What causes spontaneous tripping?

Dear Gandhi admirer, 

Your mind might take a trip even when you haven’t used any substances. Typically, tripping means experiencing psychotic symptoms. This includes hallucinations or delusions, and they usually happen soon after using certain substances. Marijuana (or cannabis) can be one of those substances that can sometimes spark these symptoms.  

But not every trip needs a ticket. Some people may experience tripping-like symptoms without any recent drug use. These can sometimes be connected to mental health or medical conditions. Read on to learn about the difference between psychosis and tripping, whether cannabis can cause psychosis, and what you can do if you’re concerned about these symptoms.  

How is tripping different than psychosis? 

Experiencing a drug trip is similar to experiencing psychosis, but there are some key differences. Drugs that have hallucinogenic properties can cause temporary sensory trips while using, such as seeing or hearing things that aren’t present. These effects only occur while the drug is active in the body and typically fades when the drug itself wears off. 

In contrast, psychosis is when someone loses touch with reality. It’s not one specific condition, but a group of symptoms that can make it difficult to recognize what’s real and what’s not. Psychosis is usually a more chronic or ongoing symptom of underlying psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. The main symptoms of psychotic disorders include hallucinations and delusions. 

• Hallucinations: these happen when your brain perceives something that isn’t actually there. Hallucinations can involve senses such as sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell. An example of this is an auditory hallucination where someone might hear a voice when no one is speaking. 
• Delusions: these are strong beliefs that aren't baked into reality. For example, a person might believe their thoughts or actions are being controlled by someone else when that isn’t reality. 

What is Substance-Induced Psychosis (SIP)? 

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) defines substance-induced psychosis (SIP) as a condition associated with delusions or hallucinations that happen during or after the intoxication or withdrawal from a drug. These symptoms usually occur within or after a month of use or withdrawal.  

For some people who experience SIP, drugs might rewire the brain producing similar effects to those of psychotic disorders, where the trip doesn't stop even when the drug wears off. For other people, using substances like cannabis, amphetamines, and hallucinogens may instead trigger underlying mental conditions such as bipolar disorder or psychotic disorders, especially if there’s a family or genetic risk.  

What is Cannabis-Induced Psychosis (CIP)? 

Cannabis-induced psychosis (CIP) is a type of substance-induced psychosis that specifically occurs in connection with cannabis use. According to the DSM-5, CIP involves hallucinations or delusions that begin during or soon after cannabis intoxication or withdrawal. These symptoms are specifically identified as CIP if they last for a month or more after use.  

Research also suggests that there might be a connection between CIP and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. More research needs to be done to understand the exact cause, but cannabis use may influence certain brain chemicals such as dopamine and Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA). Changes in these chemicals could potentially contribute to the onset of schizophrenia.  

Additionally, the risk of a psychotic disorder appears to be higher for people who start using cannabis in adolescence, particularly those with a family history of psychotic disorders. For people already living with a psychotic disorder, cannabis use can also worsen existing symptoms.   

What are other potential causes of psychosis symptoms? 

There's no single cause for psychosis—there can be a combination of several potential causes.  

Hallucinations are often linked to medical or mental conditions such as:  

• Epilepsy
• Brain tumors
• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• Severe lack of sleep
• High fever
• Trauma or grief 

Sometimes, even medications prescribed for other health issues can trip up your brain signals and cause hallucinations. Other circumstances that may cause psychosis include: 

• Misuse of alcohol or prescription medications: this can sometimes temporarily bend reality with the effects lingering for a longer period. 
• Head injuries: concussions or other traumatic brain injuries can disrupt how you process sight or sound.
• Extreme levels of stress or anxiety: when the body is under high strain, this may affect brain function.   

List adapted from Cleveland Clinic 

What can you do to address your concerns?  

If you’re worried about what you’re experiencing, meeting with a health care provider or reaching out to a psychiatrist can be a great first step. They can help you understand what’s going on and discuss what you can do next. If you’re also thinking about cutting back on cannabis, either of these people may be able to support you with that too. 

Experiencing spontaneous trips can happen for different reasons such as underlying medical conditions, mental health conditions, lifestyle factors, or previous cannabis use. So, checking in with a health care provider can more accurately help you identify what’s happening and how to address it.  

Safe trip,