Microdosing seems like it was the buzzword of 2024, people from all walks of life have been exploring this tool for everything from getting off their anxiety and ADHD medication, to boosting their productivity and focus, to moving more gracefully through a difficult transition (think: divorce, losing a job, or beginning entrepreneurship), to simply learning how to be more present in the daily aspects of life. There seems to be no application microdosing doesn’t have which probably has you wondering, “is microdosing right for me?”
This microdosing suitability guide is designed to help you explore whether microdosing could be a fit for your personal journey.
What is Microdosing?
Before we get too far, you should know exactly what microdosing is before you consider doing it.
Microdosing involves consuming very low, sub-perceptual amounts of psychedelics—such as psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms) or LSD—to harness their potential benefits without experiencing a full psychedelic trip. These tiny doses are intended to subtly enhance daily life, fostering creativity, reduced anxiety, emotional balance, and mental clarity. Keyword: Subtly.
A standard microdose is about 1/10th of a standard full-dose. All of which varies from person to person. Anyone partaking in a microdosing protocol should always calibrate their microdose to ensure they’re working with the right amount of the substance. Too high and you risk building a tolerance, overstimulating your brain, and not reaping the benefits of a true microdose. Too little and you may short yourself on some of the key benefits that microdosing has. We’ll get into this a little later.
While microdosing has shown great promise, it’s essential to approach it with awareness and intention. The practice is still under scientific study, and the legality of psychedelics varies by location. Assessing your psychedelic readiness and understanding the basics is an important first step.
Benefits of Microdosing: Why People Microdose
You may be hearing the anecdotal chatter about microdosing in many of your conversations depending on where you live. If you live in Colorado or Oregon, these conversations seem to take up real estate in just about any conversation context. However, with tools and experiences like these, a lot of the time it’s hard to sum up in words what the benefits really are when hearing someone’s anecdotal (and maybe slightly dramatized personal brag, IYKYK).
Good thing a lot of the microdosing benefits are being increasingly supported by research, and here are some that seem to be impacting others with the most consistency:
Enhanced Creativity, Productivity, and Focus
Different psychedelics impact the brain in different ways. For the most part, many users find that microdosing boosts their ability to think outside the box and maintain attention on complex tasks. When your brain is being affecting by the non-hallucinogenic chemical reactions that taking a microdose of psychedelics induces, you get reduced activity in your DMN (Default Mode Network) the place where your sense of self and autopilot thoughts live. This is in addition to the communication between other areas of the brain that usually don’t speak to each other now that the DMN is quiet. Resulting in your brain having more access to itself and more novel ways of thinking and feeling. When done with intention, you can use this to your full advantage and completely rewire the way your brain communicates and thus how you exist in the world.
Exploring Microdosing for Emotional Growth and Clarity
Some studies suggest microdosing can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, fostering a greater sense of well-being and peacefulness. Microdosing is believed to influence serotonin levels, which play a crucial role in mood regulation. Additionally, it enhances neural connectivity, promoting a more balanced emotional response to stress and improving overall resilience.
This is one benefit that doesn’t happen for everyone, at least not initially. At first it may feel like microdosing actually increases your emotional dyregulation but rest assure, the medicine is typically trying to help you see where you need to place more attention and create more balance for yourself.
When you trust the process, finding emotional balance with microdosing can be one of the most powerful benefits you experience, since emotions can majorly impact how you live your life, what risks you take, and the type of life you choose to lead. I initially started microdosing to reduce and transform my anxiety, it’s become the only thing that has ever sustainably worked.
Increased Connection with Self and Others
People often report feeling more present, connected to themselves, and in tune with their relationships. When we’re more connected with ourselves and our sense of direction, we can be more present to what and who we interact with. This is one of my favorite benefits of microdosing, it creates more attention on that which is important to you by design, the more you resist what’s important to you, the more you’ll experience resistance and struggle.
When doing a microdosing protocol, it’s common to feel the want to engage with yourself more intentionally, taking more walks, meditate more, and simply just be versus do. This practice over time will drastically change the way you show up for both yourself, others, and eventually the collective. You likely won’t experience that profound sense of “oneness,” you may experience in a macro journey, but surely on a smaller scale, you’ll get your own sense of what it means to be connecting to the greater whole.
Microdosing experiences can vary significantly from person to person and substance to substance. What proves effective for one person might not yield the same results for another. This is why partnering with a coach, mentor, or professional can be invaluable in supporting the process and easing the common frustrations that arise when microdosing (like not knowing if you’re taking the right dose, or substance, or how to stop being so irritated.)
Even at low doses, psychedelics are powerful substances that require a thoughtful approach and practiced harm reduction to maximize their potential benefits. The brain’s primary function is to protect you, and when it perceives even a slight sense of danger, it activates safety mechanisms and internal narratives to ensure your well-being. These protective responses explain why experiences with psychedelics can differ so greatly; some individuals may find it more challenging to bypass these mechanisms and narratives than others.
Challenges and Considerations
Before diving in, it’s crucial to understand potential challenges that often arise when microdosing:
Finding the Right Microdose
The “micro” in microdosing refers to doses so small that they don’t cause noticeable intoxication. This varies from person to person and is usually the thing that creates the most challenge in the microdosing protocol. Calibrating your specific microdose is imperative to getting the most out of your experience. Don’t just use the standard approach, take your time to get both the dose and the substance right. When working with psilocybin, the strain of mushrooms matters as well, so do your research and don’t go in blind.
