and comics Lil Rel Howery , Michaela Conlin , and Tiffany Haddish , challenged Andre to produce and stick to a narrative storyline—rather than just unrelated jokes. The film follows best friends Chris Carey, played by Andre, and Bud Malone, played by Howery, as they travel from Florida to New York in order to meet up with Carey’s high school crush Maria Li, played by Conlin. Along the way, hidden cameras capture increasingly absurd pranks the cast plays on the public. The result is an adrenaline–inducing, entirely unpredictable comedy.

In line with his on–screen persona, which likely reflects his real–life demeanor, Andre is known to be anything but cooperative in real–life interviews . However, Street had the opportunity to interview him, Howery, and Conlin in a Zoom roundtable event, where he provided some insight into what happened behind the scenes. In true Andre fashion, he still brought some mischief to the event: At one point he changed his Zoom background to a screenshot of another interviewer, and later to a photo of Carole Baskin .

Andre cited Johnny Knoxville , Jeff Tremain e , and Sacha Baron Cohen as his “comedy forefathers,” with some of these comics even helping brainstorm on set. His own brand of absurd humor differentiates him from his inspirations, however. Andre stated that he's excited that Bad Trip is the first hidden–camera prank movie with a cast that consists entirely of people of color—making it a significant milestone in the comedy world.

Andre also touched on the process of getting comfortable doing hidden–camera pranks. “My organs used to sweat from nerves,” he says. 

However, Andre’s been doing this kind of thing for years. He spoke on how Howery and Conlin were the ones truly “thrown into the fire pit,” quite literally going “from zero to a hundred." 

According to the cast, Howery’s first hidden camera prank was a scene involving a Chinese finger trap. Let’s just say that fingers were not the objects stuck in the bamboo tube. He and Andre entered a barbershop to ask for help, and the shop owner pulled a knife on them. “He almost got murdered on his first day,” Andre says while chuckling. 

As for Conlin, Andre and his fellow producers dragged her to a mall for her audition. They had her pretend to beat up director Kitao Sakurai in front of several clothing store clerks. Conlin and Andre cracked up while reminiscing. They didn’t even film said audition—they just wanted her to see what it felt like. She did so well that she got the part immediately.

Producing Bad Trip further pushed Andre to expand his skills beyond his usual comfort zone of off–the–cuff comedy. In order to understand and utilize storytelling principles for the first time, he had to go back to school: He and his writers attended Robert McKee seminars and read Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat! , as well as Syd Field’s Screenplay . 

With the narrative underway, it was time to focus on the main event—the pranks. When asked about balancing shock factor with the morality of pranking unsuspecting bystanders, Andre pinpointed the fine line between “good bad taste” and “bad bad taste.” Of course you want to be provocative, but dancing on the edge can often lead to being unethical. 

“Comedy is a game of millimeters,” he says, “so you’re always checking in with your barometer—but there’s never malicious intent.” Conlin chimed in to say that the prankees were typically kind and helpful, both during and after the pranks. Giggling, she shared that one woman whispered calmly in her ear that “everything will be okay.”

Even more hilariously, a diner scene that made it into the final cut depicts Andre and Howery sitting at a table and chatting up their waitress. She ends up giving them relationship advice, saying that she’s “slept with all different genders and genres,” and essentially recounting her entire sexual history. 

Though the majority of the prankees you see in the movie are randomly selected, unsuspecting strangers, there were a few willing participants on set. Conlin, Andre, and Howery made it very clear that in a scene where Conlin’s character, Maria, beats up a blind man, he’s not actually blind. 

“He was a very strange stuntman who was blessed with his own special set of skills," Andre says.

If this famous cast was constantly interacting with new people, how did they not get recognized? Howery says it was rarely an issue, especially since Andre tends to pick the right parks. He avoided his demographic of college kids and skateboarders, and instead opted for “40–and–up moms who had a long day.” He also mentioned that they changed their looks, which helped a lot. Howery’s “mustache and civil–rights–attorney hair” as his character, Bud Malone, strayed far from his everyday drip. 

Even when they did get recognized, the cast played it cool. Howery shared that during a prank at the zoo, a woman approached him to say that he looked a bit like Lil Rel Howery. “Yeah, I get that all the time,” he replied. “Anyway, what’s going on with that gorilla?” It totally worked.

Staying in character is absolutely crucial for these kinds of pranks. If you waver for even a second, the prank fails, because you’re relying on the prankees to be utterly shocked. If they suspect that something is up, their reactions won’t be raw. 

Andre says that the sheer pressure forced him and the cast to commit to the act, and they hyped one another up throughout filming. Without giving too much away, there’s a scene wherein a gorilla does unspeakable things to Andre’s character. According to Andre, Howery stood with the onlookers, saying things like “Oh my god—my friend’s in peril! Please help him!” The two would “ping pong emotions back and forth” to really convince the audience.

As with any comedy, the funniest scenes are the bloopers; the closing credits showcase several of them. Because the crew did have to stick to a storyline, some of the pranks just didn’t fit into the narrative. Fortunately, they plan to release some of these extra scenes later on, giving us even more to look forward to. As a bit of a spoiler, Howery explained his favorite scene that didn't make the final cut: Andre’s character pretended to be possessed by the devil, and they brought in a real priest to exorcise the demon out of him. Howery kept cursing every time the priest gave him Bible verses to say, and the priest grew increasingly frustrated with him. Howery says, “It was insane. The guy really thought he was doing it. He probably saw it on T.V. and said, ‘I’m gonna become a priest.’”

Bad Trip was released on Netflix March 26, so be sure to catch a glimpse of the hysterically out–of–control journey. Buckle your seat belts and hold on tight, because it’s going to be a wild ride.

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A smoothie shop employee with butterflies in his stomach and a bleeding right hand sits next to an older gentleman on a bench. “Can I ask you something?” he prefaces. The worker then proceeds to babble about his crush, Maria. Should he follow her to New York City, and leave Florida behind? The older man offers advice—speaking from the heart—and it fills the younger man’s soul, so much that he leaps from the bench and bursts into song. It’s this young guy’s big romantic moment, and he dances away before almost getting hit by a car, and then sings at people inside a mall, in which one patron tries to side-kick him.  

This hilarious sequence, which overlaps cliché storytelling with the unassuming public, is just one of many endearing moments in “Bad Trip,” a hidden camera comedy gem starring Eric André , Lil Rel Howery , and Tiffany Haddish that’s finally coming out on Netflix. Directed by Kitao Sakurai , the previous director behind numerous episodes of “The Eric André Show,” it shows an evolution in the hidden camera subgenre, given its warming spirit about people. Unlike the films that previously defined the subgenre, it’s not so much about creating a freak show from unsuspecting extras, but in noting what one would do when confronted with someone as delusional as André’s character Chris. Natural human behavior can be extremely funny, and Sakurai and André know it’s possible to bring it out of people without being mean-spirited. Footage in the end credits of the real people excited to learn that they’re in a movie—a comfort for us as well—confirms the chaos is controlled physically and emotionally, and that allows it to be a party.    

“Bad Trip” is an excellent showcase for Eric André—it’s more mainstream than his talk-show-in-hell “The Eric André Show” and less watered down than his recent resume-boosting, commercial work like “The Lion King” and elsewhere. This role lets him scream, sprint, crash into things, and show off that he’s a sweetheart who wants to include you his absurdity. It’s no stretch to say that André is going to be a huge comedic force—I knew this when I caught his Legalize Everything stand-up tour in Chicago in 2019, when he had a sold-out Chicago Theater completely wrapped up in his FaceTime-ing with the parents of random audience members. He’s an affable anarchist with Robin Williams-like verve, and this project lets his burgeoning persona run wild alongside what the film advertises as “Real People. Real Pranks.”  

André's hilarious earnest Chris is joined in the movie by Lil Rel Howery, who would have been known enough at the time of filming from his scene-stealing turn in “ Get Out ,” but is disguised as Chris’ reserved friend Bud. They have adorable chemistry as two friends in Florida who decide to drive to New York to reunite Chris with his high school crush Maria ( Michaela Conlin ) after two disastrous brief run-ins at Eric’s jobs. They support each other, like when Chris gets extremely drunk at a cowboy bar, or Bud finds himself inside a Porta Potty. Chris is the wide-eyed dreamer, and Bud is the demure rationalist. Their chemistry is as pure as the Golden Girls, so “Thank You For Being a Friend” is featured prominently in the soundtrack, in between scenes of slapstick pranks that further their road trip.  

When Bud and Chris need a car to get to New York City, they “borrow” the bright pink Crown Vic that belongs to Bud’s sister, Trina (Tiffany Haddish), who Bud fears but is relieved when she's put in jail for breaking house arrest. And yet soon enough, Haddish crawls out from under a prison bus, having broken out and starts looking for her car. When it’s not where she stored it, she hunts Bud and Chris up the Eastern seaboard, making for some incredibly funny, abrasive scenes of her confronting people about whether they’ve seen them or her car that has “Bad Bitch” written on the window. Haddish bulldozes into every set-piece, exemplifying the film’s over-the-top spirit. When talking to progressively uncomfortable strangers, she doesn’t miss a beat and she relishes the opportunity to appear dangerous; when she steals a cop car and burns out of a donut shop parking lot, it’s one of her many triumphant moments.  

“Bad Trip” is a collision of great improvisational actors and authentically bewildered reactions from people unaware that they’re now in Chris’ story—which makes Michaela Conlin’s performance as Maria all the more an essential middle to its Venn diagram. She enters the movie also as an innocent bystander, but that’s a deceptive comic energy that plays out in very funny ways as she pushes back against Chris’ delusions. In Chris’ prank-based daydreams, Conlin matches André’s intensity; that she has to play it straight in later scenes adds to the tension she creates, like when Chris tries to profess his love to her.  

Just how funny is “Bad Trip”? After two viewings, it’s one of those comedies with a stable laughing average and high replay value, even if it doesn’t always hit you as hard. It knowingly plays a hit-and-miss game, and some scenes don’t entirely work (like a grocery store drug trip that plays out like a soft tribute to “The Eric Andre Show”), while other pranks go for discomfort more than big laughs (like when Chris gets gas springing all over a gas station). But the movie has speediness on its side, with pacing that takes the plotting from one prank to the next, often including crowds of people in the latest big dramatic confrontation that comes from Bud and Chris’ expected emotional arc. (A sudden car crash sequence is particularly well planned out, with cameras and extras ready nearby.) It’s a steady build to its ultimate destination of NYC, and every major set piece is constructed to bubble with discomfort before then skyrocketing over the top. An early scene at Chris’ smoothie shop job only begins with him making the drinks without spoons—it escalates to awkward tension with disgusted, annoyed customers, and then boom, a laugh-out-loud, gory finale that hits with impeccable, unexpected timing.  

If certain parts of “Bad Trip” aren’t as out-and-out cry-laughing as the work put into them desires, the story is still involving as it adds the dimensionality of unscripted human behavior. And it doesn’t continue the hidden camera movie’s waning intention of dunking on dummies, a factor that also makes this story more fluid than the start-and-stop traps, primed for reaction shots, in something like “Jackass”-spinoff like “Bad Grandpa.” That’s the true sweet spot, in how its pranks are engineered to get the unexpected to interact with Bud, Chris, and or Trina, and see if strangers try to help. (“You turned on us!” says Chris, after a golfer starts swinging a club at Chris and Bud while their penises are enjoined by a Chinese fingertrap.) An amazing scene comes at a tense mid-point, when Trina appears at a restaurant, spreading around fliers with Bud and Chris’ dopey faces on them, advertising her desire to kill the two. She leaves. Bud and Chris then show up at the same place minutes later, and everyone’s response, with some people trying to warn them, and others not wanting to get caught in the middle, is incredible. “Bad Trip” knows how to stir things up, and its funniest scenes often involve real people getting in the mix, tested by the brilliant skills of André, Howery, and Haddish. The ways that some people react to their pranks might shock you in some ways, and absolutely will not in others.  

Now available on Netflix.

Nick Allen is the former Senior Editor at RogerEbert.com and a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

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Bad Trip (2021)

Rated R for crude sexual content, pervasive language, some graphic nudity and drug use.

Eric André as Chris

Lil Rel Howery as Bud

Tiffany Haddish as Trina Malone

Michaela Conlin as Maria Li

• Kitao Sakurai

Writer (story)

• Andrew Barchilon

Cinematographer

• Andrew Laboy
• Sascha Stanton Craven
• Matthew Kosinski
• Caleb Swyers
• Ludwig Göransson
• Joseph Shirley

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• Cast & crew
• User reviews

This mix of a scripted buddy comedy road movie and a real hidden camera prank show follows the outrageous misadventures of two buds stuck in a rut who embark on a cross-country road trip to ... Read all This mix of a scripted buddy comedy road movie and a real hidden camera prank show follows the outrageous misadventures of two buds stuck in a rut who embark on a cross-country road trip to NYC. The storyline sets up shocking real pranks. This mix of a scripted buddy comedy road movie and a real hidden camera prank show follows the outrageous misadventures of two buds stuck in a rut who embark on a cross-country road trip to NYC. The storyline sets up shocking real pranks.

