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Feeling more during a session is a frequently expressed wish. Some people notice in their daily lives that emotions feel muted, that they are mostly stuck in their heads, or that feelings only sink in very late. In conversations about truffles and psilocybin, the same question often comes up: can you get better in touch with your feelings during a session, and if so, how does that work?

In this article, we take a nuanced look at what psilocybin can do to emotional experience during a session, which factors determine whether you actually feel “more,” and how to approach this as safely and carefully as possible. We distinguish between what is known from research, what people often report in anecdotal accounts, and which practical points of attention are relevant in a session context.

What is meant by “feeling more” during a session?

“Feeling more” can mean different things. For one person, it is experiencing emotions such as sadness, being moved, or joy more intensely. For another, it is about better recognizing what is playing out beneath the surface, such as tension, shame, or grief. And yet another means that emotions are pushed away less quickly and can remain in focus longer without immediately wanting to resolve or rationalize them away.

It is useful to explore this beforehand, because a session can not only increase intensity but also provide clarity. Sometimes, during a session, someone does not necessarily feel “more,” but rather more precisely. For example: instead of a general unease, it becomes recognizable as grief over loss, or as fear that has long been avoided.

Psilocybin and emotional experience: what is generally known?

Psilocybin is the active substance found in magic truffles, among other things. In the body, psilocybin is converted into psilocin, which acts in the brain primarily via serotonin systems. Scientific literature often describes that psychedelics, including psilocybin, can cause changes in perception, attention, meaning-making, and emotional processing.

What frequently recurs in research and clinical contexts is that people can temporarily view themselves and their experiences differently. This can be accompanied by increased emotional accessibility, greater self-compassion, or conversely, the processing of difficult themes. At the same time, the outcome varies significantly from person to person and from session to session. It is therefore not a “switch” that you flip, after which emotions automatically come to the table in a pleasant, organized manner.

It is important to emphasize: this is not a medical claim or promise. A session may be experienced as enriching, but it can also be confusing, overwhelming, or feel emotionally flat. Both sides are part of a realistic picture.

Why do some people experience fewer “thoughts” and more feelings?

In personal accounts, people frequently indicate that there is less constant thinking, or that thoughts are less dominant. This can create space for what lies beneath those thoughts. If someone normally analyzes or downplays emotions quickly, a changed mental focus during a session can mean that feelings come in more directly.

Another way to describe it is that there is less automatic control. In daily life, there are often learned strategies to regulate discomfort, such as seeking distraction, rationalizing, or suppressing emotions. In a session, those strategies may temporarily work less naturally. That can feel liberating, but also unsettling. The “feeling more” is then not only an increase in emotion, but also a decrease in avoidance.

This mechanism is often cited as an explanation, but it remains complex. Your personal history, your current stress level, your expectations, and the setting play at least as significant a role.

Suppressed emotions surfacing: opportunity and focus

A frequently mentioned effect is that suppressed or hidden emotions can come to the surface. This can involve sadness, anger, fear, shame, or loneliness. For some people, this feels as if they are finally making “contact” with something that has been locked away for a long time.

This can be a valuable experience, precisely because it offers the opportunity to allow emotions, explore them, and give them meaning. At the same time, this requires nuance: the fact that something arises does not automatically mean that it has been processed immediately. Sometimes a session opens a door, but integration is needed afterward to place it in daily life in a manageable way.

It can also happen that emotions are so intense that you feel overwhelmed. That is not necessarily “wrong,” but it is a signal that safety, support, and pace are important.

What determines whether a session is emotionally deepening?

In practice, there are a few factors that often determine the emotional quality of a session. These are not guarantees, but they are recurring themes.

First: intention. An open, curious intention can help, for example, “I want to listen to what is alive within me” instead of “I *must* resolve my trauma today.” The second phrasing puts pressure on the experience and can increase tension.

Secondly: set and setting. Set concerns your mental and emotional state, including stress, sleep, recent events, and expectations. Setting concerns the environment: privacy, quiet, music, light, safety, and whether you can surrender. A restless or unsafe setting makes it more difficult to allow emotions.

Thirdly: guidance and support. Many people benefit from a present, stable guide who helps them ground themselves and breathe, and who does not direct but is available. This can also help when difficult emotions arise, so that you are not alone with the intensity.

