Originally published on Better Humans: https://betterhumans.pub/the-curious-beginners-guide-to-microdosing-for-work-relationships-and-happiness-7ceff261e9fb

Introduction

In my previous post, I discussed the results of my yearlong experiment with microdoses of psilocybin mushrooms, and how it affected my work, mood, and relationships. Long story short, it was like escaping ‘The Matrix’. I’m grateful for the changes I’ve experienced as a result: I’m more empathetic, compassionate, self-aware, reflective, creative, and most of all, happier.

In this guide to microdosing, I will share some of the practical considerations for choosing a substance, obtaining it, timing and dosing, and some of the most common concerns.

Disclaimer: This article is for information and harm reduction purposes only. Note that psilocybin and LSD are deemed Schedule I substances under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and are illegal in most countries. The publisher and author of this article do not condone the purchase, possession, sale, or consumption of any illegal substances.

Legal Status By Country

Before we begin, it may help to learn more about what you’re getting yourself into, legally speaking. The following links provide a listing of the legal status of these substances and derivatives by country and region.

• Legal status of psilocybin mushrooms
• Legal status of LSD

Choosing a Substance

Your substance of choice will depend on two things.

(1) Your goals — Do you want more creativity, or more focus? Do you want to become more emotionally attuned, or more logically oriented? Do you want to exercise more empathy and create more opportunities for connection, or do you want to ‘give fewer f*cks’ about what other people think? Choosing one focus is not better or worse. Nor is it exactly as clear as black or white — but your goals will affect your choice of substance.

(2) Your unique response to each substance. Each substance will affect you differently. For example:

• When I microdose with psilocybin, I notice more creativity, empathy, and openness, and less focus, logic, and analytical thinking.
• When I microdose with LSD, I notice the opposite: more focus and logical thinking, less empathy and openness.

Your mileage will vary; find what works for you.

Although there are some patterns in the way LSD and mushrooms affect people at larger doses, it’s hard to predict how those effects will be experienced by any one person.

I asked about 30 people about their preferences for mushrooms vs. LSD, and the results were surprising. Half of the individuals preferred mushrooms, while the other half preferred LSD. When I asked for their reasons, it got even more interesting: Both sides claimed that their drug of choice yielded more benefits, and that the other drug had more side effects.

In other words, the choice of substance is highly personal, and the effects vary widely from person to person.

It would be interesting to study genetic links to different effects across a population, and to uncover any physiological differences that would lend for such a rift in experience within a population. Right now, we only have our personal experiences to guide our choices. And that’s good enough.

Obtaining Drugs

Never in my life would I have expected to write publicly about obtaining drugs, but here goes.

Procurement Methods

There are three ways people typically obtain drugs, in order of ease, reliability and safety.

1. Buy from a trusted local source. This is the most common way, and readily accessible in larger cities. It may take a few tries to find a reliable and trustworthy source. The bad news is this option is not as accessible (or altogether non-existent) in smaller cities or in countries with strict drug laws. Festivals, concerts, and house parties are usually where someone will have access to a source.
2. DIY. Mushroom ‘grow kits’ with spores are available legally in the U.S. and other countries, but they tend to be unreliable. According to one grower I’ve spoken to, it takes many tries — and just the right growing conditions — for a successful harvest. The psychedelics community has even provided DIY guides for making LSD. But if it isn’t already obvious, preparing or cultivating illegal drugs at home is dangerous and impractical — it’s easy to be caught for possession. It’s best left to the professionals.
3. Purchase from the ‘dark net’. Only use this if you’re highly tech-savvy and know what you’re doing. Install Tor web browser. For secure browsing, set up a VPN, and always use a private network. Find a reputable marketplace on DeepDotWeb, such as TradeRoute or DreamMarket (active at the time of this writing). Find your substance of choice and make a purchase using bitcoin. Avoid using your home address for deliveries. Encrypt your contact information using PGP when sending to the seller. Note that this is the riskiest option for several reasons — your IP address can be tracked and people *do* get caught.

