Realizing this substance is not going to kill you and you're not going to make history by being the first also helps. But I must say that inducing paranoia is still difficult to deal with for a lot of people. Though it is still up to a responsible adult to smoke or choose not to.
I've had some fucked up moments while smoking. I've also smoked such insane amounts (and consumed in the form of edibles) that like anyone would probably lose their shit.