• Kitao Sakurai
• Andrew Barchilon
• Michaela Conlin
• Lil Rel Howery
• 273 User reviews
• 57 Critic reviews
• 61 Metascore
• 1 nomination

• Chris Carey

• Trina Malone

• (as Cory Demeyers)

• Maria's Father

• (as Greg Smithaldridge)

• Joseph Stalin
• Ballroom Dancer
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Sacha Baron Cohen gave advice and input after he was shown an early cut of the film.
• Goofs A cameraman is clearly visible in the crowd during the puke scene in the Electric Cowboy bar.

Chris Carey : Chris Carey! From high school biology class! You know, Crazy Chris?

Maria Li : Um...

Chris Carey : Retard Chris?

Maria Li : Oh!

Chris Carey : Yeah! How the hell are you?

• Crazy credits The end credits show moments when extras in pivotal scenes find out that they were part of a film and that absurdity of what they just witnessed was not real. Also deleted scenes and alternate takes of certain scenes are shown throughout the remainder of the credits.
• Connections Featured in Half in the Bag: 2021 Movie Catch-Up (part 1 of 2) (2022)
• Soundtracks Soul on Top Written by Boca 45 (as Scott Hendy) & Louis Baker Performed by Boca 45 Courtesy of Mass Appeal Records

User reviews 273

• ElliotTharme
• Jun 21, 2020
• How long is Bad Trip? Powered by Alexa
• March 26, 2021 (United States)
• United States
• Netflix Site
• Chuyến Đi Siêu Quậy
• Georgia, USA
• Orion Pictures
• BRON Studios
• Creative Wealth Media Finance
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 26 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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Eric Andre and Lil Rel Howery reveal the secrets behind Bad Trip ’s boldest pranks

Longtime fans of Eric Andre and his brand of anarchic, ranch-friendly comedy   might be surprised by his ne w hidden-camera movie Bad Trip , which premiered on Netflix on March 26 after a year-long delay . While the semi-scripted comedy puts Andre (and his game co-stars Lil Rel Howery and Tiffany Haddish) at the center of ridiculous The Eric Andre Show -esque public stunts, it isn’t just a 90-minute onslaught of pranks; there’s a method to the madness—in the form of a loose road trip storyline—and an unexpected amount of heart. In essence, Bad Trip is a story about friendship, putting longtime pals Chris and Bud (Andre and Howery, respectively) through the ringer, testing their loyalty with gorilla attacks, high-speed car accidents, and one indestructible finger trap. Along the way, real, unsuspecting people lay witness to their antics, and Bad Trip ’s funniest moments come from bystanders’ natural reactions to what’s unfolding in front of them, whether that’s with genuine concern and sweetness, or with a knife.

“The movie shows the Good Samaritan nature in people,” Andre told The A.V. Club , commenting that Bad Trip ’s jokes are never at the expense of its unaware non-actors. But that doesn’t mean that everyone reacted to Andre and Howery with a sense of level-headedness—as it turns out, one stunt in particular almost got them killed. “That was Rel’s first day of filming... So, Rel was like, ‘I quit! You’re going to get me fucking killed. This is reckless!’” That’s just one of the surprising things The A.V. Club learned when Eric Andre and Lil Rel Howery took us behind the scenes of some of Bad Trip ’s biggest comedic set pieces. Below, the actors break down some of the movie’s boldest pranks and reveal how they (along with director Kitao Sakurai) pulled them off, all while not getting recognized by fans.

On Bad Trip’ s   approach to the hidden camera genre

Early on in Bad Trip , Andre’s Chris beaks out into a full-on musical number at a mall to profess his love for longtime crush, Maria (Michaela Conlin). The moment is meant to be disruptive and annoying, but most bystanders react with a bewildered amusement, and one particularly memorable old man goes so far as to make excuses for Chris: “He’s in love!”

A movie is a different medium than an 11-minute Adult Swim show. In a movie, to get an audience across 90 minutes of footage, your character has to be likable. You have to empathize and sympathize with the lead. —Eric Andre

On the “dick trap” prank that almost got them killed

Near Bad Trip ’s midpoint, Chris and Bud make a drugged-out detour at a grocery store, only to wake up the next morning with their dicks stuck in either end of a novelty finger trap. What ensues is a frenzied attempt to escape, enlisting nearby people for help, including an enraged barbershop owner who pulled a knife on the duo on their first day filming together.

The first day was when we almost got murdered. So, when that happened the first day, it was like—I remember calling my whole team. I called Tiffany [Haddish]. I was like, ‘I’m afraid for my life! I’m an actor!’ That’s the first time I ever called myself an actor. [Laughs.] —Lil Rel Howery

On what you didn’t see during the Electric Cowboy scenes

An earlier pit stop sees Chris and Bud cutting loose at a bar called Electric Cowboy. Chris eventually gets so drunk he falls off the bar, and another prank involves a steady stream of fake urine. Andre and Howery admitted that drunk non-actors only made things more unpredictable, and shared that there was a safe word to keep things from getting too out of hand—if only Andre could remember it:

So, it turns out this guy [at the bar] owned like a chain of strip clubs or something. He was dressed like a Russian mobster. We saw him come in the bar, and he sat down and was loud and talking shit. And I could just tell he was trouble in the best way. —Eric Andre

On making people believe the gorilla attack was real

One of Bad Trip ’s most ambitious stunts has Andre’s Chris sneaking into an exhibit at the zoo for a photo, only to be attacked (and then some) by an angry gorilla. For safety—and other obvious reasons—the gorilla was an actor in a costume, meaning the crew had to go the extra mile to make sure zoo-goers believed it was real. For the scene, Howery played a crucial role, helping coax reactions out of people, and getting them to buy into the absurdity.

While [Andre’s getting attacked], I had to make it real. They had to believe it, the emotion part of it. And they bought into it, man. Like that’s one of the only times I tried not to laugh. To them, it was real, it was crazy. It looked like I’m crying, but I’m really crying laughing. —Lil Rel Howery

On getting recognized by fans

No matter where they were, Andre, Howery, and Tiffany Haddish always ran the risk of being spotted by fans. After years of doing pranks for The Eric Andre Show , Andre knew the secret to going unrecognized: Know your audience.

We had it down to a science, basically, like we would make sure that we were pranking people over 40. I mean, that goes a long way. But most of my fans skew younger. But, you know, we’d get busted every once in a while. —Eric Andre

On pulling off that climactic rooftop stunt

Hot on Chris and Bud’s trail most of the movie, Tiffany Haddish’s Trina finally catches up to them at a New York art gallery. After a quick squabble inside, Trina takes Chris to the roof where she dangles him off the side—conveniently located across from people in line at a taco truck. Andre explained how a hidden rig kept him safe, and revealed how they’d often get unsuspecting bystanders to Bad Trip ’s filming locations.

As they’re all ordering tacos, I quietly snuck off the roof [in the rig] and Tiffany’s mimicking like she’s holding me. As soon as we’re in position—which only took like 10 seconds—I yelled for help. So everybody turns around and it’s like the shocking, jarring thing. —Eric Andre

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Movie Review: Bad Trip (2021)

• Maxance Vincent
• Movie Reviews
• --> March 28, 2021

2021 has been an incredible year for absurdist comedies that push the boundaries of socially acceptable humor to the extremes. Josh Greenbaum’s “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” is still the funniest (and best) film of the year (so far), but there’s a new competitor in town that dares to go back to the hidden camera pranks of MTV’s “Jackass” era: Bad Trip . Co-produced by “Jackass” filmmaker Jeff Tremaine and directed by “The Eric Andre Show” helmer Kitao Sakurai, Bad Trip contains some of the funniest hidden camera pranks since 2002’s “Jackass: The Movie,” with an extra level of authenticity that’s never been truly reached before.

The film’s framing device is rather simple: Chris (Eric André, “ Rough Night ”) rekindles with the high-school love of his life, Maria Li (Michaela Conlin, “ Enchanted ”) while working at a smoothie shop, which prompts him to go on a road trip to New York City with his best friend, Bud (Lil Rel Howery, “ Get Out ”), to go after Maria. They embark in Bud’s sister Trina’s (Tiffany Haddish, “ Nobody’s Fool ”) stolen car without knowing that she recently broke out of prison and is currently on the lookout for them.

The “road trip” device serves as a quasi-excuse for André, Howery, and Haddish to prank real people without ever being afraid of pushing it to the extremes. And this is what makes Bad Trip particularly funny: Seeing Eric André and others perform exuberant acts of total “shock-slapstick” comedy for a completely impervious public and always going the extra mile to make every situation as uncomfortable as possible. For example, Chris works at a smoothie shop, with a total disregard of basic hygiene protocols (this is particularly timely in the COVID era we currently live in) and, after seeing “the love of his life” for the first time in a year, accidentally puts his hand in a blender which begins to splatter out *lots* of blood. The timing is impeccable, especially when the hidden cameras brilliantly capture the customers’ natural reactions of pure disgust and, finally, shock. And this bit only gives a taste of what’s to come, with the pranks becoming more elaborate (and sometimes reaching downright terrifying levels of comedy) as the film moves along.

Eric André is, in my opinion, one of the funniest comedians living today — and continues to prove his dynamite timing with this film. This feels like a movie especially crafted for him (and his friends) to showcase just how talented he is at not only physical comedy, but also improvisation. Many of the sequences with real people aren’t scripted, and André’s quick-thinking makes him shine in almost every single one of these scenes. This is most evident because the film’s scripted scenes that supposedly “move the plot forward” are incredibly dull and uninspired to watch. Of course, you’re not going to watch Bad Trip for the plot — chances are you’re watching the movie for André and Sakurai’s skills at revitalizing a (seemingly) long-dead sub-genre of comedy, which is fine, but the plot should’ve still been more polished and feel less rushed.

Also, running at almost 79-minutes without credits, the movie doesn’t have enough time to properly develop character depth or the relationships between Chris, Bud, and Trina effectively, forgoing that to go to the “good stuff” quickly. It’s safe to say, if you want your audience to truly immerse themselves to not only the insane hidden-camera sequences Sakurai and André put on display, it helps to have compelling characters. Without them, the hidden-camera sequences feel completely detached from the alleged story piecing it all together.

Still, Bad Trip begs to be experienced. It brilliantly recaptures the unflinching insanity of Jeff Tremaine’s “Jackass” triptych whilst reaching new levels of stranger participation and authenticity Tremaine’s films were never able to achieve. Put the poorly-developed story aside and have fun with Kitao Sakurai’s boundary-pushing comedy that’s sure to elicit an insane amount of laughter . . . though be warned of its audacity to shock with many gross-out sequences. If you loved “Jackass,” you will absolutely adore Bad Trip . Take the plunge on Netflix — you will most certainly not regret it.

Tagged: friends , New York City , pranksters , road trip , sister

Freelance film critic based in Montreal, Québec, with an interest in everything genre cinema has to offer. Follow me on twitter @MaxFromQuebec.

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Review: It’s only a ‘Bad Trip’ if it doesn’t make you laugh

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The thing about critiquing almost any comedian is that you will inevitably find yourself coming up against avid (if not rabid) fans insistent that you just don’t “get” the work. Eric Andre in particular, with his trademark Dadaist impulses and penchant for all things uncomfortably nude, is undoubtedly one of those figures. Those who enjoy his surreal and animated style of laughs will be quick to defend the comedian, citing his ability to deconstruct staid notions of late-night television and bland stand-up with his long-running Adult Swim series “The Eric Andre Show.”

On the other hand, his detractors would rightfully point to Andre’s history of transphobic, fatphobic, and myriad other jokes which serve only to punch down at certain individuals who, one might argue, have already been punched down on enough.

Which is why “Bad Trip,” the long-awaited hidden-camera comedy flick helmed by long-time “Eric Andre Show” director Kitao Sakurai , is such a curious film. Ostensibly a buddy road movie following Chris Carey (Andre, also a co-writer) and best friend Bud Malone (Lil Rel Howery) as they travel cross-country to New York, “Bad Trip” seems to be aware of these criticisms of Andre and the way in which they would be further visible in a wide-release movie (now launching on Netflix ). The jump from Adult Swim to feature film has been accompanied by a watering down of Andre’s unpredictable absurdities and instead offers a much more conventional approach to its prankster schematics.