Drug Quality and Formats

Drugs are sold in different forms, and it’s important to know the various kinds being sold.

Mushrooms are usually sold dried and whole (in 90% of cases), as shown below. There is also powdered mushrooms and liquid psilocin (the psychoactive component of psilocybin), as well as crystals. The pros and cons of alternate forms of psilocybin are subject to endless debates in the psychedelic community, but is not important for beginners. Dried, whole mushrooms are the best bet for most uses, both at microdoses and regular doses.

Measurements of psilocybin mushrooms usually refer to dried whole mushrooms. One important fact about whole mushrooms is that the psilocybin content of caps is significantly higher than stems, per weight. For consistent doses, only stems (or only caps) should be used for microdosing.

Image Credit: WriteWork

Note: The darkened parts of the stems are not due to rot or other defects, as may appear, but rather indicative of psilocin, which stains blue upon handling. However, lack of bruising doesn’t necessarily indicate lack of hallucinogenic effects, as seen in the Psilocybe semilanceata mushroom.

LSD is usually sold on paper blotters. It is usually on paper, made to be consumed by dissolving on the tongue. The dotted lines separate each ‘tab’, which typically contains a standard dose of 100μg (micrograms). LSD is also sold in liquid form, with a dose in each drop. Either format is acceptable, but paper is the more common form.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Summary

The first option is the lowest risk and takes the least amount of time and effort to obtain a source. Psilocybin most commonly come in whole dried mushrooms and, for consistent dosing, should have caps separated from stems. For LSD, paper is the standard, while liquid is also available. Both substances can be tested for purity using a drug test kit that detects indoles.

Finding the Right Dose

Different Approaches to Dosing

When it comes to dosing, Dr. James Fadiman in the Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide recommends a cautious approach: start low, then gradually increase to higher doses. However, as those new to psychedelics have informed me, it can be hard to notice the effects of a microdose as a newbie without experience of a full dose.

For practical purposes, I suggest an alternative. Take a slightly higher dose than a microdose, perhaps on the weekend or a day with lower stakes, so as to guarantee a noticeable effect. Then, slowly work your way to the lowest dose you can take while still feeling an effect. That is your minimum ‘threshold’ dose. Then experiment with different doses from your threshold, week by week.

Dosage Ranges

For reference, typical dosage ranges are included for each substance below.

Mushrooms (dried stems)
Microdose: 0.15–0.3g
Creative dose: 0.5–1g (test out these doses before taking at work!)
Typical party dose: 2–3g (a full trip dose)

LSD
Microdose: 10–20ug
Creative dose: 40–50ug
Typical party dose: 100ug

For measurements, use a mini kitchen scale (like this one) that can detect increments as little as 0.001g. To contain each dose and prevent a bitter taste, try gelatin capsules — they’re available through Amazon.

Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Microdosing Experiments

Dr. Fadiman’s Approach (1 microdose every 3 days)

Dr. Fadiman recommends taking one microdose every 3 days so as to prevent changes in tolerance over time. He says,“the first day you feel great. The second day you would feel half of that. And the third day you won’t feel anything.”

Week 1: Mon/Thu/Sun
Week 2: Wed/Sat
Week 3: Tue/Fri
Week 4: Mon/Thu/Sun

Dosage: Start with lowest dose in the first 2 weeks (10ug LSD or 0.2g mushrooms), then progress to a higher dose in the following weeks.

Note: I didn’t notice increases in tolerance during my one-year experiment when I took microdoses almost every day (3–6 times per week). In fact, I noticed the opposite effect — a buildup of effects if I took too many doses in a row, such that my third day in a row of taking 0.2g felt like I was taking 0.4g. However, your mileage may vary, and I don’t doubt there are other reasons Dr. Fadiman recommends this protocol.

