A Comprehensive Guide to Microdosing Psychedelics: What It Is, Why and How People Do It, The Pros and The Cons.

A Comprehensive Guide to Microdosing Psychedelics:

What It Is, Why and How People Do It, The Pros and The Cons.

Have you ever heard of someone "tripping"? Not like you are falling down or freaking out, but like you took a psychedelic drug and experiencing an intense, hallucinatory high? Unless you are hiding under a rock, of course you have! The first time I learned about tripping on psychedelics was in 8th grade health class when I did a report on LSD. To say the least, I was blown away! Taking something that allowed you to see sounds and hear colors was both intriguing and frightening. What does the color blue sound like? How out of your mind do you have to be to see Adele's, "Rolling in the Deep"? Who on earth would take this? Couldn't you lose your mind? 

The reality is, humans have been using psychedelics for thousands of years. Used by countless civilizations for purposes such as religious ceremonies, healing procedures, recreational activities, and more, psychedelics for the later part of human history have been intertwined within our culture. In fact, in many past cultures, you would have been seen as an outsider if you did not participate in psychedelic use. 

The earliest recorded use of psychedelics came from a cave in the "Tassili-N--Ajjer region of the Sahara desert, Algeria" (Woolfe). There, Archeologists found a 6,000-8,000-year-old mural of a 'mushroom shaman' depicted with psychedelic mushrooms sprouting from his body. That is thousands of years before the Egyptian, Roman, and Greek empires! 

Bringing it back to the present, people are now taking the mind-altering substances of our ancestors and are starting to use them in their everyday life... just in a microdose (5-10% of a standard dose).

However, before I dive into the world of microdosing, in order to make this a comprehensive guide on the subject, you must learn the slang terms for the two most popular psychedelics (the two I will be talking about in this guide): psychedelic mushrooms and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). I will be using some of these slang terms throughout this guide to truly make you an expert on the subject.

Slang Terms For Psychedelic Mushrooms and Lysergic Acid Diethylamide 

Psychedelic Mushrooms: 

• Mushrooms

• Magic Mushrooms

• Shrooms

• Caps

• Mushies

• Goomies

• Ooms

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide: 

• LSD

• Acid

• Tabs

• Lucy

• Paper

• Cubes

The most essential aspect of microdosing is knowing the measurements of a microdose which is 5%-10% of a standard dose.

Measurements For Microdoses of LSD and Shrooms:

LSD

• Standard dose: 100 micrograms 

• Microdose: 5-10 micrograms                   

Mushrooms

• Standard dose: 3.5 grams
  

• Microdose: 0.175 - 0.35 grams 

Now, you may be wondering: How do you take a microdose? What does it feel like and how long does it last? Do you just eat the drug and go about your day? At some point does the drug "hit" you?

Answers to these questions vary based on two things:

1. Personal preference/experience

2. Type of psychedelic being consumed

How Do You Take a Microdose?

While you could simply eat the drug, raw or with a cup of water, many experienced microdosers have found more innovative ways to consume their psychedelic of choice. Take a look at this psychonaut (another way to say psychedelic user) who microdoses shrooms via coffee. You might think that this could damage the drug, however, the psychoactive ingredient in mushrooms, psilocybin, is released when placed in boiling water, allowing it to be consumed via coffee, tea, soup, or any other creative way one may think of! 

On the other hand, a more fragile psychoactive substance like LSD cannot be played with as much. LSD is damaged by sunlight, hot temperatures, and humidity so it must be wrapped in tin foil and kept inside an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for optimal shelf life (a few months in the fridge and a few years in the freezer) (Lecklitner). Luckily for LSD microdosers, it is easy to consume as you only need one drop of it to experience a full trip. Usually sold on a square piece of paper about the size of a fingernail (often referred to as a “tab”), the tricky part of microdosing LSD is mastering the ability to measure and cut a microdose portioned size of the square. Here is an example depicting how tedious cutting a microdose of Acid can be. 

