One of the main reasons people hesitate to drink Ayahuasca is the fear of losing control. For a few hours, you hand yourself over to a plant medicine that can open your consciousness in ways the mind cannot predict. That sounds terrifying for many — and yet, losing control may be the very thing that allows for a quantum leap in your healing journey.
In this article, I’ll share both personal experiences and insights on why the fear of losing control is so common, what it really means in ceremony, and why surrender can become the most liberating choice you ever make.
Key takeaways: Losing Control on Ayahuasca
- Fear of losing control is natural — but control itself is mostly an illusion. Ayahuasca reveals how much of our “reality” is shaped by our inner world.
- Losing control doesn’t mean chaos — most people remain aware of their body and surroundings, and rare cases of full physical loss of control are safely supported by facilitators.
- Surrender is where the medicine works best — in a trusted ceremonial container, letting go often leads to the deepest breakthroughs and most liberating experiences.
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FAQ
Will I lose control completely during Ayahuasca?
No, you do not completely lose control on Ayahuasca. Most participants remain conscious of their body and surroundings. While you may feel overwhelmed or deeply immersed in visions, total loss of control is very rare.
How much control do you actually have when drinking Ayahuasca?
You remain in control of your basic body functions. In the vast majority of cases, you are aware of where you are, though your perception or balance may be distorted. This is why facilitators support participants — for example, helping when walking to the bathroom.
Will I lose control of my bowels or “shit my pants” during Ayahuasca?
No, it is highly unlikely you will lose control of your bowels during Ayahuasca. Almost everyone is aware of when they need to use the bathroom and can get there in time. The main advice participants share: don’t trust the fart 😉.
What if I panic during a ceremony?
Yes, panic can sometimes happen during a ceremony. The medicine can amplify fears, making them feel overwhelming in the moment. This is part of the healing process, and facilitators are trained to help — using tools like breathwork, hapé, or grounding support to guide you safely through it.
Can Ayahuasca make me go crazy?
No, Ayahuasca does not make you permanently lose your mind. It can stir up intense emotions that feel overwhelming, but this usually passes and integration brings clarity. However, people with psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder are at higher risk of psychosis. That’s why safe retreats with proper screening are essential. Learn more about Ayahuasca and psychosis here.
Why is surrender so important in Ayahuasca?
Surrender is key because resistance makes the process harder. The more you let go, the easier it is for Ayahuasca’s healing intelligence to work. Flowing with the medicine instead of fighting it often leads to the deepest breakthroughs.
How do facilitators handle someone acting out?
Facilitators calmly ensure safety if someone becomes physically disruptive. They may guide the person to a separate space, use supportive tools such as ortiga or hapé, and protect the group. In very rare situations, if someone is moving uncontrollably and at risk of injuring themselves, gentle restraint may be necessary. Participants in that state are usually unaware of it, and restraint is never punishment — only a last-resort safety measure.
The Importance of Trust, Preparation, and Intention
One of the most important parts of drinking Ayahuasca is where and with whom you drink. Choosing a retreat where you feel trust in the facilitators and the shaman allows you to enter the ceremony as calm as possible. A certain level of nervousness is normal, but without that trust, fear can be amplified during the experience.
Equally important are your preparation and intention. Drinking Ayahuasca is not for recreational purposes — it is a sacred medicine that requires clarity and commitment. Preparing yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically creates stability, while holding a clear intention helps guide the process.
These three factors — the right place, intention, and preparation — ground you before the journey even begins and make it easier to surrender once the medicine starts working.
Why Losing Control Feels So Scary
The Illusion of Control in Daily Life
We like to believe we are in control. Our culture glorifies the rational mind, repeating Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am.” We plan, we strategize, we micromanage life. And yet, the harder we try to hold control, the more anxiety creeps in — because life constantly reminds us that much is outside our hands.
Living in a Self-Constructed World
What we call “objective reality” is often just a projection of our inner world. We carry repressed trauma, unresolved experiences, and limiting beliefs that shape how we see everything. These projections feel valid because people and situations in our life seem to fit them perfectly. But in truth, we’re hallucinating all the time — tripping on our traumas without realizing it.