Workaholic’s Approach (weekdays on, weekends off)

This plan is geared towards individuals looking to test microdosing for potential improvements at work. The weekends are left open for recovery to baseline, in case of changes in effect over time.

Week 1: Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri
Week 2: Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri
Week 3: Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri
Week 4: Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri

Dosage: Start with either a higher or lower dose, depending on your risk tolerance, balanced by urgency to see effects, and slowly alternate dosages week by week.

Balanced Microdose Approach (every other day)

This dosing schedule is most similar to the dosing schedule in my own microdosing experiment. Microdoses are taken 3–4 times per week (I microdosed 3–6 times per week, depending on how I felt at the time).

Week 1: Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun
Week 2: Tue/Thu/Sat
Week 3: Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun
Week 4: Tue/Thu/Sat

Dosage: As with the previous experiments, start with either a higher or lower dose, and then progress to the next dose after 1–2 weeks.

Track Effects with the ‘Check Yourself’ Checklist

The following is a checklist of areas to scan when microdosing. Most likely, you won’t be affected in all areas, but it’s important to take a comprehensive review of the effects. There are 7 areas to track:

Mental: Notice the thoughts running through your mind. Are they the same as usual, or different in nature? Are you having more or fewer thoughts than usual? In general, is your mind more clear or more cluttered?

Creative: Are you finding new qualities in things, like stories in objects? Do you find your mind wandering in directions it doesn’t usually? Are you getting more ideas than usual? Do solutions to problems come more easily?

Emotional: Do your feelings take on any different qualities than before? Are there more or fewer feelings experienced than usual? How quickly do you process them before reaching a resolution and moving on? Is sex better, or a different quality?

Social: How are you expressing your thoughts and feelings? Are there any changes in the pacing, tone, or nature of your speech? What about your facial expressions? Do you smile more or less? What frequency do you agree or disagree with someone in conversation? Do you talk differently with your coworkers, spouse, friends and family? The barista at the local coffee shop?

Body: Take a look at how aware (or not aware) you are of your body. Now zoom in on the body by closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths. Slow your mind and place your full attention on any sensations in your body. Do you notice anything?

Capabilities: Notice if you’re more able to complete certain tasks than usual. This might manifest as changes in attention span, physical/visual acuity, verbal fluidity, problem solving ability, empathy, different areas of awareness, and so on.

Outlook: Are you more positive or negative? More optimistic or pessimistic? More or less skeptical? More fearful and guarded, or open to possibilities Feelings of oneness, universality, truth, connectedness, love, or peace are also in this area.

FAQs

Should I microdose or take regular doses?
Microdosing is best for gradual improvements over time. It will have immediate benefits, but you may not notice all of the effects until much later, in retrospect. This is best done when you’re looking to keep a stable daily routine.

Regular doses of psychedelics are best taken during vacation, sabbatical, or other transitional periods, because the insights gained will help sort out your highest priorities and values, and will often cause major shifts in perspective. This is better when you don’t have a routine holding you back, or are ready for a major personal transformation that will impact all parts of your life. I will cover regular doses of psychedelics in future posts.

Will I be ‘tripping’?
No. Because the effects of microdosing are very different in nature than those experienced during a full dose, you will not be ‘tripping’. Some individuals don’t even notice it at first if the dose is very low, which is why I usually recommend a slightly higher dose for beginners.

Will people notice? Will I be able to go to work?
Yes, you can go to work. Most people won’t notice anything different unless you tell them. You will have control over your behaviors and may even become even more aware than before, so the chances of causing something detrimental at work are unlikely.

How long do the effects last?
With moderate to large doses of psychedelics, the effects range from 6–8 hours with mushrooms and 8–10 hours for LSD, but microdoses seem to last a shorter period of time. Based on n=1 data, microdoses of mushrooms last around 4 hours, while LSD microdoses last around 5 hours.

Please comment if you have tried microdosing, or are thinking of trying. If you’ve tried it, what was your experience? If you are thinking of it, is there anything holding you back from trying it?