The laughs are certainly there, but Andre’s almost trademark sense of intentional derangement is missing and in many ways, this is one of his strengths as a performer. Sure, there are the juvenile gags that form many of the film’s comedic centerpieces — a scene involving boisterous gorilla sex comes to mind as one of several moments that attempts to tap into Andre’s chaotic energy but fizzles out, leaving instead the bad taste of an obvious, if not adolescent, bit. While for some this style of failure might only deepen their appreciation for Andre and the ways in which they view him as a sort of anti-comedian, it’s also imperative to remember that the phrase anti-comedy should not act as a synonym for shallow, empty or thoughtless.

The film loosely entwines its real-world pranks with an overarching story that knows itself to be a farce, but can’t help but be burdened by its halfhearted tries at sincerity. Andre is not a strong enough actor to pull this particular positioning off but then again, that is anything but the point here. Even within that, the slack nature of “Bad Trip’s” premise is enough to put in higher relief both the successes and failures of the comedy’s gags. The former has a sharp ability to see the innately comedic textures of humanity (further seen in the film’s delightful post-credits sequence), while the latter is too staged and likewise rigidly edited (particularly toward the film’s front end which too often takes on the tonality of a warm-up).

For a cornier, more establishment type of comedian, the kind of story environment emblematic of these failures might be par for the course but for an iconoclast like Andre, the misses here can be glaring — I doubt even his most stringent detractors would honestly be able to call Andre a mediocre or average performer. Which is why it is so disappointing that “Bad Trip” falls just as easily into humdrum ordinariness as much as it does its most simple and effective bits.

Andre’s influences have always been clear, from Sacha Baron Cohen to Tom Green to the “Jackass” bunch, but they struggle in the present when faced with Andre’s move from surrealism to literalism. Unlike oft-cited inspiration and Borat star Cohen, Andre’s previous world-making has been exactly out of this world, if not a complete undoing and deflation of it. While he is able to elevate the everyday to the level of the comedic through a more even-keeled yet effective style of absurdity here, there is a certain degree of impact missing that will will be expected given the star. While Howery provides the perfect foil to Andre’s Chris and Tiffany Haddish (here playing Bud’s prison-breaking sister, Trina Malone) is, as always, nothing but an expert improviser (and arguably the reason to see “Bad Trip”), it is Andre’s strange turn to reality which will leave audiences searching for more.

All of this said and done, if it makes you laugh (and I mean really makes you laugh) as it often did me, that can be salve enough.

'Bad Trip'

Rated: R, for crude sexual content, pervasive language, some graphic nudity and drug use Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes Playing: Available March 26 on Netflix

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Bad Trip: A must-see outrageous hidden-camera Netflix movie

By deborah duncan | mar 26, 2021.

Bad Trip is a buddy comedy prank show that follows Chris Carey (Eric Andre) on his path to finding his high school crush, Maria (Michaela Conlin), in New York City. Chris and his best friend, Bud Malone (Lil Rel Howery), leave on an epic road trip from Florida to New York while Bud’s violent sister, Trina Malone (Tiffany Haddish), is infuriated that they stole her car.

Bad Trip is a hidden camera prank movie mixed with a typical scripted plot. Chris, Bud, and Trina have a scripted story, but their experiences are in front of the unknowing public. Instead of having movie extras, the public stumbles upon the hidden cameras and becomes part of the story. The film style is a unique mixture of What Would You Do? and Punk’d .

Chris is a hopeless romantic who sees Maria while detailing someone’s car and then working at a smoothie shop. Maria is friendly with Chris at the smoothie shop, and they have many onlookers during their brief conversation. A customer scolds Chris for using his hands in the fruit container instead of the spoon, and another patron even asks if she can finally order once Maria left.

Tiffany Haddish is great in Bad Trip

Bud is mainly the sidekick in this story. His sister, Trina, is the biggest flaw in their plan because they took her car, and that’s all she wants back. Trina went from person to person with pictures of Chris, Bud, and her car, hoping that someone had seen them. After asking many people, she decides to steal a cop car and find them herself.

Trina has several great prank moments in the Netflix movie , including when she appears as an escaped convict, and a guy cleaning off spray paint from a wall encourages her to run away fast. Haddish does a fantastic job as Trina. She alarms everyone with who she comes into contact.

Chris and Bud find themselves in many absurd situations, including a truly unique problem with a Chinese finger trap. The reactions from the random people are hilarious. Most people don’t know how to react or respond to the situations the move puts them in.

One of Bad Trip ‘s funniest aspects is that no one seems to recognize Andre even though he’s not wearing any form of a disguise. The Eric Andre Show recently finished after airing five seasons on Adult Swim, so you would think at least one person would recognize Andre. Bad Trip is one of those movies that would be funnier to watch with friends, but I still found myself laughing so hard that I stopped making noise at one point.

Bad Trip feels similar to Borat Subsequent Moviefilm because it’s a long road trip featuring many real-life people who don’t know they are in a movie. But unlike Borat , there isn’t a political message or social purpose to Bad Trip . It’s purely about putting people in awkward situations and seeing how they respond naturally. Most of the accidentally filmed people come across quite well, which is reassuring to America’s character.

This woman’s response to the situation — which she does not know is a set-up for the hidden camera movie Bad Trip — is truly iconic pic.twitter.com/N58gzo16BL — Netflix (@netflix) March 26, 2021

Bad Trip is streaming on Netflix now.

Next. 50 best Netflix movies to watch right now. dark

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What to Watch

‘Bad Trip’

Eric André, Tiffany Haddish and Lil Rey Howery pull increasingly wild pranks on unsuspecting members of the public with the help of some hidden cameras in 2021’s Bad Trip . In less than 90 minutes, André manages to include a bloody blender incident, a full-frontal moment at the mechanic and an impressively disgusting projectile vomit scene in a bar filled with real (unlucky) patrons. And that’s just skimming the surface, really, of what Esquire once called “somewhat of a snuff film,” thanks to the near-death experiences André encountered filming Bad Trip . All that being said, you’ve been warned: it’s one crazy ride, so buckle up.

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This mix of a scripted buddy comedy road movie and a real hidden camera prank show follows the outrageous misadventures of two buds stuck in a rut who embark on a cross-country road trip to NYC. The storyline sets up shocking real pranks.

Stream Bad Trip Now

Movie trailer, where can you watch bad trip online, movie score.

March 26, 2021,

Kitao Sakurai

Eric André, Lil Rel Howery, Tiffany Haddish, Michaela Conlin, Gerald Espinoza, Kaleila Johnson

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• Plan Your Trip

How To Stop A Bad Trip

Published: December 5, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Hilliary Alejo

• Sustainability

Introduction

Trip-planning can be an exhilarating and transformative experience. Whether you’re exploring a new city, immersing yourself in nature, or embarking on an adventurous journey, planning your trip is an essential part of the process. However, not every trip goes smoothly. There may be times when unforeseen circumstances or personal factors contribute to a negative experience, commonly known as a “bad trip.”

A bad trip can be distressing and overwhelming, causing feelings of anxiety, fear, and confusion. It can occur during any type of travel – from solo backpacking trips to family vacations. Understanding how to recognize the signs of a bad trip and having the tools to stop it can make all the difference in turning a challenging experience into a rewarding one.

In this article, we will explore strategies for preventing and stopping a bad trip, as well as how to recover and take care of yourself afterward. So, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or planning your first trip, read on to equip yourself with valuable insights and techniques to ensure a positive and fulfilling journey.

Understanding a Bad Trip

A bad trip can be described as a negative and uncomfortable experience during a journey or vacation. It can manifest in various ways, including intense anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, hallucinations, or a general feeling of being overwhelmed. While bad trips are most commonly associated with psychedelic drug use, they can also occur in non-drug-related situations due to factors such as stressful environments, unexpected events, or personal challenges.

During a bad trip, the individual may feel a loss of control, disconnection from reality, and a heightened sense of fear or dread. The intensity and duration of a bad trip can vary from person to person. What may be a challenging experience for one individual may be manageable for another.

It is important to note that a bad trip is not necessarily a reflection of the destination or activity itself. Even well-planned and highly anticipated trips can turn sour due to a variety of factors. Understanding the reasons behind a bad trip can help you approach it with a clearer perspective and find effective ways to manage and mitigate its effects.

Factors that can contribute to a bad trip include:

• External Stressors: High stress levels, uncomfortable or unfamiliar environments, conflicts with travel companions, or unexpected events can contribute to a negative trip experience.
• Internal Factors: Personal issues, unresolved emotional problems, or preexisting mental health conditions can increase the likelihood of having a bad trip.
• Substance Use: In some cases, the use of certain substances, such as psychedelic drugs, can trigger or amplify the potential for a difficult trip.

By understanding the factors that contribute to a bad trip, you can take proactive steps to minimize their impact and create a more enjoyable travel experience. Next, we will delve into how to recognize the signs of a bad trip.

Recognizing the Signs of a Bad Trip

Recognizing the signs of a bad trip early on is essential for taking appropriate action to prevent it from escalating further. While the specific signs may vary depending on the individual and the situation, here are some common indicators that you may be heading towards a difficult experience:

• Intense Anxiety: Feeling an overwhelming sense of fear, worry, or unease that is difficult to control or rationalize.
• Panic Attacks: Experiencing sudden and intense episodes of fear or discomfort, accompanied by physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
• Paranoia: Feeling excessively suspicious or fearful of others, believing that harm is imminent or that others are out to get you.
• Hallucinations: Perceiving sensory experiences that are not based in reality, such as seeing or hearing things that are not there.
• Disorientation: Feeling confused, disoriented, or detached from reality, making it challenging to navigate your surroundings or make logical decisions.
• Difficulty in Communication: Struggling to articulate your thoughts or express your emotions in a coherent manner.

It is important to trust your instincts and pay attention to your emotional and physical well-being while on a trip. If you notice any of these signs or a general sense of unease, it is crucial to take immediate action to prevent the situation from escalating further.

It is worth mentioning that experiencing one or more of these signs does not automatically mean that you are having a bad trip. Sometimes, temporary discomfort or unease can arise during travel, and it can be resolved through self-care and coping strategies. However, if the symptoms persist or intensify, it may be an indication that you are heading towards a challenging experience that requires intervention.

Next, we will explore effective tips for preventing a bad trip and ensuring a more positive travel experience.

Tips for Preventing a Bad Trip

While it’s impossible to completely eliminate the risk of having a bad trip, there are proactive steps you can take to minimize the chances and create a more positive and enjoyable travel experience. Here are some tips to help prevent a bad trip:

• Plan and Research: Thoroughly research your destination, activities, and accommodations to ensure they align with your preferences and comfort levels. Understanding the local culture, laws, and customs can help you avoid potential conflicts or uncomfortable situations.
• Set Realistic Expectations: It’s important to have realistic expectations about your trip. While it’s natural to be excited, try to avoid building up unrealistic fantasies that may lead to disappointment or frustration if they don’t materialize.
• Manage Stress: Prioritize self-care and stress management techniques leading up to and during your trip. Practice relaxation exercises, engage in activities that help you unwind, and give yourself enough time to prepare and pack without feeling rushed.
• Communicate with Travel Companions: If you’re traveling with others, ensure open and honest communication about boundaries, expectations, and potential triggers. Discussing concerns or anxieties beforehand can help create a supportive and understanding environment.
• Take Care of Your Physical Health: Prioritize your physical well-being by getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, staying hydrated, and engaging in regular exercise. Taking care of your body can positively impact your mental state and resilience during your trip.
• Stay Mindful of Substance Use: If you choose to use substances during your trip, do so responsibly and be aware of their effects. Remember that substances can alter your perception and potentially contribute to a challenging trip. Use with caution and moderation.
• Create a Flexible Itinerary: While having a loose itinerary can provide a sense of structure, be open to spontaneity and unexpected experiences. Allowing room for flexibility can help you navigate any unforeseen changes or challenges more smoothly.
• Stay Connected to Support Systems: Inform trusted friends or family members of your travel plans and stay connected with them during your trip. Having a support system in place can provide reassurance and assistance if you encounter difficulties.
• Practice Self-Care: Incorporate self-care practices into your trip, such as meditation, journaling, or engaging in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Taking time for yourself can help manage stress and enhance your overall well-being.
• Trust Your Intuition: Listen to your gut instincts and honor your boundaries. If something doesn’t feel right, remove yourself from the situation or seek assistance. Trusting yourself can help maintain your well-being and prevent a potentially negative experience.

By implementing these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of encountering a bad trip. However, even with careful planning, it’s important to be prepared and know how to stop a bad trip if one does occur. This will be further explored in the next section.

