Microdosing: Between Promise and Reality
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This week, I stumbled upon some studies showing that 16% of tech employees, 20% of entrepreneurs, 13% of U.S. students, and a whopping 28% of artists worldwide practice microdosing. Having dabbled with it myself when I was younger, I got curious and decided to dive into the topic.
So, whatâs microdosing?
In short, microdosing means taking tiny amounts (5-10% of a typical ârecreationalâ dose) of a psychoactive substance. The idea is to tap into the positive effects of these substances without the heavy side effects, without altering your state of mind, and definitely without hallucinations.
When we talk about psychoactive substances, weâre looking at things like LSD, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), MDMA, cannabis, ayahuasca, ibogaine, mescaline, modafinil, methylphenidate, or even ketamineâŚ
Each of these can, in theory, boost productivity and performance.
Why use psychoactives?
This trend really took off in Silicon Valley, blending the hippy roots of San Francisco with todayâs relentless drive for more - more innovation, more performance, more everything, thanks to the pressure from investors.
People started looking for ways to âupgradeâ themselves, to outperform, and that often means going beyond the natural limits. So, they turn to LSD for divergent thinking, better productivity, and stress relief - psilocybin for enhanced social connections and reduced anxiety - MDMA for emotional well-being - ayahuasca for deep introspection - ibogaine for improved focus and emotional clarity - mescaline for tackling complex problem-solvingâŚ
The catch?
But hey, lifeâs never that simple. This alternative boost comes with real risks. The first big hurdle? Finding good-quality substances with precise dosages, which is tough in a shady, unregulated market. The second? Managing unwanted side effects. Thereâs a fine line between performance boost and side effects, and crossing that line can lead to some pretty scary consequences.
In France, for instance, before you can legally microdose with methylphenidate, you need to undergo more than 24 hours of hospital testing to find that sweet spot where side effects are minimized - because if you overshoot, the risks can be fatal.
Once you hit that sweet spot, though, itâs game on. Youâll feel sharper, more focused, more productive⌠But youâre also altering your body and brain. Weâre just the sum of what we consume, after all. If youâre regularly taking psychoactive substances, your body adapts. You start building mental and physical habits. And to maintain those effects, youâll need to up the dose. Before you know it, youâre hallucinating, developing compulsive behaviors, dealing with obsessive thoughts, personality shifts⌠In other words, the side effects creep in, and the breaking point vanishes.
The psychological trap
For me, this is the biggest reason I no longer microdose: the psychological dependency. Regular consumption means your body and mind get used to it. You reach a point where you canât function without your dose. And when you decide to stop, everything crashes. A massive wave of fatigue hits. Youâve been running at full throttle without giving your body a break, and now, without the crutch, youâre stuck. You become a vegetable, desperate for your next hit just to feel capable of doing something - anything.
So how should you consume?
To avoid these issues, James Fadiman (an American psychologist and writer) developed a consumption method aimed at limiting dependency and extreme bodily changes while still reaping the benefits - creativity, productivity, focus, and emotional well-being.
His method follows a three-day cycle over several weeks:
⢠Day 1: Microdose
Take a microdose of your chosen substance (usually LSD or psilocybin). Typically, thatâs 10-20 micrograms of LSD or 0.1-0.5 grams of psilocybin mushrooms.
The goal? Subtle effects like improved mood, focus, or creativity, but no hallucinations or sensory changes.
⢠Day 2: Rest
No dose today. Itâs a rest day to let your body process the substance. The idea is to keep experiencing lingering positive effects.
⢠Day 3: Rest
Another rest day. This minimizes tolerance so the substanceâs effects donât fade with repeated use.
⢠Day 4: Start over (microdose again)
The cycle starts over with another microdose.
Fadiman suggests repeating this cycle for 4 to 6 weeks, then taking a full month off to reset. Itâs like a yo-yo effect - altering, then restoring balance, which should help minimize negative side effects.
Microdosing: Yes or No?
I found this topic fascinating to explore. Itâs been on my mind for a while and continues to intrigue me. My stance? Iâd never recommend anyone engage in this kind of bodily enhancement - simply because thereâs still so much we donât know scientifically, and the consequences can be severe. Letâs not forget that itâs also illegal in most places, and if youâre going to do it, it needs to be strictly supervised by a medical professional.
In the end, though, itâs a personal choice. Youâre free to do what you want, but if youâre considering it, take the time to understand the consequences. Donât dive headfirst into what could become your own personal prison. Everything should be done in moderation.
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