The post The Curious Beginner’s Guide to Microdosing Psychedelics for Work, Relationships, and Happiness first appeared on Ember Zhang.

Originally published on Better Humans: https://betterhumans.pub/how-one-year-of-microdosing-helped-my-career-relationships-and-happiness-715dbccdfae4

Recently, I completed a one-year experiment in which I took microdoses of psilocybin — also known as ‘shrooms’ or ‘magic mushrooms’ — almost daily. My goal was to understand the impact it would have on my work, relationships, and mental health.

I approached the experiment as a relative newcomer to the world of psychedelics. Until the last few years, I wasn’t the kind of person to take recreational drugs. That said, I’m invested in health, mindfulness, and personal growth. I’ve scored in the top 99th percentile for standardized tests, trained and competed in the Olympic sport of speedskating, and run a startup for one of my business idols. Over the last 14 years, to improve my life, I’ve used and refined everything from meditation, yoga, intermittent fasting, paleo, Bulletproof, ketogenic, triathlons, powerlifting, “lifestyle design”, the “digital nomad” lifestyle, “Getting Things Done”, the principles of rationality, and also, nootropics — or ‘smart drugs’.

By the time I was 25, I created a life I was proud of, all while sober. So my perspective on recreational drugs was that anyone dependent on them had major problems they were running away from. I never thought of drugs as conducive to growth.

Fortunately, I was wrong. After taking them in Southeast Asia, my perspective on psychedelics quickly changed, and they became a vehicle for greater self-reflection and awareness. Psychedelics appealed to me in their ability to work through painful emotions of the past. My use of psychedelics has shown various benefits, including reducing my social anxiety and addressing things that even I, a so-called self-improvement fanatic, hadn’t gotten around to facing within myself.

I woke up after my first dose of mushrooms to find my lifelong fear of public speaking gone. After mushrooms, I was exposed to LSD and MDMA, and traveled to Peru for a series of Ayahuasca ceremonies. They worked beyond my wildest expectations. Psychedelics served as eye-opening means for cultivating meaningful personal insight. I healed from childhood traumas I didn’t even know I had.

At one point, I began wondering if there was a sustainable way to leverage the power of psychedelics on a daily basis. It was at this time I became eager to discover whether smaller doses could help improve my work, relationships, and mood.

In the first article of this two-part series on microdosing, I’ll share the findings I came across, both from my personal experiment and the existing scientific research on psychedelics. In the second article, I will share a step-by-step process for experimenting with and exploring microdosing.

Legal disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, psychiatrist, therapist, or mental health professional. The experiences and writing I share will be for education and harm reduction purposes, and does not condone the use of illegal substances. Please do not use any dose of psychedelics without medical supervision.

The Effect of Psychedelics on the Brain

My first goal was to discover whether the use of psychedelic mushrooms would allow me to tap into a more effective and happier side of myself. And if so, what were the risks involved?

My journey to better understand the effects of microdosing led me through the labyrinth of data on psychedelics research.

Key terms and definitions

• Psilocybin — The psychoactive ingredient in ‘magic mushrooms’, or ‘shrooms’. It is converted to psilocin, enabling it to cross the blood-brain barrier. Structurally similar to the brain’s naturally occurring neurotransmitter serotonin, the hallucinogenic effects of this substance last between 4–7 hours.
• LSD — Short for lysergic acid diethylamide, and more commonly known as ‘acid’. The effects of a typical dose (100ug) of this substance takes 8–12 hours to subside.
• MDMA — Also known as ‘ecstasy’, ‘E’, or ‘Molly’, the effects of this drug last approximately 3–5 hours. Pilot studies have shown that 83% of PTSD patients receiving MDMA-assisted psychotherapy no longer met the criteria for PTSD.
• DMT — Often regarded as the ‘spirit molecule’ for its ability to bring spiritually profound experiences. It is the active ingredient found in the ceremonial South American brew known as Ayahuasca, and not to be confused with 5-MeO-DMT.
• Hallucinogen — A class of substances that includes psychedelics, along with dissociatives. Despite what the name would suggest, not all users experience visual hallucinations when under the influence (case in point: yours truly).
• Trip (noun) / tripping (verb) — commonly used terms referring to any experience of being under the influence of psychoactive substances. However, the term is usually reserved for moderate or higher dose experiences.
• Set and setting — A phrase coined by psychedelic pioneer Timothy Leary in 1964 to describe the conditions of a trip, which can affect the quality and safety of the experience. Leary defines set as the “preparation of the individual, including his personality structure and his mood at the time.” Setting is “physical — the weather, the room’s atmosphere; social — feelings of persons present towards one another; and cultural — prevailing views as to what is real.”