How to Stop a Bad Trip

When faced with a bad trip, swift action is essential to prevent it from escalating further and to regain a sense of control and calm. Here are some effective strategies to help you stop a bad trip:

• Change Your Environment: If possible, remove yourself from the current environment that is causing distress. Moving to a different location can help shift your perspective and alleviate feelings of anxiety or unease.
• Find a Calm and Safe Space: Seek out a quiet and comfortable space where you can relax and regroup. Creating a safe and soothing environment can significantly impact your emotional well-being and help ease the negative effects of a bad trip.
• Practice Grounding Techniques: Grounding techniques involve using your senses to connect with the present moment. Engage in activities such as deep breathing, focusing on the feeling of your feet on the ground, or observing objects around you. These techniques can help bring you back to reality and reduce anxiety.
• Engage in Breathing Exercises: Deep breathing exercises can be particularly helpful in calming your mind and body during a bad trip. Practice slow and deep breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. This can help activate your body’s relaxation response and reduce stress.
• Seek Support from Trusted Individuals: Reach out to someone you trust, such as a close friend or family member, for support and reassurance. Talking to someone who understands and empathizes with your situation can provide comfort and help you navigate through the difficult experience.
• Distract Yourself from Negative Thoughts: Engage in activities that shift your focus away from negative thoughts or emotions. This can include listening to calming music, watching a light-hearted movie, engaging in a hobby, or practicing mindfulness exercises.
• Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that what you’re experiencing is temporary. Avoid self-judgment or criticism and remind yourself that you have the strength and resilience to overcome this challenging moment.

Implementing these strategies can help you regain a sense of control and reduce the distressing effects of a bad trip. However, it is important to remember that these techniques may not work instantly for everyone, and seeking professional help may be necessary if the symptoms persist or intensify.

Now that we’ve explored various strategies for stopping a bad trip, let’s delve into the importance of creating a safe and soothing environment during a challenging journey.

Creating a Safe and Soothing Environment

When facing a bad trip, creating a safe and soothing environment can play a crucial role in helping you regain a sense of calm and control. Here are some tips on how to create a supportive environment:

• Find a Quiet Space: Look for a quiet and peaceful area where you can retreat and feel at ease. This can be a private room, a secluded spot in nature, or even a designated relaxation area in your accommodation.
• Dim the Lights: Soft, dimmed lighting can help create a calming ambiance and reduce sensory overload. Consider using candles, fairy lights, or a bedside lamp to create a soothing atmosphere.
• Play Relaxing Music: Fill the environment with soothing sounds that help ease your mind. Choose calming instrumental music, nature sounds, or guided meditation tracks to promote relaxation and tranquility.
• Gather Comforting Items: Surround yourself with comforting items that bring a sense of familiarity and security. This could include soft blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, or sentimental objects that provide comfort.
• Create a Cozy Space: Arrange your surroundings to create a cozy and comforting space. Use soft and comfortable fabrics, arrange cushions and pillows for extra support, and incorporate elements that bring a sense of warmth and coziness.
• Utilize Aromatherapy: Consider using essential oils or scented candles to create a soothing aroma in your environment. Lavender, chamomile, and sandalwood are known for their relaxation properties and can help promote a sense of calm.
• Remove Triggers: Identify any potential triggers in your environment and remove or minimize their presence. This may include turning off the television or avoiding certain visual stimuli that may exacerbate your anxiety or discomfort.
• Practice Tidiness: Keeping your surroundings clean and organized can contribute to a sense of peace and tranquility. Clear away any clutter and maintain tidiness to promote a calm and harmonious space.
• Engage in Comforting Activities: Consider engaging in comforting activities that promote relaxation and distract from negative thoughts. This may include reading a favorite book, practicing gentle yoga or stretching, or engaging in creative activities like drawing or journaling.

By creating a safe and soothing environment, you provide yourself with a supportive space to navigate the challenges of a bad trip. Remember, everyone’s preferences and needs may differ, so tailor your environment to suit your personal preferences and comfort levels.

Next, we will explore grounding techniques and breathing exercises that can further enhance your ability to cope with a bad trip.

Grounding Techniques during a Bad Trip

During a bad trip, grounding techniques can serve as valuable tools to help bring you back to the present moment and reduce feelings of anxiety or disorientation. Grounding techniques work by engaging your senses and focusing your attention on the immediate surroundings. Here are some grounding techniques you can try:

• Deep Breathing: Take slow, deep breaths, inhaling deeply through your nose and exhaling fully through your mouth. Pay attention to the sensation of your breath entering and leaving your body. This simple technique can help you feel more grounded and centered.
• 5 things you can see in your environment
• 4 things you can touch or feel
• 3 things you can hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste
• Grounding Objects: Hold onto a small object that provides sensory stimulation, such as a smooth stone, a stress ball, or a piece of textured fabric. Focus on the sensation of the object in your hand, and use it as an anchor to bring yourself back to the present moment.
• Body Scan: Close your eyes and bring your attention to different parts of your body, starting from your toes and working your way up to your head. Notice any sensations or areas of tension, and envision releasing and relaxing those muscles as you scan through your body.
• Mindful Observation: Choose an object in your environment and observe it attentively. Notice its shape, color, texture, and any other details. Engaging in mindful observation can help shift your focus away from negative thoughts and into the present moment.
• Grounding Affirmations: Repeat grounding affirmations to yourself, focusing on positive and reassuring statements. For example, you can repeat phrases such as “I am safe,” “This is temporary,” or “I have the strength to overcome this.” Affirmations can help calm your mind and reaffirm a sense of stability.

It’s important to remember that everyone responds differently to grounding techniques. Experiment with different methods and find what works best for you in managing your symptoms during a bad trip. Practice these techniques regularly to become more familiar with them, so they can be easily accessible in moments of distress.

In the next section, we will explore breathing exercises that can help promote relaxation and further enhance your ability to cope with a challenging trip.

Breathing Exercises for Relaxation

Breathing exercises are powerful tools that can help promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and restore a sense of calm during a bad trip. By focusing on your breath and intentionally regulating its rhythm, you can influence your body’s stress response and induce a state of relaxation. Here are some breathing exercises you can try:

• Deep Belly Breathing: Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Place one hand on your abdomen and the other on your chest. Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose, allowing your belly to rise and expand. Exhale slowly through your mouth, feeling your abdomen gradually sink. Repeat this deep belly breathing pattern several times, focusing on the sensation of your breath filling and leaving your body.
• 4-7-8 Breathing: Close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose for a count of 4. Hold your breath for a count of 7. Then, exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of 8. Repeat this sequence at least four times, allowing each breath to become slower and more intentional.
• Box Breathing: Visualize a box shape in your mind. Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of 4 as you trace the first side of the box. Hold your breath for a count of 4 as you trace the second side. Exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of 4 as you trace the third side. Finally, hold your breath for a count of 4 as you trace the fourth side. Repeat this box breathing pattern several times, focusing on the four-sided shape and the rhythm of your breath.
• Alternate Nostril Breathing: Sit in a comfortable position and place your right thumb over your right nostril. Inhale deeply through your left nostril. Then, release your right nostril and use your ring finger to close your left nostril. Exhale through your right nostril. Continue this pattern, alternating the nostrils with each breath in a smooth and rhythmic manner.
• Counting Breaths: Focus your attention on your breath and count each inhalation and exhalation. Start with the number 1 and continue counting up to 10. Once you reach 10, start back at 1. If your mind wanders, gently bring your focus back to your breath and resume counting from where you left off.

Practice these breathing exercises regularly, even when not in a bad trip situation, to familiarize yourself with the techniques and enhance their effectiveness. When faced with a challenging trip, these exercises can help center your focus and provide a tool for managing anxiety and stress.

Remember that breathing exercises alone may not resolve all the challenges of a bad trip, and it is essential to explore additional strategies and seek support if needed. In the next section, we will discuss seeking support from trusted individuals to help navigate a difficult trip.

Seeking Support from Trusted Individuals

When faced with a bad trip, reaching out to trusted individuals for support can provide comfort, reassurance, and guidance. Whether it’s a close friend, family member, or a trained professional, having someone to talk to can help you navigate through the challenges of a difficult trip. Here are some key steps to seeking support:

• Identify your Trusted Support Network: Determine who you feel comfortable confiding in about your trip experiences. This could be a close friend, family member, or a mental health professional. Choose individuals who are understanding, non-judgmental, and able to provide the support you need.
• Reach out for Assistance: Don’t hesitate to reach out for help when you’re in need. If you’re with a trusted companion, communicate your feelings and let them know you’re having a difficult time. If you’re alone, consider contacting someone from your support network, even if it’s just through a phone call or text message.
• Express your Experience: Share your thoughts and emotions openly with your trusted individuals. Verbally expressing your experience can help bring clarity to your thoughts and provide a sense of relief. You may find that talking about your trip can reduce feelings of isolation and pressure.
• Seek Professional Support: If your symptoms persist or become overwhelming, consider reaching out to a mental health professional who specializes in psychedelic experiences or trauma. They can provide guidance, validate your feelings, and offer strategies for coping with the challenges you’re facing.
• Utilize Hotlines or Support Services: If you’re unable to connect with someone you know, there are helpline services available that are specifically designed to offer support during challenging trips. These services provide a safe space to talk, receive guidance, and access the resources you may need.

Remember, seeking support is not a sign of weakness but an act of self-care. It’s essential to remember that you don’t have to face a bad trip alone, and reaching out for help is a courageous and proactive step towards recovery.

Keep in mind that the individuals you choose to seek support from may not have personal experience with bad trips or psychedelic experiences. It may be helpful to provide them with some background information or resources to help them better understand your situation.

In the next section, we will discuss techniques for distracting yourself from negative thoughts during a bad trip.

Distracting Yourself from Negative Thoughts

During a bad trip, negative thoughts and emotions can often become overwhelming. Distracting yourself from these thoughts can help shift your focus and provide temporary relief. Here are some techniques you can use to distract yourself during a difficult trip:

• Engage in a Calming Activity: Choose an activity that brings you a sense of calm and relaxation. This could be listening to soothing music, practicing meditation or mindfulness, reading a book, or engaging in gentle exercise like yoga or stretching. Immersing yourself in a calming activity can redirect your attention and help soothe your mind.
• Practice Creative Expression: Engage in creative outlets like drawing, painting, writing, or playing a musical instrument. Creative expression can serve as a form of therapeutic release and help divert your focus from negative thoughts and emotions.
• Connect with Nature: Spend time in nature, whether it’s taking a walk in a nearby park, sitting by a body of water, or immersing yourself in a forested area. The sights, sounds, and smells of nature can be grounding and provide a sense of peace and tranquility.
• Watch or Listen to Something Uplifting: Choose to watch a lighthearted movie, listen to upbeat music, or enjoy a comedy podcast. Laughter and positivity can help shift your mood and distract your mind from negative thoughts.
• Engage in Social Interaction: Reach out to someone you trust, whether it’s face-to-face, through a phone call, or even online. Engaging in conversation and connecting with others can provide a sense of support and help divert your attention from negative thoughts.
• Practice Mindful Distraction: Direct your attention to your surroundings and engage in activities that require mental focus and concentration. This could include puzzles, board games, or engaging in a hobby that captivates your attention.
• Change your Physical Environment: If possible, change your physical surroundings to interrupt the negative thought patterns. Move to a different room, step outside to get some fresh air, or even rearrange the furniture in your current space. A change of scenery can help break the cycle of negative thinking.

Remember that while distraction techniques can provide temporary relief, they may not address the root causes of a bad trip. It’s important to address your emotions and seek support if needed. Using distraction techniques in conjunction with grounding exercises, breathing exercises, and seeking support can create a more comprehensive approach to managing a difficult trip.

In the next section, we will explore the importance of aftercare and recovery following a bad trip.

Aftercare and Recovery from a Bad Trip

After experiencing a bad trip, it’s important to prioritize self-care and engage in the recovery process. Here are some key steps to consider for aftercare and recovery:

• Reflect and Process: Allow yourself time to reflect on your experience and process the emotions that arose during the bad trip. Writing in a journal, speaking with a trusted person, or engaging in therapy can help you gain insights and make sense of your thoughts and feelings.
• Practice Self-Compassion: Be gentle and kind to yourself during the recovery process. Avoid self-blame or self-judgment, as it can hinder healing. Remind yourself that what you went through was a challenging experience and that you’re taking the necessary steps to recover.
• Seek Professional Support: If the symptoms or emotional distress persist beyond the bad trip, consider seeking professional help. A therapist who specializes in psychedelic experiences or trauma can offer guidance, provide a safe space for processing, and assist you in developing coping strategies.
• Connect with Supportive Communities: Reach out to online communities, support groups, or organizations that focus on psychedelics or mental health. Sharing your experience and connecting with others who have gone through similar situations can provide validation, support, and a sense of belonging.
• Engage in Self-Care Practices: Prioritize activities that promote self-care and overall well-being. This may include getting enough restful sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, and incorporating relaxation techniques such as meditation or mindfulness into your daily routine.
• Integrate the Experience: As time passes, reflect on your bad trip experience and seek to understand any lessons or insights it may have offered. Explore ways to apply these lessons to your personal growth and journey, using the experience as a catalyst for positive change.
• Consider Future Trips Mindfully: If you decide to engage in future trips, approach them mindfully and with caution. Take the time to integrate and process your past experience before embarking on another journey. Consider discussing your intentions and concerns with a professional to help guide your decision-making process.
• Create a Supportive Aftercare Plan: Develop a plan of action for ongoing support and self-care. This may involve setting regular check-ins with a therapist, engaging in ongoing self-reflection and journaling, and staying connected with supportive individuals or communities.