Fourth: integration. Emotional depth often only becomes meaningful when you take time to process it afterward: talking, writing, resting, and observing how insights or feelings impact relationships, boundaries, and self-care. Without integration, a session can feel “big” but remain elusive.

Common misunderstandings about emotions in a session

A first misconception is that “feeling more” is always pleasant. Sometimes it is actually the confrontation with painful emotions that could not be felt for a long time. That can be valuable, but it is not the same as a comfortable experience.

A second misconception is that intensity equates to depth. A session can be very intense without you being able to do anything with it afterwards. Conversely, a session can feel relatively mild yet provide subtle, lasting changes in perspective. Intensity is therefore not a quality label.

A third misconception is that an emotion that arises is always “truth” in the sense of an exact reconstruction of the past. Emotions are real as an experience in the moment, but the stories your brain constructs around them can be colored. Therefore, it is wise to be cautious about drawing major conclusions after a session, especially regarding relationships, diagnoses, or decisions.

Safety and harm reduction: down-to-earth and practical

Psilocybin is not an innocent wellness tool. It can evoke profound experiences, but also fear, panic, or disorientation. Harm reduction is about minimizing risks, without pretending that risks can be completely avoided.

In practical terms, this often means: ensure a safe, calm environment and a reliable sitter or caregiver, do not start from a state of exhaustion or high stress, and plan sufficient time for rest afterward. The use of multi-substances can pose additional risks and makes effects harder to predict. It is also wise to consider your current mental resilience. If you are already unstable, “feeling more” can also become “feeling too much.”.

Furthermore, it is relevant to note that what people refer to as a “therapeutic” session takes various forms in the Netherlands. With psilocybin, there is often talk of guided sessions in a non-medical context. With MDMA, the situation is different. Currently, MDMA sessions can only be discussed within scientific research or in practice via harm reduction. This means that there is no regular, recognized treatment offering like standard care, and that one must be extra critical regarding context, screening, transparency, and boundaries.

Trauma and emotions: why caution is important

Someone who has experienced trauma may encounter very strong emotional material during a session. This can manifest as sadness, freezing, physical reactions, flashback-like images, or an intense state of alarm. For some people, it can be helpful to feel this through in a safe context. For others, it can be disruptive, especially if there is little support or if the session goes too deep too quickly.

Therefore, it is wise to pay extra attention to preparation and aftercare when dealing with trauma-related issues. Consider discussing signs of overload beforehand, agreements regarding touch and boundaries, and methods for grounding. A good session is not necessarily one in which you open up as much as possible, but rather one in which you can stay within your “window of tolerance.”.

How does this relate to the question from the forum?

The forum topic describes that it is possible to get better in touch with your feelings during a truffle session, and that this may be associated with an intensification of emotional experience and a reduction of dominant thoughts. This aligns with many anecdotal accounts and general hypotheses in the literature, but it remains no certainty for every individual. Sometimes, excessive thinking arises, or emotional confusion occurs. Furthermore, “contact with feelings” can mean that sadness or fear surfaces, and this requires careful consideration.

Anyone who wants to read the original question and context can do so via this source page. View this primarily as an opening for reflection, not as a manual or proof that it works the same for everyone.

When might it be appropriate to seek guidance?

If you find that you are primarily seeking emotional deepening regarding difficult themes such as loss, trauma, persistent shame, or relational patterns, guidance can be helpful. Not because guidance guarantees an outcome, but because it can support preparation, safety, and subsequent integration. A guide can also help distinguish between experience, interpretation, and next steps in daily life.

On mdmatherapie.nl, you will find information about various session contexts. If you would like to explore a guided MDMA session in a harm-reduction context, you can do so via sign up for an MDMA session. Read carefully what is and is not offered, and take the time to ask questions about procedures, safety, and aftercare.

Conclusion

Yes, some people experience a greater connection with their feelings during a psilocybin or truffle session. This can manifest as more intense emotions, reduced mental control, or the surface of repressed feelings. At the same time, the effect is unpredictable and not always comfortable. Emotional deepening often requires a good set and setting, careful guidance where appropriate, and post-session integration. Therefore, approach it with a sober mind, paying attention to safety and realistic expectations.