I microdose magic mushrooms for my mental health AMA

[BodyKeepingScore]

I have a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder and CPTSD (diagnosed approx 18 years ago). Following an especially bad depressive episode last year for which I was hospitalised involuntarily I struggled with recovery at home and after many years of being compliant with conventional medications and therapy I decided to try microdosing psilocybin in an effort to try and improve my mental health. I am not a medical professional but have been interested in mycology and psychedelic therapies for years and spent a long (desperate!) time researching before I decided to proceed. AMA!

Does it help you?

It's made an immeasurable difference to my life. Following discharge I became essentially housebound with anxiety. I was in a constant state of hyperarousal and always on edge. Within two weeks of microdosing those symptoms have all but vanished. I'm much more at ease in my own body and so much more present for my family. I haven't had a panic attack since starting it and my brain fog has completely gone.

Where do you get magic mushroom from?

That sounds amazing. Do you pick them yourself? Where did you find out the info on what dosage to use and how do you make sure the dosage is reliable?

I grow my own currently. Prior to that I was buying capsules pre made up by a local-ish therapist I know.

But where did you get the spores from?

What's the scientific name?

There are a few people on here who grow their own shrooms for MH benefits - they might see your thread. I'm glad they help you - I gave microdosing a wee go but didn't really commit.

Doseage wise, I did a lot of reading on online forums and research papers. I did some digging online and was signposted to a therapist who luckily turned out not to live too far from me who sells the capsules which she doses and measures out herself. I started low and worked up to a dose which seems to be currently working for me. I now grow my own and measure out accordingly using my own scales and a coffee grinder. The dose I'm on is still sub perceptual so there's absolutely zero "trippy" sensations. It's the complete absence of the unpleasant symptoms I had before that I notice.

Have you ever tripped on mushrooms before you started microdosing? I find microdosing so so beneficial, and found that tripping- in a safe space with someone who cared for me- very helpful in the wake of a particular trauma/when grieving. It has changed everything for me. I will never see the world in the same way again (and it hasn't led to me wanting to do it often- I haven't had anything for years now.)

To answer questions re where I get them from... I took spore prints from someone who already had some and followed teks that I found online to grow from there. Spores can also be legally ordered from a number of online stores. Spores aren't illegal in and of themselves.

I did trip before back in my misspent youth many many years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. No interest or inclination to do it again tbh.

@AssassinsEyebrow I took a spore print from another mushroom in order to grow the ones I'm currently growing. I have previously ordered spores in syringes from online stores but had less success with this.

How do you manage to be sure of a dose’s potency while growing your own? I always assumed that some mushrooms of the same variety and size might contain more of the ‘active ingredient’ than others?

Truthfully I have absolutely no way of knowing that the potency between each mushroom is uniform, I dehydrate them, grind them up and measure them out. This seems to be enough to keep a reasonably consistent dose and at such low weights it's unlikely to make a significant impact on the effect.

I microdose too. It really seems to help my mood. It effectively changes me from a glass half empty person to a glass half full person. But it's only a slight change, it's not a personality overhaul.

I've had to experiment a bit with doses, 1 gram of fresh truffles a couple of times a week is perfect for me.

I'm glad you're also finding it helpful! Since I began doing it I've come across loads of people who are too. It's been like night and day for me personally. I'm just a better happier version of myself. I take three capsules every three days along with lions mane and niacin for a month, a week off, then start the process again.

I'd love to try this - looked into buying capsules and it all seemed very dodgy so I gave up on the idea. Is it difficult to cultivate your own mushrooms?

Is it legal?

I occasionally microdose and find it works better than antidepressants - a better result with none of the side effects!

I’d like to try growing - do you have any tips for successful growing?

Wonderful substance.

Where do you get the microdose capsules (?) from?

Many thanks for a fascinating thread.

Do you know of anyone that micodoses for either Multiple Sclerosis or Glaucoma ?

A friend has a farm where they grow naturally - she gave me a few.

No it isn't unfortunately. That said I think it's highly likely we'll see it made legal and regulated within the next ten years

Cleanliness cleanliness cleanliness! Working in a sterile way seems to be where the success lies and ensuring the mushrooms/mycelium don't become contaminated