Recovery from a bad trip is a personal and unique journey. Give yourself permission to heal at your own pace and trust that time, self-care, and support will contribute to your recovery. Remember that it’s normal to feel a range of emotions during the recovery process, but with the right resources and support, you can overcome the challenges and move forward.

Now, let’s conclude our journey through dealing with bad trips and discuss the key takeaways.

Dealing with a bad trip can be a challenging and distressing experience, but it’s important to remember that there are strategies and techniques to help navigate through it. By understanding the signs of a bad trip, implementing preventive measures, and knowing how to stop and recover from a difficult experience, you can enhance your trip-planning journey and mitigate the negative effects.

Recognizing the signs of a bad trip and understanding its causes can help you take proactive steps to prevent it. Planning and research, managing stress, and setting realistic expectations are key factors in minimizing the risk of a challenging experience. However, if a bad trip does occur, creating a safe and soothing environment, practicing grounding techniques, and engaging in breathing exercises can help regain a sense of control and calm.

Seeking support from trusted individuals, whether they are close friends, family, or professionals, is crucial in managing a bad trip. Their guidance, empathy, and understanding can provide reassurance and assist in the recovery process. Additionally, distracting yourself from negative thoughts and engaging in self-care practices can further aid in navigating a difficult trip.

Aftercare and recovery are essential in processing and integrating the experience. Reflecting, seeking professional support if needed, practicing self-compassion, and connecting with supportive communities are important steps in the recovery journey. By prioritizing self-care, considering future trips mindfully, and creating a supportive aftercare plan, you can continue to heal and grow.

Remember, everyone’s trip experiences are unique, and the techniques mentioned in this article may not work the same way for everyone. It’s important to explore what works best for you and adapt these strategies to suit your individual needs.

In conclusion, with proper planning, awareness, and the implementation of strategies to prevent and manage a bad trip, you can enhance the overall trip experience and ensure a more positive and fulfilling journey.

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This study aimed to clarify the influence of extra-pharmacological factors in the etiology of bad trips , a common adverse reaction related to the consumption of psychedelic drugs.

A descriptive approach was adopted. The information was collected using a web-based survey. The survey respondents volunteered to participate based on the condition that they had suffered a bad trip in the past.

This report reveals some variables that are commonly related to this adverse reaction (i.e., the recreational consumption of drugs, the consumption of drugs in large, open outdoor spaces, or being inexperienced with the drug). In addition, we note that some problems, which may be related to bad trips (i.e., mixing drugs, ignorance about the purity, or the dosage), can be solved through harm-reduction strategies.

Conclusions

We found certain aspects that could be related to the appearance of a bad trip , but it is not possible to establish a causal connection. We recommend conducting prospective studies with larger samples to collect more information about the role of extra-pharmacological factors.

Introduction

Psychedelic drugs like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and psilocybin are being investigated again, showing therapeutic potential for certain psychological disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder ( Amoroso & Workman, 2016 ; Mithoefer et al., 2013 ; Oehen, Traver, Widmer, & Schnyder, 2013 ) and depression and anxiety associated with life-threatening illnesses ( Grob et al., 2011 ; McCorvy, Olsen, & Roth, 2016 ). There are dozens of references on this issue, so we suggest reading the following recent reviews: Garcia-Romeu, Kersgaard, and Addy ( 2016 ) and Nichols, Johnson, and Nichols ( 2017 ).

Alongside this therapeutic trend, recent studies have begun to challenge the notion that the psychedelics are harmful to mental health ( Krebs & Johansen, 2013 ). On the contrary, we may consider the possibility that the consumption of these drugs by healthy people in naturalistic contexts could have benefits to mental health ( Johansen & Krebs, 2015 ; Ona & Spuch, 2017 ).

We note that all drug users are exposed to some adverse reactions ( Grof, 2005 ; Strassman, 1984 ). These substances can exacerbate the psychopathological traits that could cause persisting adverse reactions ( Cohen, 1960 ; Johnson, Richards, & Griffiths, 2008 ; Strassman, 1984 ). When drug users do not have previous psychopathological traits, they may experience acute adverse reactions like fear, panic, overwhelming anxiety, or confusion, which together constitutes what is commonly known as a bad trip . This phenomenon has not been studied in depth. While there are important number of studies, which address the adverse reactions related to the consumption of psychedelics ( Abraham & Aldridge, 1993 ; Bewley, 1967 ; Carbonaro et al., 2016 ; Cohen & Ditman, 1963 ; Fink, Simeon, Haque, & Itil, 1966 ; Frosch, Robbins, & Stern, 1965 ; Glickman & Blumenfield, 1967 ; Heaton, 1975 ; Kleber, 1967 ; Malleson, 1971 ; Smart & Bateman, 1967 ; Strassman, 1984 ), few studies specifically focus on bad trips ( Barrett, Bradstreet, Leoutsakos, Johnson, & Griffiths, 2016 ; Carbonaro et al., 2016 ; Cohen, 1960 ; Ungerleider, Fisher, Fuller, & Caldwell, 1968 ).

Literature on psychedelic-induced states of consciousness suggests that the extra-pharmacological factors are determinant ( Grof, 2005 ; Masters & Houston, 1974 ; Prepeliczay, 2002 ; Sumnall, Cole, & Jerome, 2006 ), because states of consciousness induced by psychedelics potentiate perception and experience of external stimuli ( Grof, 2005 ).

The delineation of these extra-pharmacological factors is conceptualized in the notion of “set and setting,” that is to say, the way the experience is influenced by the individual’s mindset (set) as well as the surroundings and atmosphere (setting).

In this study, the relationship between bad trips and a delimited list of extra-pharmacological factors will be explored.

An online survey was developed to collect information about bad trips . This was designed with the intention of discovering what, if any, extra-pharmacological factors are commonly related to the adverse reaction known as a bad trip.

The survey was designed with closed-ended questions with defined response categories. At the conclusion of the survey, participants were also given the opportunity to provide any other comments they wished to on the section topic.

The first section of the survey was used to determine participants’ eligibility. Participants were provided with information about the survey, including the purpose and assurance of anonymity. Respondents were asked to recall their bad trip and answer the questions about that experience. If they had experienced more than one bad trip , they were asked to choose the one they considered to be the most significant.

The demographic section of the survey asked participants for information including age, education, occupation, and country of residence.

The main body of the survey had five sections concerning respondents’ medical history, the context of the experience, the drug used, the experience, and the after-effects. A schematic diagram of the survey instrument is provided in Figure  1 . The full survey is available from the authors upon request.

Schematic diagram of the survey

Citation: Journal of Psychedelic Studies 2, 1; 10.1556/2054.2018.001

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The survey was hosted online using the Google Forms platform ( docs.google.com/forms ) and shared on social media with the collaboration of various organizations from Spain and other Latin American countries (e.g., Energy Control, Caapi, Échele Cabeza cuando se dé en la Cabeza, among others). Only drug users who had suffered a bad trip were requested to complete the survey.

Data analysis

IBM SPSS Statistics v.21 was used to analyze the survey data. The results are reported in percentages.

This study has been conducted in accordance with the ethical principles set out in the declaration of Helsinki.

Sociodemographic information

The majority of the sample reported had completed university studies (64.5%), whereas 14.7% had completed high-school studies and 10.8% had master’s or doctorate degrees.

About 48.7% of participants were students, whereas 46.1% were professionals and 5.2% were unemployed.

A majority of respondents reside in Colombia (40.7%), whereas 11 other nationalities are represented in the results [Spain (28.5%), Mexico (11.2%), Argentina (9.1%), Chile (3.4%), Ecuador (1.3%), Portugal (1.3%), United States (0.9%), France (0.9%), Germany (0.9%), Peru (0.4%), and Panama (0.4%); see this information in Table  1 ].

Sociodemographic information and medical history of respondents

Note . ADHD: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Medical history of the sample

About 78.3% of the sample did not report any physical condition before the bad trip . The rest of the sample reported asthma (7.3%), hypoglycemia (1.7%), gastritis (1.3%), arrhythmia (0.9%), atopic dermatitis (0.9%), or hypothyroidism (0.9%), among others.

Similarly, 76.6% of the sample did not have any psychological diagnosis. The remaining 22.4% reported anxiety (6.9%), depression (6.7%), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (1.7%), bipolar disorder (1.7%), schizophrenia (0.8%), or sleep disorders (0.4%).

Medications reported to have been consumed before the occurrence of the bad trip were ventolin (2.1%), salbutamol (1.7%), fluoxetine (1.3%), quetiapine (0.9%), loratadine (0.9%), and clonazepam (0.9%), among others. About 78.4% of the sample did not report any relevant medication (see this information in Table  1 ).

Characteristics of the context

Respondents were asked to classify the context of their bad trip as one of three different categories: therapeutic (looking for introspection), recreational (with a few friends), and festive (in raves or festivals). Most of the sample defined their context as recreational (55.4%), with 30.3% as festive and 14.2% as therapeutic. As a curiosity, the percentage of respondents with psychological disorders were equally distributed between the three categories, χ 2 (26, N  = 231) =20.25, p  = .77.

The majority of the sample (57.1%) took the drug in open outdoor spaces, whereas 42.4% took in indoor spaces.

Regarding the size of the space where the bad trip took place, 63.2% of the sample classified the space as large with 36.6% of them reporting that the size was “overwhelming.” About 36.8% of the sample classified the space as small with 12.9% of them reporting that this size was “overwhelming.”

There were less than 10 people in the same space in 44.1% of the cases; more than 10 in 27.7% of the cases; and more than 50 people in 13.4% of cases. About 14.7% of the sample reported having being alone during the time of the bad trip.

There was music playing in 78.4% of the cases. About 26.3% of respondents reported that they liked the music style, whereas 7.8% did not like it. We do not have information about the remaining 44.3%. In this “music group,” 37.6% indicated that music was at low volume, allowing for conversation; 23.8% that music was at high volume, hindering conversation; 11.2% that music was at very high volume, making any conversation impossible; and 5.6% that music was at very low volume.

Regarding the illumination of the context, 56.2% of respondents reported that the visibility was fairly good; 32% of the subjects reported the context was dark; 6.5% of the subjects reported there was too much light; and finally 5.2% of the subjects reported that the context was very dark (see this information in Table  2 ).

Characteristics of the context and the drug used

Note . LSD: lysergic acid diethylamide; MDMA: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine.

In 50.2% of the cases, the drug was LSD. Then, the drugs were smoked cannabis (14.7%), psilocybin mushrooms (10.3%), 25i-NBOMe (4.3%), MDMA (3.9%), Salvia divinorum (3%), ingested cannabis (2.2%), ayahuasca (2.2%), magic mushrooms (psilocybin) (2.2%), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine (2.2%), 4-ethyl-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (0.9%), ketamine (0.9%), San Pedro (mescaline) (0.9%), LSA (0.4%), N, N-dimethyltryptamine (0.4%), and 5-methoxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine (0.4%).

It is important to note that 60.8% of the sample did not know the dose (low, medium, or high) they took. Among those who knew the dose, 21.6% took a medium dose, 10.8% a high dose, and 6.5% a low dose.

Similarly, 65% of respondents were not aware of the purity of the drug. The remainder of the sample did objective analyses through harm-reduction organizations.

Notably, we found that 67.2% of our sample consumed more than one drug. The most common secondary drug was cannabis (24.1%), followed by tobacco (6%), alcohol (6%), MDMA (0.4%), speed (0.4%), Brugmansia (0.4%), and poppers (0.4%) (see this information in Table  2 ).

Previous experience

Respondents were asked about their previous experience with the drug. About 48.4% of the sample had little experience; 29.9% were very experienced; and 21.6% had never taken the drug.

Valuation of the experience

Subjects had to classify their experience using a Likert-type item with seven options, ranging from “it was the worse experience of my life ” to “ it was the best experience of my life. ” About 82.3% of subjects classified their experience negatively with 15.1% as the worst of their lives. About 17.7% of subjects classified their experience positively with 1.7% as the best experience of their lives.