What Does It Feel Like? 

A microdose should give the consumer enough psychoactive substance to feel the drug without triggering hallucinations (Begley). If done correctly, a microdose should not "hit" you in the same sense that taking a shot of liquor, or a puff of a joint would. Rather, it should be a subtle feeling that slightly changes the way you think and feel throughout your day.

Drugs like alcohol have clear side effects. Depending on how much you drank, you might experience relaxation, slurred speech, impulsivity, and impaired vision. However, because there is minimal research on microdosing, the side effects are more subjective. Aside from the few scientific studies on the subject, the best source of knowledge for what a microdose feels like comes from the people who actively partake.

Why Do People Microdose? The Pros

One reason why people seek out microdosing is that it helps with productivity by increasing your focus, energy, and creativity. These side effects have made microdosing popular amongst the ultra-driven community of Silicon Valley. For a primary source on the subject, check out Diane’s story, the owner of a start-up based in Silicon Valley who began microdosing LSD in substitution for coffee. 

While some microdose to increase productivity, others do it to aid their mental health. For example, many “psilocybin microdosers report that the mushrooms can… calm anxiety… and reduce depression” (Begley). In a study done by The Harm Reduction Journal, 26% of psilocybin microdosers reported mood improvements in “happiness, well-being, peace, calm, and reductions in depressive symptoms” (Anderson). 

The Cons

There are studies arguing that microdosing psychedelics can be harmful to individuals with underlying mental health issues such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Mental health issues caused by psychedelic use are usually associated with people taking full or excessive doses over a number of years. However, an article by Harvard University argues that “it is still possible that the negative consequences [of psychedelic use] may hold true” for microdosing if the individual has underlying mental health issues (Jonathan de Potter). 

To put it simply, the only population who could be negatively affected by microdosing are those with underlying, severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Those struggling with more common mental health issues such as depression and anxiety have no identifiable risk associated with microdosing. 

Try it... Or Don't! 

You are now an expert in the world of microdosing. The decision to dive into the realm of psychedelics, to start your career as a psychonaut, is completely up to you. For those readers who are inspired by this guide and will begin the journey, I am honored to be your steppingstone into something that could very well be helpful to you. To those that read this and went, "not for me!", I completely understand and hope that you enjoyed reading this guide anyways. 

Sources Cited

Anderson, Thomas, et al. “Psychedelic Microdosing Benefits and Challenges: An Empirical Codebook - Harm Reduction Journal.” BioMed Central, BioMed Central, 10 July 2019, https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-019-0308-4.

Begley, Sharon, et al. “'Microdosing' Is Touted by 'Shroomers and Reddit Users. Science Is Starting to Test Their Claims - and Finding Some Truth.” STAT, 27 Aug. 2018, https://www.statnews.com/2018/08/23/science-testing-claimed-benefits-of-psilocybin-microdosing/.

Holland, Kimberly. “How Long Does Acid Last? What to Expect.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 27 June 2019, https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-acid-last#dosage.

Lecklitner, Ian, and Ian Lecklitner Ian Lecklitner is a staff writer at MEL Magazine. He mostly writes about everyone's favorite things: Sex. “How to Store LSD so You Can Trip for Eternity.” MEL Magazine, 11 Nov. 2021, https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/how-to-store-lsd.

Jonathan de Potter, et al. “Can Microdosing Psychedelics Improve Your Mental Health?” Science in the News, 18 Dec. 2020, https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2020/can-microdosing-psychedelics-improve-your-mental-health/.

Woolfe, Sam. “The History of Psychedelics: A Timeline of Psychedelic Drugs.” Retreat Guru Guides, https://blog.retreat.guru/the-history-of-psychedelics.

