Depression after psychedelics and feeling "broken": what helps

If you've felt low, hopeless or flat since a difficult psychedelic experience, or you're afraid the trip has permanently damaged you, you are not alone. Depression after psychedelics is a common concern after a bad trip, and for most people it lifts with time.

On this page you'll find what others have experienced, how long these feelings tend to last, what has helped people recover, and when to reach out for professional help.

Feeling "broken" after a bad trip

In the 2023 Canadian Psychedelic Survey of over 2000 people, 52% reported they had experienced at least one intensely challenging trip. And of those, 35% reported being affected by the fear ‘Worried about never being the same after the trip’.

In CPEP's own survey of extended difficulties after psychedelic experiences, 6% of people reported that they were affected by ‘fear of having permanently damaged the self’ for an extended period after a trip, and another 6% reported ‘fear of going mad’. Here are some of the responses we themed under ‘fear of having permanently damaged the self’:

Occasional overwhelming anxiety that ebbed and flowed, feelings of being out of control of my thoughts, feeling that my brain was 'broken'. Depression.

I took MDMA and drank alcohol at my friends wedding and the psychedelic experience was not bad or challenging. The only symptom I perceived the next day is that my toes became numb and this persisted for several days. However, two weeks later I experienced the strongest anxiety attack I have ever had which lasted two days and I am still having trouble with my mental health and understanding what has happened. I have to say I am not completely sure that the MDMA triggered this persistent anxiety and feeling of weight and numbness in the head, but I had never felt it before like this. I was afraid that I had damaged myself for good and that I was going crazy or that I would have a stroke or die. The feeling was so unbearable I even thought I could not possible continue on living if it was to last more than a week. Today I feel much better but have some good and some bad days.

A few months before my trip, an aunt had experienced a mental break. In the aftermath of my trip I was overcome with a fear that I had just done irreversible damage to my brain and that I would be stuck in "a bad place" like her.

I was worried that I had caused permanent damage to my consciousness. Because I think such intense emotional experiences leave an imprint on us, on our hearts, and it takes a while to resolve. These feelings were with me for at least half a year but maybe longer.

Psychedelic journeys do not always end on a euphoric note. In the aftermath of psychedelic experiences, it is not uncommon to encounter emotional difficulties that linger long after the trip has ended. Among these challenges, feelings of depression emerge as a common concern.

For most people in our research, feelings of depression after a psychedelic experience lasted up to six months. For some they were more fleeting, and for others they lasted longer. They also ranged from mild to very severe. Recovery is possible even when it takes a long time, and most people recover from an intensely challenging trip within days or weeks. If you're experiencing severe post-psychedelic depression or suicidal ideation, please contact professional help such as the University of Berlin's post-psychedelic difficulties clinic, which offers free online consultations.

What depression after psychedelics can feel like

Feelings of depression following a psychedelic experience can manifest in various ways. For some, it may feel like a persistent sense of sadness and hopelessness. Others may find themselves in a state of low mood or anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure in normally enjoyable activities), where even the simplest pleasures lose their appeal. This sense of despair can be worsened by a lack of support or understanding from those around them.

I collapsed into a severe, almost catatonic depression. I could not even tell my husband that I was having suicidal ideation. I reached out to my therapist for integration sessions once and when he did not reply, I fell further into the abyss of hopelessness and despair. I went through the motions of existing, grateful that my busy schedule held me accountable for alive, but I did not see the point. This lasted over 2 months.

If you're having thoughts of suicide

If you are having thoughts of ending your life, please reach out for help now: call your local emergency number, go to the nearest emergency department, or contact a crisis line in your country. You don't have to wait until things get worse.

While the majority of individuals do not experience suicidality after psychedelic experiences, it is important to acknowledge that for some, suicidal thoughts may arise. Suicidal ideation can be distressing and alarming, requiring immediate attention and support from mental health professionals or loved ones.

What helps with depression after psychedelics

When dealing with feelings of depression, it can be helpful to reach out to trusted friends, family members, and/or mental health professionals who can offer understanding and guidance. Engaging in self-care practices such as mindfulness, exercise, and creative expression can also help manage difficult emotions and promote overall well-being.

The most commonly reported coping strategies that individuals found helpful for managing post-psychedelic feelings of depression include getting therapy or coaching, support from peers and family, and physical exercise.