It is important to know if subjects were able to redirect the bad trip or not. In our sample, 68.5% of subjects could in fact redirect their bad trip . Moreover, 90.5% of the sample reported having had educational insights from the experience (e.g., not to mix different drugs, the importance of selecting an adequate context, not to take drugs, etc.).

Use of medication

This question refers to the use of medication to stop the bad trip . About 5.2% of respondents consumed medication with the intention of terminating the bad trip , and of these, the medications were diazepam (1.3%), antipsychotic drugs (not specified) (0.9%), bromazepam (0.4%), caffeine (0.4%), or cocaine (0.4%).

After-effects

About 25.4% of subjects reported long-term side effects, defined as symptoms or adverse reactions sustained for weeks or months. These included anxiety, depression, and dissociative symptoms.

About 44.8% of subjects experienced some flashback , which consisted of reexperiencing the perceptual effects induced by psychedelic drugs at a later time.

Despite this adverse reaction, 64.2% of respondents reported having taken the same drug again. About 65.1% consumed the same drug along with other substances.

Regarding medication used days or weeks after the bad trip , 6.5% of subjects used anxiolytics, 12% antipsychotics, and 20% other medications like aspirin or ibuprofen.

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of extra-pharmacological factors in the emergence of the bad trip . Our sample was very heterogeneous, coming from different countries and with unevenly aged strata. Because of this, we should carefully interpret the findings.

As far as we know, personality is a factor frequently associated with the development of a bad trip ( Barrett, Johnson, & Griffiths, 2017 ; Grof, 2005 ; Lienert & Netter, 1996 ). The personality structure of our respondents was not assessed, but we observed that 22.4% of our sample had a psychiatric diagnosis prior to the occurrence of the bad trip . This information is not enough to assert that people with mental disorders are at higher risk of suffering a bad trip , but evidence supports the idea that this population is more susceptible ( Cohen, 1960 ; Frosch et al., 1965 ; Robbins, Frosch, & Stern, 1967 ; Strassman, 1984 ). We can ask ourselves about possible differences in the prevalence of mental disorders between our sample and the general population. In that case, we will have to face the difficulty of comparing the percentages observed in this study with the general prevalence in different countries, which could be different. In Colombia or Spain, the percentage of the population with psychiatric diagnoses is similar (around 9%; Encuesta Nacional de Salud Mental [ENSM], 2015 ; Instituto Nacional de Estadística [INE], 2014 ). This value is well below that observed in our sample. For countries like Mexico, this information could not be found. It would also be interesting to compare the percentage of psychedelic consumers with psychiatric diagnoses who never developed a bad trip to the percentage of consumers who did. This is a controversial debate, which is thoroughly exemplified in Johansen and Krebs’s ( 2015 ) study and the subsequent replies ( Nesvag, Bramness, & Ystrom, 2015 ).

The majority of the sample (85.7%) came from recreational and festival contexts, so we can suggest that consumers who take psychedelic drugs in therapeutic contexts are less likely to suffer a bad trip , but it is not possible to conclude that the consumption of psychedelics in therapeutic contexts is favorable. We suggest considering the hypothesis that different contexts are chosen by different people, which implies a difficulty in associating certain contexts with concrete experiences. In addition, it is possible that people who choose to take psychedelic substances in therapeutic contexts are more aware of the so-called “set and setting,” deliberately avoiding excessive noise, crowds, and other potentially adverse stimuli.

An indoor context seems to be more favorable to an open outdoor setting. The occurrence of a bad trip was mildly higher in bigger settings. However, 44% of individuals surveyed were with fewer than 10 people in the setting, which might seem contradictory.

About 30.6% of the respondents reported that there was no music in the context. We can find recommendations of using music in the literature related to the therapeutic use of psychedelics ( Bonny & Pahnke, 1972 ; Gaston & Eagle, 1970 ; Grof, 2005 ; Johnson et al., 2008 ), but we cannot extrapolate this information to the illicit use. Recently, Kaelen et al. ( 2015 ) found that one’s emotional response to music is enhanced by LSD, but that both positive and negative moods can be facilitated so consumers must be cautious, especially if the music is not appropriately selected. An assumption about the role of music could be that it will facilitate more bad trips when people do not like the style, but in this case, we found the contrary: 26.3% reported that they liked the style, whereas 7.8% did not like it. With respect to the volume, we found more frequency of bad trips when the music was at high or low volume (37.9% and 23.7%, respectively), whereas contexts with music at very high or very low volumes seem more “protective.” Regarding that issue, Preller et al. ( 2017 ) reported that LSD could turn senseless music into beautiful music, suggesting that this factor might not be determinant for bad trips . Music is a complex variable that must be studied in future research.

Brightly lit spaces produced more bad trips (56.6%), but dark spaces are also inadequate (31.9%). It seems that the best option is a soft, warm light that allows one to see properly/for clear vision.

LSD was the most reported drug (50%), but it is problematic to state that LSD causes bad trips more frequently. First, because the possibility exists that many more people in general take LSD than other drugs. In fact, a study by Carvalho et al. ( 2014 ) produced very similar percentages (53% of the sample took LSD). Second, we are mainly referring to the use of multiple drugs simultaneously: 67.2% of the sample used more than one drug and 45% of the LSD users used other drugs.

With respect to the dose, medium doses were responsible for more bad trips (21.6%), followed by high doses (11.2%). Based on evidence gathered from this survey, it may be advisable to start with low doses until getting more experience, as 48% of respondents had little prior experience with the drug.

Knowledge of dose and purity of the drug consumed is a critical aspect in shaping the outcome of the trip. About 60% of the sample did not know the dose that they took and 64% did not have information about the purity of the drug. Drug users need to have this information to predict and manage the effects and prevent most common complications.

The findings about previous experience with the drug are quite interesting. We know that both experienced and naive users are at risk of suffering an acute adverse reaction ( Robbins et al., 1967 ). However, the bigger percentage of bad trips happened when the subject had little experience. We may propose the following hypothesis: new consumers have more respect or fear in the face of a new drug, so they are more cautious. On the other side, subjects with plenty of experience with the drug could be less prone to develop adverse reactions, because they precisely know the common effects. But consumers with little experience can commit the error of taking too big of a dose or not having enough respect for the drug that they think they are familiar with.

About 17.7% of the sample classified the bad trip experience positively. We can understand this counterintuitive finding, if we consider the clinical observations of psychedelic therapists. They have reported that the resolution of psychologically challenging experiences may result in attribution of meaning, spiritual significance, and increased life satisfaction ( Richards, 2015 ). Carbonaro et al. ( 2016 ) found that same result in a bigger percentage (84%) of their sample.

About 5.2% of respondents consumed medication with the intention of terminating the bad experience. Among those, we found benzodiazepines (1.7%), antipsychotic drugs (0.9%), caffeine (0.4%), or cocaine. The use of psychiatric medication should be considered only in cases in which the psychological distress is insufficiently managed with reassurance ( Johnson et al., 2008 ). In these cases, the pharmacological intervention of choice is benzodiazepines. Some antipsychotic drugs like haloperidol can exacerbate the psychosis-like effects of psychedelic drugs, so they should not be used as a rescue medication ( Vollenweider, Vollenweider-Scherpenhuyzen, Bäbler, Vogel, & Hell, 1998 ). The use of other drugs like caffeine or cocaine as a rescue medication is strongly discouraged not only because of the non-specific action on the ending of psychedelic effects, but also because of the possible aggravation of the anxiety state and the unknown purity of these drugs.

About 25.4% of our sample reported long-term side effects and 44.8% experienced flashbacks . If we conceive the bad trip as a really challenging and traumatic experience, the presence of long-term side effects is to be expected. In fact, this percentage is nearly the same as those found in other survey studies ( Carbonaro et al., 2016 ). The percentage of flashbacks is much higher, reaching almost half of the sample. This is a very controversial phenomenon. Classic scientific literature suggests prevalence between 15% and 77% among consumers of psychedelic drugs ( Blumenfield, 1971 ; Holsten, 1976 ; McGlothin & Arnold, 1971 ; Shick & Smith, 1970 ; Stanton & Bardoni, 1972 ; Ungerleider et al., 1968 ). However, its existence has been recently questioned ( Krebs & Johansen, 2013 ).

Limitations

This study has important limitations that are crucial to consider. First, this study was made with an online self-administered questionnaire. This kind of study assumes several complications: lack of understanding of some questions, exaggeration/minimization/omission of information, and dishonest answers, among others.

An effort was made to write very simple sentences, without any technical vocabulary. This has had a direct impact on the objectiveness or accuracy of the information. For example, in the question about the size of the context, subjective categories like “big/small” were used.

Participants from 12 different countries responded to our survey, amounting to a total of 233 subjects. We consider this to be a heterogeneous sample. In the interest of conducting a more accurate analysis, we would consider each country and their respective drug legislation, among other things. The prosecution and the stigma attached to drug use are very different in these countries. In most cases, this stigma could generate high levels of stress, which is sufficient to trigger or modulate adverse reactions.

Variables like personality or lifestyle could not be evaluated. They play a very important role in this kind of adverse reactions, so the present findings are subjected to a wide individual variability.

There are very few studies published on the bad trip phenomenon. This report offers a first step to increase the knowledge about this adverse reaction. Harm-reduction organizations may use this knowledge to provide more precise guidance and advice.

We found some aspects that could be related to the appearance of a bad trip , but it is not possible to establish a causal connection.

We suggest that future studies on the topic include prospective methodologies and consider variables like personality in the interest of producing more specific and reliable results.

Author’s contribution

GO conceived and designed the survey, analyzed data, and wrote the paper.

Conflict of interest

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Let’s Talk About Bad Trips: Separating Difficult from Traumatic

Bad trips are a polarizing concept in psychedelics. acknowledging that they exist - and knowing how to work with them - can be healing..

Want to start a war on social media? Post something like this: “Bad trips exist.”

As somebody who has worked in the psychedelic space for years now and has supported many, many people during their trips, it’s time to come out of the closet and say it: people can be harmed by psychedelics, and bad trips exist.

But allow me to define the term “ bad trip ,” because the vague phrase has become too polarized to be meaningful.

When I talk about bad trips, I’m not talking about the harrowing, painful journeys to the underworld from which we return raw and exhausted, with some important piece of our healing work having been catalyzed.

When I talk about bad trips, I mean the trips that register in the body as a trauma or injury to the nervous system. And that is not , in fact, the same thing as a difficult trip.

What happens when we deny this truth is that we inadvertently alienate those who have had traumatic or harmful experiences. These people have endured a trauma, and are now being told that they have not.

So let’s talk about traumatic trips: The psychedelic experiences that leave us injured. Thankfully, they are rare.

I’m not just speaking from my observations as a clinician, but also from personal experience: I had a traumatic psychedelic experience on ayahuasca many years ago. I was decidedly “not okay” afterwards and required much time and support to recover.

Despite the shock and injury to my nervous system, I eventually used psychedelics again. In fact, in the eight or so years that have passed since the traumatic trip, I have openly supported the legalization of psychedelics, and have built two businesses centered around empowering people to heal with psychedelics.

I have also taken sabbaticals from my practice to work in other countries as a psychedelic facilitator. I am now a lead educator in the country’s first training program for psilocybin facilitators to be licensed by Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC). I’m a ketamine prescriber, and I train other prescribers in the use of ketamine for treating chronic pain and mood disorders. I lead and run intensive healing retreats. I’ve also taken my own fair share of mind altering substances in a variety of sets, settings, and time zones.

All of which is to say: I am no newcomer to the world of psychedelics.

And yet I cannot swallow the field’s echo-chamber-like mantra that “there is no such thing as a bad trip .” In fact, I find the rabidity with which some of my fellow cosmonauts deny the existence of bad trips to be rather disconcerting. In the more-than-one heated debate I’ve had about this topic, I’ve noticed certain patterns – or myths, if you will – around the topic of traumatic trips. I address each one here.

Myth: Bad Trips Only Happen When the Set and Setting Are Improper

If the word “only” didn’t appear in the above sentence, it would be true. In my experience in working with hundreds of patients who have used psychedelics – and in administering psychedelics myself – I’ll say that the vast majority of traumatic trips happen when the environment is not safe, calm, and supportive.

When we talk about set and setting in psychedelic harm reduction , we mean two things: (1) the person’s mindset when they took the drug, and (2) their physical environment. If somebody had just had an argument with their spouse before taking LSD, for example, that’s their set. If they were at a noisy, crowded music festival, that’s the setting. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority of bad trips happen when individuals on drugs feel overwhelmed in a noisy, chaotic setting like that of a concert or party. Drug-drug interactions are also often at play during difficult trips, for example, when people combine alcohol with psychedelics.

When people insist a little too strongly that, “There’s no such thing as a bad trip, if the set and setting are right,” I feel uneasy. It’s perhaps like asking a rape survivor, “Yeah, but what were you wearing?” (If you think the analogy of a bad trip and rape is too far of a reach, you luckily have never had a traumatic trip.)