Book 1 Post

Book 1 Post 1 - Putting the Rabbit Back in the Hat, by Brain Cox

I chose to read, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat because like Brain Cox, both of my parents are actors. I would like to get some insight into the life of an actor that seems completely unlike either of my parents. Also, as someone who comes from a family with a long history of mental health issues, I am curious about Brian Cox's relationship with his mentally ill mother. Along with everything else, I am hoping to hear some funny stories about actors that I am familiar with such as Johnny Depp, Steven Seagal, and Edward Norton. 

I am almost halfway through the book and am enjoying it so far. Though he is self-critical, Brain Cox seems like a good man and I like his simplistic yet descriptive style of writing. The way he describes his childhood in Dundee and Oldham makes me feel as though I am peering into his past. Cox's descriptions of his father reminded me of how my Dad talks about his father, who passed away when he was a young man. My favorite part of the book so far is when Cox uses his acting skills to save himself and one of his peers from getting beat up by the school bullies. It speaks to his creative mind and ability to use his acting skills "on the spot" (something Cox says is necessary for an actor to master). About halfway through the book, I am impressed by Brian Cox and his story. From growing up in a poor, unhealthy household to making a name for himself in Hollywood, he has kept his humility throughout his journey. 

Job Description Final

Social Worker

Do you have experience working a job where day in and day out, you know exactly what to expect? A job where, for the most part, everything runs smoothly. Working as an intern at a finance company, I know what those jobs are like, and I must say, they are not for me! I crave excitement and connection. To put it simply, I want to feel alive!

That is why I love social work. With four months of experience working for Independent Living Institute, an organization that helps developmentally disabled adults live independently, I can tell you all about it. The start of the workday for a social worker is like a coin toss. By the end of the day, you could be sitting on the couch with your client watching a funny movie or in the emergency room waiting for his release.

Here are the three most important roles of a social worker

• Enforcer (not as serious as it sounds)

• Motivator

• Connector

I will explain these responsibilities using examples from my experience on the job. These skills come into play when you are talking to clients, so I will use dialogue for many of them.

Enforcer

As an enforcer, you have two responsibilities:

• Reinforce good behavior

• Discourage bad behavior

Here's a simple example of discouraging bad behavior. Sammy, one of my clients with down-syndrome, loves to drink beer. Learning this behavior from his alcoholic father, Sammy talks about beer whenever he can. So, to discourage drinking beer, whenever Sammy brings it up, I say that I do not drink beer because it tastes gross and makes me feel bad.

But discouraging bad behavior is not always so easy. Let’s say that I arrive for my overnight shift at Sammy's and (that is what we call it when you sleep at a client's house) he is drunk. When I prompt Sammy to wash his dishes before bedtime, he lashes out at me physically and verbally. In this situation, I discourage the bad behavior (drinking beer) by telling him, "I will be in my room for the rest of the evening because I do not like hanging out with people who are drunk." This discourages the behavior because he knows I will not hang out with him if he is drunk.

Reinforcing good behavior is much easier and more enjoyable. When a client does something good like washing the dishes, you give them words of encouragement to reinforce the good behavior.

For example, my client, Cole, requires hours of encouragement before he agrees to shower. So, when he finishes, I put on a bit of a show to reinforce his good behavior. Something I would say to Cole after his shower would be, "Oh, dude! Is that you, Cole? I thought I was looking at Brad Pitt there for a second! You look so fresh, man! Way to go!" Whenever I do that Cole smiles and gets a boost of confidence, but most importantly, it reinforces the good behavior.

Motivator

As a motivator, you have two responsibilities

• Prompt the client to do daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and self-hygiene

• Discourage negative self-image

Prompting clients is an important skill because doing it incorrectly can result in an angry client. For example, Sammy hates to throw away food from his fridge, even if it's rotting. So, if Sammy wants to go to the beach, I could prompt him by saying, "We can go to the beach but only after you look through your fridge and throw away anything that is old." But if I told Sammy to look through his fridge without prompting him, he would tell me to, “F*ck off.”