Managing Expectations During Microdosing
Microdosing is not a miracle cure or a substitute for professional therapy. It’s a tool that works best with clear intentions and a supportive environment. If you’re approaching your microdosing protocol with the idea that it’s going to “fix you,” “heal you,” or magically make your whole life better, then you’re going to be in for a rude awakening. When you participated in a microdosing protocol, you’re actively participating in your own personal evolution. This requires active work along the way. If you’re not willing to do the work, then you won’t get what you’re looking for from microdosing, guaranteed.
Increased Emotions
Psychedelics are non-specific amplifiers, which means they amplify whatever is present, not just what’s “good.” This is incredibly important if you’re interested in microdosing for anxiety, there’s a good chance it’s going to increase your anxiety before it alleviates it as a way to get you to look at it more closley.
Before you participate in a microdosing protocol, you’ll want to be aware that they’re going to stir and shake your emotions up for you to see them from a new lens. Emotions are part of what it means to be human, yet most of us are unsure what to do with them, how to deal with them, and are resistant to explore them. Even when you know this part of the process, the emotions can still trip you up (especially if you’re someone who usually suppresses your emotions). Going into your protocol with the preparedness for this part of the process is imperative to getting a lot out of it. Emotions are your greatest teachers, but they can only teach you if you’re willing to learn and develop the skill of emotional resilience along the way.
Legal Risks
Psychedelics are not yet legal in most parts of the world. Keeping up to date with your local laws and legal risk is important. As I’ve said before, if your brain detects even the slightest sign of danger, it will deploy all of it’s safety mechanisms and narratives to keep you safe. This is one of those things that can really impact people subconsciously even when they’re not aware. Simply knowing the risk you’re taking can alleviate this.
Microdosing requires a mindful, intentional approach and isn’t a simple solution to all your problems. If anything, it requires your full devotion to yourself to get started. I don’t say this to deter you, but rather to invite you into the work with an empowered and embodied mindset.
Is Microdosing Right for Me? Key Questions to Ask Yourself
To determine if microdosing is really a good fit, reflect on these questions:
- What Are My Goals/Intentions? Are you seeking emotional balance, enhanced creativity, or personal growth, a deeper sense of self, to integrate a marcrodose journey? Identifying your true “why” can guide your microdosing journey. This is the part that will guide your entire experience, so spending time with why you want to microdose is highly encouraged.
- Am I in a Supportive Environment? A safe, non-judgmental setting is essential for exploring microdosing. Consider if your surroundings support your well-being. Who could help you on this path? Who in your life will support the work? What are your current life circumstances and will microdosing be supportive or destructive alongside them?
- Am I Open to Personal Reflection? Microdosing brings subtle shifts in perspective, if you’re not careful you may miss them or find them more frustrating than beneficial. Being open to journaling, somatic, or mindfulness practices can amplify its benefits and help you get more out of the experience.
- Do I Understand the Risks? Have you researched the legal and physiological implications? Being informed is a vital part of responsible microdosing. Knowing who microdosing is good and not good for is a good start. Educating yourself on this part isn’t just for your physical well-being, but your psychological and emotional safety as well.
How to Get Started Safely
If you’ve decided microdosing might be right for you, here are some next steps:
- Educate Yourself: Read reputable resources, listen to expert talks, and understand psychedelic microdosing safety, protocols, and practices. My blog has tons of resources on it for microdosing and psychedelic use that may be helpful. Download my free microdosing guide for beginners for the exact protocol and practices I take all my clients through.
- Commit to the Process: If you’re a full ‘f*ck yes’ to begin microdosing then commit to doing it for at least 60 days to get the most out of your experience. Being wishy washy with the process will only stunt your progress and communicate to your brain and the medicine that you’re not that serious or ready to make change.
- Track Your Experience: Keep a journal to record your emotions, mood, productivity, and overall well-being day after day. This will help you fine-tune your approach and see where there are opportunities to make change.
- Seek Guidance: A microdosing coach or mentor can provide personalized support and ensure you’re on the right path at each step of the way. Whether you need someone to help you structure your protocol, a group to microdose in or 1:1 support, I’ve got options for you. Book a free consultation call here to ask me anything related to your microdosing path.
Conclusion: Empowering Your Decision
Microdosing is a deeply personal practice, and the question, Is microdosing right for me?, requires thoughtful exploration. By understanding its potential benefits, challenges, and your own intentions, you can make an informed decision and hit the ground running.
Remember, microdosing is not a one-size-fits-all solution. If you’re curious, start by educating yourself and connecting with professionals who can guide you safely. Whether microdosing becomes a part of your journey or not, the act of asking this question is already a step toward greater self-awareness and transformation.
When deciding on microdosing for personal growth, you’re ready when you say you are, and not a moment sooner.
If we haven’t meet yet, hi! I’m Alexa Joyal—Microdosing coach and passionate about helping high sensitive individuals turn their emotions into their superpower to unlock a life and relationships they love. If you like my content and you want more of it in your life, here are a few ways you can connect with me:
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