The mushroom effect is described as a 'trip' because it is a long (4-6 hours) and powerful experience which takes you beyond normal perception and then back again.

At low doses, mushrooms induce a tingling body feeling and sense of euphoria and lightness. You may feel happy and giggly. Colours seem more vibrant, music sounds richer.

Simply put, it alters and expands consciousness by loosening or - at higher doses- completely erasing the normal filters and screens between your conscious mind and the outside world.

With these filters down, more information rushes in and you became aware of things normally filtered out out by your mind. You sense more, think more, feel more. Visual, auditory, sensory, emotional. The intricate details on surfaces, the richness of sound, the brightness of colours, and the complexity of your own mental processes.

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come up
The effects begin to be felt between 20 minutes to an hour after ingestion. The first signs are a sense of euphoria and expectation, along with a tingling body feeling.

Once started, the effects usually take between 30-45 minutes to 'come up' and reach their peak.

It is common to feel some nausea during this stage. It can be reduced by having an empty stomach.

peak
The peak effect lasts for for one to two hours. A clear symptom is rich visual hallucinations. Colours seem more vibrant. Surfaces may ripple and shimmer. You may notice tiny details on objects. Music sounds richer and louder.

At the same time, you may feel blissful, have flashes of insight into yourself or the world, experience severe time-distortion, or feel yourself dissolving or see objects merging into one another.

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comedown
The trip wears off gradually after 4 to 6 hours, although you may continue to feel tender and altered until you get a full night's sleep.

after effects
Psychologically, any insights or feelings you have had whilst bemushroomed will stay with you. A positive experience can give you a glow lasting hours, days or even weeks afterwards.

At the same time, bad trips, like any traumatic experience, are likely to stay with you for a while afterwards. Fear and anxiety for a few days is not uncommon but these will fade.