The research produced the following interesting findings, some of which debunk popular myths about psychedelics…

1. Psychedelics promote neuroplasticity and make different parts of the brain more connected. In two studies on LSD, one published in PNAS Journal and another in Current Biology, participants’ brains were more interconnected upon intake of a small dose of LSD as compared to a placebo, as measured by fMRI scans.

Credit: Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (pnas.org)

Above: Scans show different sections of the brain, either on placebo (top), or under the influence of LSD (bottom).

Similar effects were found in neuroimaging studies of participants under the influence of psilocybin mushrooms.

Image Credit: Journal of the Royal Society Interface

Above: Simplified, color-coded image of homological scaffolds, or graphical representations of neural connections in the brain, on placebo (left) and psilocybin (right).

2. Psychedelics are possible treatment for addiction. One study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology indicated that a single dose of LSD can curb alcohol addiction. 59% of participants taking LSD reduced alcohol consumption, as opposed to 38% of those who didn’t. In another study published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, moderate to high doses of psilocybin in combination with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was found to produce significantly higher smoking abstinence rates 6 months later than any other medications or CBT alone.

3. There are published clinical studies about the benefits of psychedelics. Contrary to popular belief, there are over 60 competed and in-progress studies around the world (at the time of this writing) intended to investigate the potential of psychedelics. These studies track treatment of a range of mental health conditions, including PTSD in veterans, depression and social anxiety for adults with autism, and end-of-life anxiety in cancer patients. Although there aren’t any published longitudinal studies involving healthy individuals, there has been an increasing amount of support for psychedelic research of all kinds in recent years, supported by organizations like the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Science (MAPS) in the United States and The Beckley Foundation in the UK.

4. Microdosing has been a practice documented as early as 2010. In The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide by psychedelics researcher James Fadiman, PhD., it was established that microdosing had already been practiced as early as the 2000’s, with surveys collected from microdosing users around 2010. The first scientific study on microdosing and its effects on creativity and cognition is in the process of receiving funding.

5. Zero deaths involving psychedelics have been reported as a result of pharmacological fatalities or toxic overdose. Due to the low toxicity of LSD and psilocybin, deaths reported while subjects were under the influence of psychedelics are typically either due to inclusion of other pharmacological agents present in the dose, or exposure to physical danger while experiencing hallucinations (e.g. running into oncoming traffic). This is why the community advocates so strongly for a safe set and setting.

The Experiment: One Year of Microdosing Magic Mushrooms

Note: For those who would like to skip the technical details, skim through the “results” section, then jump to the following section on “how microdosing impacted my life”.

Avoiding placebo and expectancy effects

Before microdosing, I deliberately made myself naive to the effects that microdosing had on others who had tried it. To avoid biasing my experience with subject-expectancy effect, I, I specifically avoided reading about user-reported subjective effects. Instead, I reserved my research to clinical descriptions of biochemical effects.

Effectiveness: Does it work?

The first question I wanted to answer was: is microdosing beneficial at all? I had my answer within the first week. I felt increases in awareness of my own emotions, and an easier time starting and holding conversations. I was in a slightly better mood than usual. I kept a journal to keep track of the changes, including the days I didn’t microdose, to make sure I wasn’t just fooling myself.

