Defying the Odds: Microdosing Changed my Life

Psilocybin is making headways, especially in regards to microdosing. I experimented to relieve Bi Polar symptoms. Here’s what I found.

Two years ago, I incorporated microdosing mushrooms into my health regimen. Until then, I was only familiar with macro-dosing. The idea of taking psychedelic mushrooms without a trip felt redundant.

The reality was I hadn’t opened my eyes to the possibility yet.

Psilocybin is enjoying a renaissance of sorts at the moment. Denver and Oakland have decriminalized its use, while other cities are debating the issue.

Scientific research and clinical studies were the catalysts for medicinal cannabis. Now, science is again breaking the floodgates.

And none of this would be remotely possible without the advent of microdosing.

What is Microdosing?

Microdosing involves taking a sub-perceptual dose of psilocybin mushrooms. It’s done on a fixed schedule with controlled doses for 6 to 8 weeks. I’ll cover more on this shortly.

I first came across the concept of MD, short for microdosing, when searching for alternative methods to treat Bi-Polar II.

Once down the rabbit hole that is the internet, I stumbled upon Dr. Fadiman and his extensive research into the subject.

In 2011, Dr. James Fadiman released his groundbreaking book, “The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys (not a paid link.) It sheds light on the utilization of microdosing mushrooms and other compounds. His research includes over 1500 case studies. He was stating benefits such as increased creativity, focus, curbing depression and overall well being, to name a few.

From then on, featured on countless podcasts and articles, including Tim Ferris’ Podcast and MAPS.

I’ve included the link for both of their names.

I’m in.

After weeks of scouring the internet for all the information I could find, I was ready to go. At the very worst, it does nothing. On the other hand, I’d potentially found a way to manage my condition without medication.

I had the world to gain and nothing to lose.

“Your goals may be psychological: to find insight into neurotic patterns, phobias, or unresolved anger or grief.” Dr. James Fadiman

Getting Started

The most frightening part of microdosing is getting started. Mostly because going to work for the first time after eating mushrooms is like walking through a door, not knowing what’s on the other side.

Luckily after reading countless testimonies and knowing first hand the amount of psilocybin in question will have no effects, I eased up.

I decided to go with the Fadiman protocol, which calls for a dose between 0.1 to 0.2 grams twice a week with 2 days break between. Thus gives your body the time to reset its tolerance. The are others, such as famed Mycologist Paul Stamets protocol. In the end,

I decided on the Dr. Fadiman regimen

I chose to do MD on Monday and Thursday for a couple of reasons. One being it felt logical, and 2, if it worked, it would be a fantastic start to the week, and then a nice send off to the weekend.

Next was finding the correct dosage. It took a few weeks to iron out, but I settled with 0.17.

Down the Hatch.

First Day of Class

The morning of the first dose was mildly nerve-wracking. I remember grinding the stem, baffled by how such a tiny amount of mushrooms will have any effect.

I opted not to drive to work that day. You find out soon enough it’s alright to drive, but it’s always good to err on the side of caution first.

The train ride was particularly regular that day, which, to be honest, made me a little sad. I was hoping to at least feel a bit giddy. But fate would have it that there was no such giddiness to speak of.

As I stepped my beaten Chuck’s into the office, a wave of anxiety enveloped me. Did I come to work with psilocybin in my system?

These questions and others kept racing through my head. But shortly after the hello’s and coffee stop, a stillness took over. Everything was fine.

With the morning rolling along, I felt tranquil. Work flowed seamlessly, and my writing had a depth to it, which I had not felt in some time. It’s as if the words had more life, an extra bounce in their step. It didn’t happen to be an exciting topic I was covering, but it didn’t matter; I was in it.

Yet, there was no sign of a psychedelic high whatsoever.

The rest of the day was much of the same. Ordinary routine, but there was an added spark of curiosity and good spirits.

By the time I was ready to pack my bags and head home, I’d nearly forgotten that I had taken the dose in the morning.

First day down, 11 to Go

Over the next 6 weeks, I continued to take 0.17 grams of psilocybin every Monday and Thursday. Not one of those times did I feel incapable of going about my day. It was actually the opposite. I looked forward to them, even though you don’t “feel” anything.

But, just because there wasn’t a psychedelic sensation, doesn’t mean they didn’t work.

During this period, I kept a daily journal. I paid extra attention to my mental and physical health, diet, but most importantly, how the MD was interacting with my Bi-Polar II cycles.

A typical 6–12 week period goes as follows: I find myself waking up from a haze of depression. How long I’ve been this way is hard to tell. Up until then, there must have been 2–3 weeks of depression, but I only start realizing what’s happening the last week. Once I’ve bottomed out, the ascension into a frenzy begins. I won’t bore you with the details, but it feels as if I’m running on nitrous instead of oxygen.

Yey, throughout the treatment, I felt stable. There were, of course, ups and downs, but so is the path of life. However, my mindstate was much more reliant on my daily choices vs. being a slave to brain chemistry. Instead of BEING the condition, I was able to look at it from a 3rd person perspective. I gained a new understanding of what it is, how it’s played a massive role in my life. In regards to treating the symptoms, it was a small sample size, but I was ecstatic with the results.

With that being said, there was a handful of other benefits I noticed along the way.

A Take On Self Examination for Growth

One of the big motivators for psychedelic use, besides the hallucinogenic trips, is fostering the relationships with ourselves and the world around us.

After a big trip, there’s always a renewed sense of wonder. Everything gains a deeper meaning. The only issue is such an experience comes and goes quickly, and with it, so do the after-effects. You feel highly connected and compassionate, but as the struggle of menial life kicks back in, the altruism fades.

Before you know it, you’re back to complaining that the line at Tim Hortons is longer than your shot of winning at rolling up the rim.

The opposite is exact with microdosing psilocybin. By introducing a small amount over a prolonged time frame, the phase, which is usually an afterglow, becomes the norm. Before you know it, it’s your baseline mode of function. And this has a ripple effect on every aspect of your life.

Psychedelic mushrooms are proven to strip us down earnestly. We take into account our actions, habits, and reflect on our interpersonal relationships. The extra focus on our lives emphasizes repairing what we’ve damaged and build a foundation to last.

We’re running a system sweep, and funghi is the firmware.

Reflecting on the Experience

My first microdosing cycle came to a close in April 2018. Since then, I’ve completed 2 more cycles, always giving them 6 months in between. I’ve read of people continuing, or they take much shorter breaks. But I wanted to see how long the effects last and if my symptoms would resurface while abstaining.

The entire experience has been nothing but positive. Although the depression and mania still manage to find its way into my life, they’re much less pronounced. I’m able to watch the cycles, never getting too high, and knowing that the lows shall always pass.

Microdosing psilocybin mushrooms have made a much more significant impact on my life than I could have ever imagined. Regardless if you deal with mental health issues, or simply want to look at the real man in the mirror, I encourage you to explore the endless information on its uses and benefits.

You never know, it might be the catalyst you’ve always needed.

Follow my Medium page as I document my microdosing journey and much more. If you have any questions, I’d be more than happy to answer them.