Microdosing psychedelics has quickly become the trendier, light-hearted option to macro or hero doses and longer trips. Rather than using hallucinogenic substances as a way to trip, learning to adequately microdose can be beneficial in ways easily applied to everyday life. More popularly, microdosing psilocybin has helped countless people amidst the recent pandemic take control of their anxiety, depression and overall mental health. Let’s explore why more and more people are turning to microdosing psychedelics instead of opting for conventional psychiatric medications.
What Is Microdosing?
Microdosing psychedelics refers to the consumption of a minimal amount of a hallucinogenic substance. Psilocybin mushrooms and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) are among the most common psychedelics used for therapeutic purposes. A microdose is generally too small to induce a hallucinogenic effect, but high enough to improve a person’s mood. When microdosing long-term, research points to psilocybin and LSD as ways to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and other psychological problems.
In recent years, microdosing has become increasingly popular, especially in major cities. Silicon Valley employees have stated that microdosing helps them work more efficiently during very long work hours. Other studies go as far as to suggest that taking psychedelics can help a person become more successful. In A Really Good Day, author Ayelet Waldman took regular, small doses of LSD for a month and reported an improvement in attitude, less worrying, a greater affinity towards her family, and a “calm optimism” about her work. Tech Mogul, Steve Jobs publicly recounted experimenting with LSD and how that led him to his own success. In the same realm, Bill Gates, another brilliant mind, has been open about trying psychedelics in his errant youth. Both of them have reported that LSD helped increase their creativity and heightened their attention.
LSD and magic mushrooms continue to be popular not only at big tech companies but also among millennials who are now microdosing more than they are drinking alcohol or consuming cocaine. As a result, those who consistently microdose report having improved moods, better sleeping and eating habits and less dependency on caffeine. Drug dealers that are selling these substances are also seeing a more significant demand today for psychedelics than in previous years.
What Does Microdosing Psychedelics Feel Like?
Generally, a microdose is not enough to produce any hallucinogenic effects. However, a small dose is enough to improve or heighten a person’s overall mood. Taking a microdose of LSD can feel less noticeable than if someone drinks a cup of coffee. A portion of just one-twentieth to one-tenth of a dose can have vast improvements.
Users have said that microdosing makes them feel like themselves, but in a better way. All around the country taking tiny amounts of a psychedelic has taken off and is being used by a wide variety of people — including groups that typically demonize any use of hallucinogens like employers, working professionals, parents and beyond. In addition, the fact that microdosing doesn’t have any “scary” side effects makes it a more appealing solution than taking other drugs.
The feeling of microdosing can feel very natural to some people to the point that they don’t think it’s working. They only realize that it was helping them be more alert until they don’t consume psychedelics anymore. Others have seen the benefits only once they have completed their work shift. They are then able to comprehend how much more work they did.
Because a microdose does not induce hallucinations, it can be easy to get overly confident with dosage. Too often, new users will increase their dosages and accidentally hallucinate because they don’t realize that the substance has affected them. It’s important to keep this in mind, especially when the goal is to strictly microdose and not trip.
How Long Does Microdosing Last?
Different substances have different effect. Psilocybin and LSD are two of the more common hallucinogens being microdosed. However, almost all other substances can be microdosed. When it comes to LSD, some users report feeling more awake, focused and productive throughout the day. A regular LSD trip can last about eight to ten hours, while microdosing it can last up to five hours.
Those who microdose magic mushrooms report feeling more empathetic and emotionally open. A regular dose can last six to eight hours, but a microdose of psilocybin can last about four hours.
Is Microdosing Psychedelics the New CBD?
It’s no secret that the chaos and unpredictability in the world brought on by the recent pandemic caused anxiety for many individuals. The lockdown rules forced people to pick up new hobbies, exercise routines and new side hustles, which worked for some but not for others. All of the uncertainty in the world made some people look at more ways to find relief.
There has been a big impact on mental health and some people are suffering from mental illnesses that were brought on during that time. Lifesearch conducted a study that shows microdosing has increased during the pandemic by forty-three percent. That means that one in ten adults is now microdosing.
In the last few years, prior to the pandemic, we have seen a spike in the cannabis industry. More specifically, CBD has gained tons of traction in the industry with estimated sales of around 730 million U.S. dollars in 2019 alone. That begs the question, is microdosing psychedelics the new equivalent to CBD in the cannabis industry?
With so many psychedelic companies on the rise and going public, investors and financial analysts estimate psychedelics to grow into a multi-billion dollar industry in the coming years. So, it’s very likely that microdosing could be the new CBD if not top it completely.
How to Start Microdosing
The author of The Psychedelic Explorers Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys, Dr. James Faiman, is a psychedelic researcher. He created a quick guide to getting started with microdosing. The first step is getting the product. It can either be online or at a legal shop that sells it. He advises taking the first dose on a day that will not be full of things to do, and he suggests not taking it in the presence of children.
The first dose should be 1/10 to 1/20 of a regular dose that would be ten to twenty micrograms. Next, Faiman advises the microdoser to pay attention to how the body changes and reacts to this new substance. Depending on what is ingested, the experience can be longer or shorter. Keeping a journal to document everything is also an excellent way to reflect on the incident later on. Then Faiman’s breakdown proposes that an adjustment of the substance should be done if the intended goal was not achieved.
Once all of that is figured out, continuing on a regular schedule should be the objective. One day on and two days off is usually the best schedule to follow for up to ten weeks. That schedule will prevent the body from building a tolerance to the substance. If the body builds a tolerance, it could affect the desired results that a person wants to achieve.
When someone microdoses for the first time, it may be a good idea to have a person they trust to keep an eye on them. Without prior experience, there is a possibility that too much can be consumed and there is a risk of a bad trip. It is also essential to keep in mind that although the person’s microdosing feels natural, the effects of some substances can last up to two days.
Recently a few cities and even some states have gotten closer to decriminalizing psychedelic substances. Like we mentioned earlier, there is new and ongoing research that shows how combining some psychedelics with therapy can be a very effective tool to combat mental illnesses. Microdosing can treat post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and even addiction. The lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic isolated a lot of people and caused hardships for many, but thanks to microdosing several people have found a new way to cope.
Of course, not everyone microdoses to find relief or to overcome specific life events. Plenty of people microdose to better themselves, be more productive in their careers and everyday lives, and simply because they enjoy it. Do you believe that microdosing has the potential to change someone’s life? We want to hear your thoughts.