Dosages: How much is ‘good’?

Meanwhile, I starting pondering other questions, like:

• Will a higher dosage lead to more of the same benefits?
• Could different dosages lead to different benefits altogether?
• Are there any side effects of certain microdoses?

About a month after taking a ‘standard’ microdose (definitions and exact amounts listed below), I decided to test the effects of different dosages. I wasn’t in any particular rush — I wanted to understand the effects of microdosing under a variety of normal life circumstances . This experiment lasted over a year. There were 3 distinct phases, each with a different dosage range:

• 0.15–0.2g (‘microdose’, as defined by Dr. Fadiman as one tenth of a therapeutic dose)
• 0.2–0.4g (slightly higher than a microdose)
• 0.5g (typically considered a ‘creative dose’)

Measuring and tracking

Some people have recommended I use fancy apps, but I like to keep things as simple as possible. I first measured my dosages every morning before taking them. Then, I wrote notes and observations in timestamped emails to myself on my phone, and finally compiled those notes into objective results.

To make my subjective observations quantifiable, I applied numbered rankings between 1 and 5 for aspects of my experience, like anxiety, mood, and productivity. A score of 1 would mean low, a score of 5 would mean high, and a score of 3 was same as normal, as shown in the following key:

1: extremely low
2: slightly lower than normal
3: normal (baseline)
4: slightly higher than normal
5: extremely high

Results

On the lowest microdose (0.15–0.2g), I was in a better mood, less anxious, and not noticeably more or less productive. My daily averages:

• Anxiety: 2.13
• Mood: 3.25
• Productivity: 2.75

On the second microdose level (0.2–0.4g), I tested two different work environments, one that was less orderly and more social, and another that was more orderly and non-social, involving a great deal of solo contribution. In the social work environment, I was highly productive but also highly anxious. In the orderly, non-social work environment, I was also less anxious, but less focused, leading to lower daily productivity. I had higher highs and lower lows in mood in general. My daily averages:

• Anxiety: 3.43 (less orderly social work environment) and 3.17 (orderly non-social work environment)
• Mood: 2.86 (less orderly social work environment) and 2.31 (orderly non-social environment)
• Productivity: 4.71 (less orderly social work environment) and 2.61 (orderly non-social environment)

On the highest microdose (0.5g), I was surprisingly much less anxious, in a better mood, and much more productive and effective at everything in general. However, this effect did not carry over to mundane errands or mechanical tasks, like assembling furniture. My daily averages:

• Anxiety: 1.41
• Mood: 4.50
• Productivity: 4.07

Further discussion and studies

More details and analysis of the quantitative aspect of my microdosing experiments:

• The Curious Beginner’s Guide to Microdosing for Work, Relationships and Happiness
• Sub-Perceptual Doses of Psilocybin, A 12-Month Experiment — Quantified Self Global Amsterdam

How Microdosing Mushrooms Impacted My Life

The year I microdosed happened to be a particularly difficult one.

I was recovering from some major career setbacks due to a series of unfortunate events involving a spinal injury that ended my Olympic speedskating career and impending identity crisis, as well as a case of sexual harassment by a male direct report, followed by retaliation and blackmail. This left me hunting for a new role and taking a pay cut to pursue jobs in other industries (a story that is unfortunately becoming increasingly common in this day and age of sexual harassment in the technology industry). Meanwhile, there were financial challenges in my family. I had plunged into a fog of depression and anxiety almost as dark as the suicidal depression I experienced during my teenage years. I don’t know how I could have made it through without microdosing.

By the end of the year, I had made a career transition that led to more than doubling my salary from the first job I took after the incident. I improved my emotional well-being and developed better relationships with the people around me. It didn’t solve all of my problems or make my life a rainbow-glittery world of unicorns — but it definitely made the days easier as I picked up the pieces of my life and started anew.