So when Ayahuasca challenges that viewpoint, it’s no surprise that fear arises.
For many, the fear of losing control is at the core of their fear of drinking Ayahuasca
What “Losing Control” Means in Ceremony
It’s Not Chaos — It’s Surrender
Losing control on Ayahuasca doesn’t mean going wild or dangerous. More often, it means being guided into a space beyond the mind – into the subconscious, the emotional body, and the spirit. It can feel like an energetic or spiritual surgery, where the medicine works far deeper than your conscious will.
Difference Between Fear and Danger
Fear says, “I don’t want to let go.”
Danger means, “I’m actually unsafe.”
In a well-held ceremonial container with experienced facilitators, you are safe. What you experience as “losing control” is the ego’s resistance to surrender.
Find out if Ayahuasca is right for you
- Will you be safe physically and emotionally?
- How will you be supported in the ceremony?
- How do the facilitators handle difficult situations?
- How will you be able to process the experience?
- You want change, but will your life be unrecognizable after Ayahuasca?
+ 13 things to consider before drinking Ayahuasca?
Common Fears Around Losing Control
- Fear of going crazy or not coming back
- Fear of being judged while vulnerable in front of others
- Fear of overwhelming emotions that feel unbearable
- Fear of acting out (screaming, shaking, hitting)
The truth is: yes, people sometimes express repressed emotions strongly. They may cry, shout, or even move uncontrollably. But what looks frightening from outside often feels profoundly liberating inside. Participants frequently describe these moments as breakthroughs — even asking for another cup afterward.
Lessons From Other States of Consciousness
Sleep and Dreams
Every night when you sleep, you surrender control. Your conscious mind turns off, yet your body functions perfectly. You’ve simply learned to trust that state of consciousness.
Flow States in Sports and Music
- Javi Martínez, in a Champions League final, admitted he had no memory of the match – he was so deeply in the flow that life itself played through him.
- Drummers in shamanic circles often play themselves into trance, not thinking, not controlling – just flowing.
In all of these examples, letting go of control allows something greater to move through.
Navigating Loss of Control With Ayahuasca
Will You Completely Lose Control?
For most, no. You may feel overwhelmed or guided into places you didn’t expect, but you’ll rarely act in ways that are truly out of character. Experienced facilitators are present to ensure safety and containment.
How to Work With It
- Trust the medicine — resist less, surrender more.
- Use grounding tools like breathwork or hapé when needed.
- Choose the right retreat with facilitators who know how to hold space.
The paradox is that the more you try to fight the medicine, the stronger the struggle becomes. When you surrender, acceptance, compassion, and peace arise.
When People Actually Do Lose Control in Ceremony
Sometimes Ayahuasca invites us into an experience of truly letting go. In rare cases, a person may lose control of their body — moving around uncontrollably, not maintaining composure, and appearing absent from the ceremony. From the outside, it can look exhausting or even frightening.
Yet inwardly, these individuals are usually in a deep, inward journey. What appears chaotic is often a release of something that has been trapped inside for years. The medicine brings it up, and it finally has space to move out — in the safety of the ceremonial container.
At our retreats, we see this happen maybe once every three to five months. It is rare, but when it does occur, participants almost always describe it as deeply liberating. The experience teaches them that they can give away control, trust the process, and see that they are taken care of.
The Gift of Surrender: Quantum Jumps
Moments of surrender are often where the greatest transformation happens. As Dr. Joe Dispenza puts it:
“Become nobody, no one, no thing, nowhere, and in no time. Detach from the 3D reality and enter the quantum field of possibilities.”
In these states, the boundaries of self dissolve, and you can experience profound healing, new insights, and even quantum leaps in consciousness.
Trusting the Medicine, Trusting Life
If you are afraid of losing control during an Ayahuasca ceremony, ask yourself: Am I also afraid of losing control in life?
Clinging to control is often what suffocates life. By learning to surrender — in ceremony and in everyday existence — you open the door to healing, freedom, and extraordinary possibilities.
Losing control is not the end of you. It’s the beginning of discovering who you really are.
