When Kathy microdoses, the first thing she notices is a sense of relief. The inner critic that was holding on tight starts to loosen, her irritation feels more in proportion, and she is kinder to herself. We have been talking about breathwork, nervous system regulation and cold baths for a while, and this time we are talking about microdosing, because it is one more tool people are curious about.
In this episode, Kathy and Mike share what microdosing has been like for them, from Kathy's first experience in 2018 while she was a public school teacher to how she uses it now. You'll hear how the Fadiman protocol works as a 30-day experiment with yourself, what people in their groups have noticed, and why they say it is not for everybody.
What is microdosing, and what does it feel like?
Kathy and Mike are talking about microdosing magic mushrooms and LSD, and how it can affect mental health. Kathy first microdosed in 2018, while she was teaching public school and also getting into breathwork, meditation and cold baths. She describes feeling more present with her students, more aware of what was out of line with her values, and more able to enjoy everyday tasks like grading and spreadsheets. Both of them describe it as a quieting rather than a dulling: more space before you react, and an inner critic that gets a little softer.
How does the Fadiman protocol work?
Kathy and Mike have guided more than 15 groups of 5 to 30 people, plus some one-on-one clients, using the protocol from Dr. James Fadiman, author of The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide. Kathy calls it a science experiment with yourself. It runs one dose every 3 days over 30 days, for 10 doses in all. Day 1 is your dose day, day 2 is your transition day (many people, including Mike, like this day best), and day 3 is your baseline day. Then the cycle repeats. Kathy says she sets an intention each dose day, and that after about 3 consecutive months they suggest taking a break of 1 to 2 months.
Why does journaling matter when you microdose?
Kathy and Mike highly recommend journaling, because the effects can be very subtle. Some people feel nothing at first and then, a couple of weeks in, notice they look at a situation differently. One person emailed them three months later to say they were only then realizing what they had been processing. Looking back at what you wrote helps you see what is actually changing. Kathy also shares a favorite story from a participant who realized, on a customer service call, that the person on the line was just doing their job, chose to be more pleasant, and had a better call for it.
Can microdosing help with energy, mood and perimenopause?
As a mom of two young kids, Kathy says that on the days she microdoses LSD she has more sustained energy in the afternoon and is a little less snappy. She is also in early perimenopause, and she microdoses in the days leading up to her period, when she feels a kind of switch flip inside. She half-jokingly calls it her period protocol. Mike notes that this is an emerging field.
Who is microdosing not for, and what happens after the 30 days?
Mike says plainly that he does not think it is for everybody, and Kathy says that if you have certain medical conditions, such as bipolar disorder or psychosis, it is not for you. After the 30-day experiment, Kathy says you know your own baseline and how it works for you. She no longer follows the every-3-days schedule and now microdoses situationally, such as before workshops, on recording days, or leading up to her period. Mike adds that research is being released all the time, so the information keeps evolving.
Resources Mentioned
In This Episode
Microcurious? Kathy and Mike have a free 4-day email mini-course on microdosing. You'll get one short email a day with a little about how to microdose and some resources.
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