Improving my relationship with myself

In my relationship with myself, I became more aware of my emotions in every passing moment, and could address them on the spot instead of letting my them build up. I was in a better mood. My mind stopped making up reasons for me to be unhappy, and instead focused my attention on the positive. Some days, a sense of inner peace would permeate my being.

I was less self-conscious and more creative. Everyday, more ideas and insights would pop into my mind than I knew what to do with. I held a greater appreciation for the arts. My apartment went from minimalistic and drab to tastefully and beautifully decorated. My alone time went from dead silent to filled with music, song, and dance. Despite a lifetime of hating clothes shopping, I started to enjoy every part of the process. I took up a dance class, and went from being a robotic dancer to deftly ‘on point’. I joked and laughed more.

Overall, my life became more emotionally attuned, social, happy, and carefree, and less rigid, serious, and fear-driven. Many friends of mine remarked that I was more relaxed and calm, and that I had more energy.

Relationships with others

I was more comfortable in public, and less anxious in conversations. Although I already considered myself open-minded and accepting, I became more tolerant and compassionate towards people. I would chat with convenience store owners, give smiles to strangers walking down the street, and once had a 4-hour conversation with my coffee shop baristas while I waited in an airport.

At work, I made small talk without getting overly self-conscious. I led meeting presentations without anxiety choking me up. I had better check-ins with my boss and clients, and they all seemed more impressed with my work than before. With the people close to me, doors of intimacy were opened where there were none before. I watched myself as I expressed both positive and negative emotions in ways that made people comfortable and at ease.

Over the year I microdosed, I became a more empathetic, compassionate, and affectionate person. I began to live with more acceptance, gratitude, and presence of mind. My workaholic lifestyle turned into one of spontaneity, creativity, self-expression, and lightheartedness. I continued to live out my values, feeling even more connected than before.

Risks and Downsides

As with any wonder drug, there were also a few downsides.

Loss of focus and productivity on (some) tasks

Sometimes I would be so overcome by emotions that I wouldn’t be able to do my work. I wouldn’t be able to complete a simple task because the onslaught of feelings were begging to be acknowledged before I could move on. Sometimes it felt like I had to take two steps back for every step forward.

Emotional overload leading to a negative impact on relationships

On occasion, microdoses would amplify my anxiety, instead of decreasing it. Sometimes, I couldn’t go on the train in public without trembling inside. With people close to me, sometimes my heightened sensitivity turned to impulsive reactions to situations. This drove people away. However, given an underlying case of PTSD stemming from relational trauma, my experience might be different from those of most.

Luck will have it that I stumbled across a better dosing regimen, albeit perplexing, that would allow me to feel confident without the heightened emotional sensitivity. A small dose of around 0.20g would allow for a better mood, without the downsides. A slightly higher dose of 0.35g would make things harder, and I would begin to feel a creeping sense of paranoia. A dose of 0.5g would make me feel much better, and the side effects of the middle dosage would disappear.

Reflections & What’s Next

My one-year experiment with microdosing definitely changed my life for the better. My career, relationships, and happiness improved. In future experiments, I hope to investigate the effects of microdoses of LSD and other substances, as well as alternatives to psychedelics for creating the same positive changes. I’d love to learn about the benefits that microdosing has on other people, especially for different goals and challenges.

Microdosing has served as training wheels for helping my brain develop the necessary pathways that it needed to access on its own. Nowadays, I can reach those benefits without microdosing, while keeping the parts of my personality that bring me joy. With time, I won’t need to microdose on a regular basis forever, but just to use it on occasion, when I want to access more of my emotional experience. Ultimately, I hope to remain connected to all parts of my psyche without the help of psychedelics, but they’re always there if I need them.

Thank god — or, Mother Nature — for neuroplasticity.

The post How One Year of Microdosing Psilocybin Helped My Career, Relationships, and Happiness first appeared on Ember Zhang.