Coping methods people found helpful for depression after psychedelics

Here are some practices people generally have reported to find helpful to cope with challenging psychedelic experiences:

  • Speaking to friends and family or attending a peer support group
  • Speaking to a therapist, especially one who is familiar with psychedelic difficulties (CBT is often effective for anxiety and panic problems, although some also say they are helped by somatic therapy exercises that help regulate their nervous system).
  • Cognitive practices like compassionate self-talk, cognitive distancing, and especially meditation and prayer
  • Embodied self-care practices like exercise, yoga, walking in nature or body relaxation
  • Finding useful information online and in books (e.g. the work of Stanislav Grof’s or “Breaking Open: Finding a Way Through Spiritual Emergency” by Jules Evans and Tim Read)
  • Journaling
  • Engage in creative activities like writing, art-making, or music
  • Some people find medication helpful.

It is essential to explore and integrate these strategies in a way that resonates with personal preferences and needs, seeking support from professionals or trusted sources as needed.

When to seek professional help

Low mood after a bad trip can ease on its own, but it's worth talking
to a doctor or a therapist who understands post-psychedelic difficulties
if:

  • your low mood has lasted several weeks and isn't lifting, or is getting worse
  • you've lost interest in things you normally enjoy
  • you're struggling to sleep, eat, work or look after yourself
  • you can't shake the belief that you've permanently damaged yourself

Our practitioner directory lists therapists and clinicians experienced with post-psychedelic difficulties, and our free monthly online support group is a place to talk with others who understand. Get urgent help straight away if you have thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life, or if you or people around you notice signs such as hearing or seeing things others don't, or holding strong beliefs that others find very unusual. Call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department.

Jules' story: "I believed I had broken my brain"

Jules Evans, the director of CPEP, was inspired to start this project because he experienced severe post-psychedelic difficulties from 18-24. Here he shares a bit about the feeling of having 'broken your self' after psychedelics:

When I had a bad trip, aged 18, I went to bed that night with one thought burning a hole in my brain: ‘you’ve done it now, you’ve permanently damaged yourself, you’re damaged goods’.

Over the next six years or so, that seemed to be true. I experienced various involuntary and unwanted mental states – panic attacks, nightmares, mood swings, social anxiety and derealization.

The worst of it was the belief that I had broken my brain and was fated to be broken for the rest of my life. I suffered from a deep sense of neuro-chemical fatalism and determinism.

The precise moment this changed was when I had a near-death experience, aged 24. I won’t go into the details (I describe it at length here), but during the brief, ecstatic experience I experienced the strong intuition ‘you are OK, you are not broken. What is causing your suffering is your beliefs’.

This turned out to be true. It was my belief ‘you have permanently broken your brain’ which caused a lot of my depression, fatalism, helplessness and social phobia. When I let go of that belief, I opened up to the possibility of healing and recovery. It took a long time to fully recover, nonetheless - over a decade, I’d say. Don’t worry, that’s very unusual. Most recover from an intensely challenging trip in a few days or weeks.

Now, many years later, I have a happy and fulfilled life, relatively speaking, and I lead the Challenging Psychedelic Experiences Project to try and help others stuck in adverse and unwanted mental states after psychedelic experiences.

And it turns out my situation was far from unique.  

Frequently asked questions

Can psychedelics cause depression?

A difficult psychedelic experience can be followed by a period of low mood, hopelessness or loss of pleasure. In our research, this was a common concern after bad trips, and for most people it passed within six months.

Have I permanently damaged my brain?

Fear of permanent damage is one of the most common fears after a bad trip, and many people who felt this way went on to recover. As Jules describes in his story, the belief that you are “broken” can itself add to the suffering. A professional familiar with post-psychedelic difficulties can help you talk it through.

How long does depression after psychedelics last?

For most people in our research it lasted up to six months, and it can be shorter or longer. If it is lasting or getting worse, please seek professional support.

What helps most?

People in our research most often found therapy or coaching, support from peers and family, and physical exercise helpful.

Where can I find support?

You can join our free monthly online support group, find a practitioner in our directory, or contact the Fireside Project’s support line for emotional support during and after psychedelic experiences.

Further resources

For further information and support, the following web resources and support services are recommended:

Source: Evans, J. et al. (2023). Extended difficulties following the use of psychedelic drugs: A mixed methods study. PLOS One, 18(10), e0293349.