There are other factors in psychedelic harm reduction that influence the outcomes. These include the substance being used, the dosage taken, and the people you’re with.

The night of my traumatic trip was the third of a three-night ayahuasca ceremony. I was there with my then-partner. I liked the other people attending. I trusted the facilitators completely and knew they were well trained and highly esteemed by their colleagues. The medicine was pure. The environment was soothing and well contained. The music was beautiful. The first half of the third ceremony was trippy, strange, and lovely.

After I drank my second dose of the brew, however, I was decidedly NOT OKAY. I will not describe the experience here, but I will say two things about it: (1) I felt like my nervous system was being gang raped, repeatedly, and (2) I can now absolutely understand why people with psychosis sometimes choose to die by suicide.

The facilitators of the circle took care of me, pulling me out of the ceremony space and letting me try to calm down outside. Somebody stayed with me at all times until I vomited up the salt water they gave me to drink.

There’s one factor of harm reduction we don’t discuss enough: dose. It’s possible that the second cup of ayahuasca I drank that night contained more voltage than my nervous system could handle – that it was too much, too fast, and too hard for me.

The Influence of Neuroticism

Aside from the environment, another factor that can predict bad trip potential is neuroticism. Neuroticism is one of the “Big Five” traits thought to collectively form the full picture of personality.

People who score high on neuroticism tend to overthink things, typically have a hard time relaxing, and may feel irritated in noisy settings or stressful situations. These folks are often described as “high strung.”

At least two studies have shown that people who score high on neuroticism scales are more likely to have a challenging psychedelic trip than those who score lower. [1] , [2] The theory behind this is that if a neurotic’s negative thoughts or feelings arise during a psychedelic trip, the person might get pulled into an amplification spiral of their own negativity.

But does that mean it’s somebody’s fault that if they tend towards neurosis and they have a bad trip? Aren’t psychedelics supposed to help heal negativity? What does it mean that the same drugs that help soothe negative thoughts and feelings can also make us feel worse? (Let a neurotic chew on that one.)

Once again, we could very easily slip into the territory of victim blaming if we are not mindful.

While writing this article, I took the Big Five Personality Test online. I scored in a higher-than-average percentile for negative emotionality (neuroticism). That may explain why grumpy cat is one of my heroes and why my friend Greg refers to me as “a female Larry David.” It could also explain why I’m one of the unlucky few who have had a traumatic psychedelic trip. (Side note: I also scored pretty high on open mindedness, so that could explain why got into psychedelics in the first place.)

Myth: Bad Trips Are Actually Just Difficult Experiences That Haven’t Been Integrated

I continue to stay in this field because traumatic trips are, indeed, exceedingly rare, and because the healing gains people typically experience from psychedelics are unparalleled by any other intervention I’ve found.

Working regularly with patients in non-ordinary states of consciousness, I see that the most challenging experiences are often the most rewarding. Drawing from my previous experiences in volunteering with the Zendo Project and White Bird , I teach my students the tenants of “trip sitting.”

As one of the Zendo principles states: difficult is not necessarily bad. Note that the phrase is not “difficult is not bad,” but rather, “ difficult is not necessarily bad. ” In other words, difficult can sometimes be bad.

Another layer to this argument is that if you wait long enough, the bad experience will prove itself to be good. This does, indeed, happen to many people after their challenging journeys. Yet there is a difference between suggesting this to a bad trip survivor and insisting that “everyone gets the trip they need.”

Many of my new-age peers have become allergic to the word “bad,” especially within the context of bad trips. “Is anything really bad?” I’m often asked. The argument here, as I understand it, is that with every cloud there comes a silver lining, and that silver lining might just hold a very valuable teaching for us.

I admit that my own traumatic trip gave me a lesson: It taught me that there is indeed such a thing as a bad trip. Another gift was that my bad trip helped me to better understand, validate, and support others who have been harmed by psychedelics. Another lesson was this: my bad trip was an amplifier of the toxic positivity that I see running rampant in the psychedelic field.

In fact, a patient once confessed to me, “I’m just so mad at her” – her being ayahuasca – “but everyone in the group is so in love with Great Grandmother that if I say one bad thing about her, it’ll be like heresy.” I noticed that he was clenching his jaw and only breathing into the upper part of his chest. I leaned forward, looked him in the eye, and said: “Tell me exactly what you think about that bitch – you won’t offend me.”

By the end of the hour, he had raged, wept, and laughed. His breath was reaching his abdomen and his jaw was relaxed. The client messaged me some days later, saying, “That was so healing for me just to be heard, to be able to say mean things without being afraid somebody would cancel me. Thank you.”

Perhaps for this client, “the medicine” was to be heard without anybody trying to stop him from expressing anger. Maybe the bad trip was just part of the arc that took him to that finale. I don’t know.

Myth: There’s No Such Thing as Bad

There’s that old story about the Zen master, whose son got a new horse. “What good luck!” The neighbors said. “We’ll see,” said the master. One day the son was thrown from the horse and broke his leg. “How terrible!” Said the neighbors. “We’ll see,” said the master. Then the country went to war, and the army came to recruit soldiers. Because the young man’s leg was broken, they army didn’t take him to battle. “How good!” said the neighbors. “We’ll see,” said the Zen master. Perhaps there is no good or bad.

What I’ve always found lacking in this story about the Zen master was the voice of his son – the one who actually fell from the horse.

Is a bad trip like falling from a horse? It absolutely can be. Yet something about the “you just haven’t integrated it yet, there’s gold there” argument feels like a dismissive bypass. Let us consider other situations in which we could apply such a statement:

• After getting food poisoning and vomiting for hours
• After taking penicillin and breaking out in a full body rash
• After going on a horrible date
• After surviving a sexual assault
• After your child has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness
• After losing a loved one to cancer
• After surviving a terrible accident that has resulted in disability
• After your cat has been run over by a car
• After losing a house to foreclosure

Would we really tell the people in the above hypothetical situations that there was no such thing as bad shellfish? No such thing as a bad drug reaction or a bad date? No such thing as rape? No such thing as a bad diagnosis, a bad prognosis? Or how about just a bad day? Or something as non-threatening as a bad movie, a bad haircut, or a bad parking job? Would we really tell somebody whose child just died to avoid using the word “bad” to describe her condition?

Perhaps it is true that none of these things are bad, and that all of them are blessings in disguise. But would we really get righteous about it on social media, the way some of us do about denying bad trips?

And what’s so bad about saying “bad,” anyway? Must everything truly be a blessing? (The neurotic writing this article needs to know.)

I’d also like to share the story of Becks. Becks was a 24-year-old female patient of mine with anorexia nervosa who did MDMA-assisted psychotherapy to heal from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) rooted in childhood sexual abuse.

In a follow-up visit, Becks told me that the MDMA-assisted therapy session (done with an underground provider) had done wonders for her. She was getting much more mileage out of her weekly therapy sessions. She was now remembering things she had repressed previously, and she was able to stay present when the memories arose.

Becks had also forgiven herself. She explained that without realizing it, she had blamed herself for what happened to her when she was a child, punishing herself through self-denigrating thoughts, food restriction, and high-risk drinking. Her MDMA-assisted therapy session helped her identify this pattern and realize that she didn’t deserve the blame or the punishment. Having forgiven herself, Becks was now sleeping better at night, eating when she was hungry, and avoiding alcohol. Clearly, much healing had occurred for her.

Yet Becks felt discouraged and worried. “I don’t think I’m doing it right,” she told me while pulling at the rings on her fingers.

“Why’s that?” I asked.

“Well,” she explained, “I know I’m supposed to get to this place where I feel like the trauma was a blessing – and that hasn’t happened.”

“You think you’re supposed to get to a place where you think that being repeatedly molested as a child is a blessing? ” I asked her.

“Yes,” she said with a defeated sigh as she looked at her shoes.

“Where’d you get that idea?”

Her head snapped up to look at me, breathless, huge-eyed. And then she burst out laughing. The laughter turned to tears. She sobbed and babbled something about a podcast she’d heard. Then she laughed some more. Her face lit up and the color returned to her cheeks.

“Becks, was being molested by your stepbrother every night a blessing?” I asked her.

“No, it was a fucking horrible nightmare that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy,” she declared.

“Okay,” I said, “and is it possible that it was a fucking horrible nightmare and that you still get to heal and have a happy adult life starting right now?” I asked.

“ Fuck yeah,” she said. And the look on her face told me she believed it.

(This, by the way, is what happens when you go to a doctor who scores high on neuroticism scales: We acknowledge and celebrate that life might be a fucked up mess sometimes, and that we can still heal even if we don’t buy into toxic positivity.)

(Also: I do have patients who come to see their traumas as gifts. It truly is a powerful and important step in their healing. But let’s not assume that healing cannot happen in other forms. Everyone’s path is different and valid.)

Myth: Talking About Bad Trips Is Going to Harm the Psychedelic Movement

On the day I graduated from medical school, I took an oath to First, Do No Harm . Sometimes, First, Do No Harm means doing the uncomfortable thing or saying what others don’t want to hear. In this case, it means acknowledging that there are risks to using psychedelic substances, and a traumatic trip is one of those risks.

Every therapy, every medicine, every experience comes with risks and benefits. One risk of taking vitamin C is that too much can cause diarrhea. One risk of antibiotics is that they can lead to vaginal yeast infections. One risk of using acetaminophen (paracetamol) is that it’s hard on the liver. One risk of eating a vegan diet is that it can deplete vitamin B12 stores and subsequently trigger depression. One risk of a life-saving surgery is that it can result in a lethal infection. And so forth.

Psychedelic medicines also come with their risks, and the risk of a traumatic trip should be on that list. Admittedly, it should be in small letters, towards the bottom of the list, next to the words “very rare when used in therapeutic contexts.” But traumatic trips are, in fact, “a thing.” They’re part of the fine print.

As far as I know, bad trips have not been reported in any of the clinical trials on psychedelics – but keep in mind that we haven’t had too many people go through the clinical trials as compared to the number of folks doing psychedelics “in the wild.” Bad trips may have also been down-played in the trials as “dysphoria” or “agitation” by the researchers.

Are the possible risks of psychedelic medicines worth wagering for the potential benefits? The answer to that question can only be answered on a case-by-case basis – as with any intervention.

For me personally: The healing engendered by psychedelics has far outweighed and more than redeemed the harm I’ve endured. Every time I take a psychedelic medicine now, I understand that I am taking a risk, and I make the clear, informed decision to proceed – or not to proceed, depending on the circumstance.

When I advocate for the destigmatization and legalization of psychedelics, furthermore, I don’t just act out of love for the movement: I act out of love for my patients.

What’s going to injure the psychedelic movement even more than a level-headed discussion about traumatic trips is the harm that may be caused by denying them.

How to Talk to a Bad Trip Survivor

So, what should we say to a survivor of a traumatic trip? Anything but: “There’s no such thing as a bad trip.”

If somebody tells you they’ve endured a bad trip, treat them as if they’d just told you that they survived an accident, an assault, or another kind of shock. Offer them comfort and support. Listen. Don’t ask them to prove the truth of what they say happened.

Essentially: treat them as you would treat the survivor of any kind of experience that was too much, too hard, and/or too fast for their mind, body, or spirit.

Remember that the word “trauma” does not refer to the distressing event itself, but rather to the resulting emotional and neurological response. Trauma can harm a person’s sense of Self, their sense of safety, their ability to navigate relationships, and their ability to regulate their emotions. Trauma, in other words, is injury to the nervous system that ripples outward. (To be clear: Trauma does not mean simply feeling uncomfortable or offended, as some people mistakenly use it.)

Even if integration of the experience would be helpful for the survivor – and might even help them stop using the term “bad trip” to describe it – that cannot happen at the beginning. The first thing the bad trip survivor likely needs is to know that they are safe now . The nightmare has ended, and they are loved and supported by trustworthy people who care.

How can we help others feel safe? By our presence. By regulating our own breath. By listening. By letting them know that we believe them. By showing empathy. By making them soup, gifting them a massage, or offering to pick their kids up from school. By being kind.

Even if the traumatic trip was the result of poor planning, improper set and setting, or other user error, hold your tongue for now. Think of how you might react if a friend was in a terrible car accident that resulted from driving when they were overly tired.

Think of how you might respond if a child dragged a chair to the kitchen counter and climbed atop it to try and reach the off-limits cookie jar sitting high up on a shelf – only to tumble backwards and slam onto the floor. Would you shout, “Well, that’s what you get for climbing on the chair!” while the poor kiddo cried on the linoleum? I hope not. I hope you would sit by their side, hug them, and stroke their hair. Once you felt their breathing return to normal and the smile return to their face – and not a second sooner – might you ask, “Honey, remember what we said about climbing on the furniture?”

