What Is a Microdose?
A microdose is generally considered to be one-20th to one-tenth of a recreational dose. If someone’s seeing things, he or she has taken too much. Most people microdose mushrooms or LSD, but other psychoactive have also become popular of late.
How does it feel to Microdose?
Microdosing offers the neurologic and psychologic benefits of psilocybin. You should not have to alter your daily routine in order to microdose!
On your dose days: The effect of a microdose is subtle yet noticeable. You should be able to go about your daily routine without any impairment. It’s common for people who microdose to report the following on dose days: music sounds better, they’re more empathetic, more energetic, they pause to think before they speak, they’re more aware of their surroundings (especially nature), their focus feels sharper and they are able to stay on-track.
On your non-dose days: Many microdosers report experiencing an afterglow the day immediately after a dose day. The introspective effects in particular tend to draw out into the next day. Conescutive days of non-dosing (which are recommended in any macrodosing protocol) will bring you back to baseline and from a pharmacokinetic standpoint will serve to reset any tolerance that has built.
How do I know Microdosing is working?
Since a microdose is meant to be non-psychoactive it is “difficult” to measure its effects without being very conscious of yourself. Some self-reflection is required to understand your improvements. It’s important to take a comprehensive review of the effects.
Here 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.
When you are not experiencing the effects and benefits of the microdosing practice, it doesn’t mean it is not working, it actually means that it IS working; you are being invited to deepen your presence, intention, curiosity, and commitment to the practice.
Microdosing is above all an invitation. Once you begin your practice, regardless of the effects, you are in dialogue with the medicine whether you are aware of it or not. If you silence the mind, slow down, and approach with mindfulness, you will find that the next steps will always reveal themselves.
When you don’t feel your dose, instead of getting frustrated, try getting curious. Ask yourself: what needs to shift in my life? Am I really living in alignment and integrity with my stated goals? Where can I make adjustments and improvements? Where can I become more present? Where can I slow down more? Where can I let go of control? Your answer to these questions is the very essence of a mindful microdosing practice.