Many developmentally disabled adults have a low self-image. They struggle to do everyday tasks that are a given for the average person. At times, clients will say things like, “I am stupid” or, “I can’t do anything right.” When clients self-deprecate, you counter by saying something positive about them. Let’s say a client is struggling to write his Christmas list to Santa Claus and says, “I am stupid! I read and write like a dummy!” Something I would say to discourage his negative self-belief could be, “No you are not! You are very smart! And I have seen your handwriting and it's beautiful. Also, I know how many books you have read so don’t even go there!”

Connector

The role of connector is the most important role in social work. Connecting with clients makes your job easier and their lives better. I like to make connections with clients by taking them on hikes, watching movies with them, playing their favorite songs in the car, and asking them about their day. Here’s a real-life example showing the importance of the connector role.

I am on my way home from work and receive a text from my boss telling me to meet her at Denny’s on State Street immediately. When I arrive, there is a fire truck, an ambulance, and about 10 paramedics trying to calm Cole down, on the verge of subduing him (meaning he would spend the rest of his evening strapped down to a table at the emergency room). An hour before, Cole began throwing an adult temper tantrum when his staff member would not let him order two milkshakes. Being a six-foot-five, 260-pound man with the mental and emotional capacity of a ten-year-old boy, these temper tantrums can get out of hand. Breaking his plate, punching his staff member, and throwing rocks at the Denny’s windows were just the start of it.

My special connection with Cole means that I am the only one that can calm him down in these situations. Cole and I are very close. He calls me his little brother, his security guard, and holds our relationship in high regard. Running towards him, I yell, “Big brother, what's going on? How are you?” Cole, trying to play it cool, responds, “I am good. Oh nothing much, just hanging out.” I ask him, “Hey, why don't we head home and watch a movie? It is getting cold out.” Cole agrees, we head home and spend the rest of the evening watching the movie, Dodgeball.

Hemingway Editor:

0 uses of passive voice.

Readable.com:

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 6.7

Flesch Reading Ease: 71.4

My 1st Blog (by Mason Estes)

Moving 17 times, I do not consider myself from anywhere specific. I grew up in different areas throughout King County, Washington State and Southern California. Returning from a year and a half sabbatical, I am currently working towards completing my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business. In addition, I am focusing on choosing my career path so I have an idea of what I am working towards upon graduation. I plan to graduate school with a clear career path by making my education my highest priority and utilizing the tools USC provides its students to help them explore career paths. 

My parents are empaths, and I am grateful to share that in common with them. In addition, both are actors, a career path I will not be pursuing. My parents’ separation in 2004 led me to become more independent than my peers growing up. Thus, I developed my own expectations for myself and held myself to a high standard throughout my teen years and early adulthood.

Currently, I look towards former UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, for inspiration in living a passionate and thoughtful life. His dedication towards staying humble, excelling at his work, and living a moral life is extremely motivational to me.

Connecting with the animal world, I feel a special connection towards otters. As a kid, I lived on Lake Sammamish in Washington State. I remember waking up early to see the otters eating crawfish on the shoreline. It always felt special to see them candid in their environment. Also, I enjoy their playful nature.

The most significant childhood encounter with a tree or plant came when I cut lavender bushes in my backyard as a 5-year-old. I had two bunches of lavender in my hands and proudly showed my parents who were watching the Discovery channel. Soon after, the narrator on the television show began talking about how plants, trees, and fungi are all living organisms. Baffled, I looked to my parents for confirmation. They explained how it is in fact true that grass, trees, mushrooms, and plants, including the lavender I just butchered, are all living. Immediately, I broke into tears. I could not live with what I had done. At only five years old, I committed mass murder upon a community of innocent lavender bushes. I cried for hours, the moral burden wore on me for days, and now as an adult, this memory connects me with lavender bushes forever.  

My sun sign is 28 degrees Cancer, my moon sign is 15 degrees Scorpio, and my rising sign is two degrees Scorpio. Reading the descriptions of my signs, I find them very accurate.