Healing From My Bad Trip

It took me almost eight years to feel like I had fully integrated my bad trip. Curiously, what helped me complete the arc from wound to health was a peyote ceremony.

What prolonged my healing was people insisting that there was no such thing as a bad trip. I heard this line in my ayahuasca circle, at psychedelic conferences, on social media, on podcasts, and in books. The experience-denying and victim-blaming made me feel angry and alone.

Another factor that delayed my full recovery was peer pressure. Buckling to the well-intentioned insistence of friends, I returned to the ayahuasca circle (and other psychedelic circles) sooner than I truly wanted to. This meant that I was taking medicines with a mindset of doubt and fear, which resulted in several dysphoric, confusing, and terrifying journeys that only compounded the injury.

I was fortunate to find a healer who believed in bad trips and who confirmed that I was not fully in my body. Through regular sessions, I was able to return. While my therapist hadn’t had much psychedelic experience herself, she at least believed me. That allowed us to start from a place of trust and not from a place of defensiveness. I also took a break from psychedelics and instead cultivated gentler, more predictable health-affirming practices like singing and going to the gym.

Years after the experience, I read about the concept of “too much, too hard, too fast” in a book about psychedelic facilitation. I felt a surge of heat rush to my face as I read the words; hot tears filled my eyes. I hadn’t made it up. It had happened to me. I wasn’t weak, or stupid, or crazy. But why was the truth so hard for other people to accept?

I’m grateful to my own stubborn will to get better – to that spark within me that keeps me seeking out people, places, and things that can help me heal, grow, and learn.

There was, indeed, some good that came from my bad trip on ayahuasca all those years ago. The seams of that horrific shroud were sewn with golden thread. I am grateful for the blessings gleaned.

I am also grateful to my unconditionally supportive family, friends, and partner, and to Grandfather Peyote for helping me weave the blessings into my life and pull back the heavy curtain.

I had a bad trip, and that’s okay.

And you know? Considering that I’m a neurotic, I’m pretty proud of myself for saying so.

Follow your Curiosity

[1] Barrett FS, Johnson MW, Griffiths RR. Neuroticism is associated with challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms. Pers Individ Dif. 2017 Oct 15;117:155-160. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2017.06.004 .

[2] Petter Grahl Johnstad (2021) The Psychedelic Personality: Personality Structure and Associations in a Sample of Psychedelics Users, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 53:2, 97-103,  DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2020.1842569

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James and Jennifer Crumbley, a school shooter's parents, are sentenced to 10-15 years

Quinn Klinefelter

(From left) James Crumbley, his attorney Mariell Lehman, Jennifer Crumbley and her attorney Shannon Smith sit in court in Pontiac, Mich., for Tuesday's sentencing on four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of four Oxford High School students who were shot and killed by the Crumbleys' son. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images hide caption

(From left) James Crumbley, his attorney Mariell Lehman, Jennifer Crumbley and her attorney Shannon Smith sit in court in Pontiac, Mich., for Tuesday's sentencing on four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of four Oxford High School students who were shot and killed by the Crumbleys' son.

James and Jennifer Crumbley, whose son murdered four classmates and shot seven other people at Oxford High School in 2021, were each sentenced Tuesday in a Pontiac, Mich. courtroom to between 10 and 15 years in prison.

Both Crumbleys were found guilty in separate trials on four counts of involuntary manslaughter. Each of those charges carried a maximum penalty of 15 years, and the sentences are to be served concurrently.

In court, the Crumbleys looked visibly shaken, breathing heavily as they read from prepared statements prior to learning their fate.

James Crumbley spoke directly to the parents of the students his son had murdered. Several family members attended the sentencing.

"I am sorry for your loss as a result of what my son did," he said. "I cannot express how much I wish that I had known what was going on with him or what was going to happen. Because I absolutely would have done a lot of things differently."

James Crumbley, father of school shooter, found guilty of involuntary manslaughter

In her statement, Jennifer Crumbley said she, her husband and her son, Ethan, were an average family.

"We weren't perfect but we loved our son and each other tremendously," Crumbley said. "This could be any parent up here in my shoes. Ethan could be your child, could be your grandchild, your niece, your nephew, your brother, your sister. Your child could make the fatal decision not just with a gun but a knife, a vehicle, intentionally or unintentionally."

The teenagers who lost their lives during the shooting rampage were Justin Shilling and Madisyn Baldwin, both 17, Tate Myre, 16, and 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana. Six other students and a teacher were injured.

When it was time for their families to speak, several members described how the murders still haunted them.

Nicole Beausoleil, whose daughter Madisyn Baldwin was shot at point blank range, told the Crumbleys buying their son a gun when he was already spiraling into despair made them just as responsible as the shooter.

"Not only did your son kill my daughter but you both did as well. The words 'involuntary' should not be a part of your offense. Everything you did that day, months prior and days after were voluntary acts (helping) your son to commit a murder. Not just one, but multiple," Beausoleil said.

A rare prosecution

The Crumbleys are believed to be the first parents of a mass school shooter to have been charged and convicted of such crimes. Many legal experts say it could set a precedent for charging parents with serious crimes because of actions taken by their child.

Their son, Ethan Crumbley, pleaded guilty to murder and previously was sentenced to life without parole for the school shooting he carried out when he was 15.

Prosecutors never claimed the parents knew about their son's plans to go on a killing spree at Michigan's Oxford High School. However, they argued the Crumbleys ignored signs their son was seriously troubled and bought him a powerful Sig Sauer 9mm handgun as an early Christmas present.

They never told counselors about the gun they gifted their child when they were called to a meeting at the school the day of the shooting, not even when they were shown drawings the teen made. The images featured a pistol resembling the Sig Sauer alongside a figure with bullet wounds and phrases like "blood everywhere" and "help me, the thoughts won't stop."

Jennifer Crumbley convicted of involuntary manslaughter over son's school shooting

Instead, the Crumbleys left their son at school and returned to work. A few hours later, Ethan emerged from a school bathroom with the gun and began firing his first of 32 shots.

Prosecutors told the jury if the Crumbleys had taken a "tragically few steps," four Oxford students would likely still be alive.

They showed evidence that the murder weapon was never properly secured away from their troubled son.

In court, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald used the murder weapon to demonstrate how to use a cable lock to keep the gun from being fired.

The process took about 10 seconds.

A 'chilling' lack of remorse

The prosecution had asked for the Crumbleys to serve 10 to 15 years in prison, citing what they called a "chilling lack of remorse" on the part of both parents after the shooting.

Prosecutors noted that Jennifer Crumbley testified during her trial that "I've asked myself if I would've done anything differently. And I wouldn't have."

And they pointed to repeated profanity-laced threats James Crumbley made against Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald on jailhouse phone calls he knew were being recorded, as well as in an electronic message.

'Mistakes any parent could make'

James Crumbley's attorney countered that his client had not physically threatened the prosecutor, he merely "vented" his anger over what he saw as an unjust incarceration.

The Crumbleys said they, too, were victims of their son, who they claimed had "manipulated" them into the purchase of a gun they had no idea he would use to kill.

They argued they made "mistakes any parent could make," given the information they had.

Defense attorneys for the couple noted an Oxford High counselor determined Ethan could remain in school the day of the shooting because he did not seem to pose a danger to himself or anyone else.

The couple maintained they thought their son was a normal teenager simply depressed over the loss of his grandmother, a pet dog and a friend who had moved away.

In a pre-sentencing interview with state officials, Jennifer Crumbley said that with the benefit of hindsight, "There are so many things I would change if I could go back in time."

Defense claims extra prison time unnecessary

The Crumbleys had asked to be sentenced to time served.

Defense attorneys argued the parents had already spent more than two and a half years in prison locked in a cell for 23 hours a day, and that further prison time was not necessary because the Crumbleys were not a threat to the public.

Defense attorney Shannon Smith also said more time would not deter others from committing a similar offense because "there is no person who would want the events of Nov. 30, 2021, to repeat themselves."

Smith added that, far from being the uncaring, remorseless mother prosecutors had portrayed to the public and the media, Jennifer Crumbley was focused on her son and distraught over the devastation her son caused.

In a sentencing memo, Jennifer Crumbley's parents and others pleaded with the court for leniency. A young woman, who said she was 18 when she became Crumbley's cellmate for a year and a half, also wrote to the judge.

She said Crumbley had greeted her with a basket of snacks and served as a mother figure to her.

The woman also wrote that inmates screamed threats at Crumbley, who tearfully told them she was sorry and "wished she could change everything her son had done."

Though Judge Cheryl Matthews sentenced the Crumbleys to the stiffest penalty possible, she said that the sentences were not designed to send a message to other parents or prosecutors that they should hold families responsible for children's crimes.

"These convictions are not about poor parenting. These convictions confirm repeated acts, or lack of acts, that could have halted an oncoming runaway train. About repeatedly ignoring things that would make a reasonable person feel the hair on the back of their neck stand up," Matthews said.

Moments after they were sentenced, the Crumbleys began filling out paperwork in the courtroom for an appeal.

Their son, Ethan, who pleaded guilty in October 2022 to murder and terrorism charges, is also likely to appeal his sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

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What Needs to Change About DEI — and What Doesn’t

As DEI faces social, political, and legal backlash, leaders need to take stock of their efforts.

As DEI work faces increasing scrutiny socially, politically, and legally, organizations are taking extra care to re-evaluate their DEI efforts. Leaders are right to consider change, not as a reaction to backlash, but to work toward a more accountable, transparent, and successful vision of what DEI could be. The author identifies three things that need to change: 1) Clumsy, jargon-heavy communication, 2) disconnected and decoupled DEI goals and programs, and 3) nonexistent or vanity DEI measurement. They also identify three things that should be maintained: 1) Responsiveness to broader society, 2) commitment to healthy organizations, and 3) the belief that we can be better.

Organizations and their leaders have endeavored to create more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizations in one way or another since the mid-1960s , even as the sociopolitical climate around these efforts has fluctuated.

• Lily Zheng  is a diversity, equity, and inclusion strategist, consultant, and speaker   who works with organizations to achieve the DEI impact and outcomes they need.   They are the author of DEI Deconstructed: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Doing the Work and Doing it Right. 

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His Wife Had A Spending Problem So He Put Her On A Budget, But When He Said No To A Girl’s Trip He Started To Look Bad

The internet does not take kindly these days to men who seem in any way controlling of their partners.

That said, I think we can all agree that some people need help controlling their spending, regardless of gender identity.

This husband and wife have an arrangement of paying bills and spending that keeps their finances largely separated.

When we married, we decided not to fully combine our finances. We have a shared account in which i fund 3/4 and she fund 1/4. We use this account to pay the mortgage, utilities, grocery, etc. We also have our separate accounts where we deposit the rest of our money. We’re responsible for our own investments and cars. Things worked well for a couple of years until recently when she came to me crying.

When she way overspent, though, she asked him for a loan.

It turns out my wife is not good with her money and owes $150,000 spread over several credit cards and her car loan. Unless she wins the lottery, there’s no way she would be able to pay off her debt and I didn’t want her to mess up her credit by declaring bankruptcy. I decided to loan her the money to pay off the debt on strict conditions.

Now, he doesn’t approve of her spending any “extra” until she pays him back.

I will take over her finances including receiving her income. She will be placed on a strict allowance and budget. She will have to ask permission to buy anything over $50 and have to go by my judgment. Once she pays me back the money, she can take control of her own finances. She argued against the conditions until I pointed out I don’t have $150,000 in cash stuff in the couch. I will have to sell some assets including stocks that are currently performing well. If I loan her the money, it will cost me money. She finally agreed.

It’s not that she doesn’t appreciate the loan, she just thinks he’s not being very nice.

This weekend we were at a dinner party where after too many drinks, some of the women decided they wanted to take a girls trip a few weekends from now. My wife turned to ask me if she could go and I answered no, it’s not in her budget. I’ll spare you the details of the argument that erupted but the TLDR version is that I’m a misogynist pig who keeps her on a leash. Some argued I should have bailed her out without conditions because there should be none in a marriage. The hurtful part is that she didn’t once defend me. So, was I wrong to put those conditions on her?

Does Reddit think he’s out of line? I’m super curious myself!

The top commenter says it seems his wife has still not learned her lesson.

In fact, things might even get worse.

People on Reddit have serious trust issues.

They’re not sure this is going to work out.

But you do need to CYA.

I think he’s well within his rights here.

But he’s not going to do his marriage any favors taking the hard line.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a daughter who invited herself to her parents’ 40th anniversary vacation for all the wrong reasons .

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The post His Wife Had A Spending Problem So He Put Her On A Budget, But When He Said No To A Girl’s Trip He Started To Look Bad first on TwistedSifter .