By Sam Wong

Microdosing, the practice of regularly taking small amounts of psychedelic drugs to improve mood and performance, has been taking off over the past few years. But the fact that these drugs are illegal makes it difficult to research their effects and possible health consequences. There are no rigorous clinical trials to see whether microdosing works (see Microdosers say tiny hits of LSD make your work and life better).

Instead, all we have are anecdotes from people like Janet Lai Chang, a digital marketer based in San Francisco. She will present her experience of microdosing at the Quantified Self conference in Amsterdam from 17to 18 June.

I started in February 2016. I wanted to understand how my brain works and how it might work differently with the influence of psilocybin [the active ingredient in magic mushrooms].

I had been struggling with a lot of social anxiety. It was really preventing me from advancing professionally. I was invited to give a talk at Harvard University and a TedX talk in California. I didnt feel ready. I felt all this anxiety. I procrastinated until the last minute and then didnt do it. It was one of my biggest regrets.

At first I was taking 0.2 grams of mushrooms every day, with a day or two off at the weekend. In August, Ihad a month off. From October to April, it was a few times a week.

I was less anxious, less depressed, more open, more extroverted. I was more present in the moment. Its harder to get into the flow of the focused solo work that Im normally really good at. But its good for the social aspect.

I have some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder left over from childhood abuse. Pretty much the only other negative thing was being more aware of negative emotions I had. I have a repressed anger response, according to my therapist. When I was microdosing I felt like I could really feel it; I felt the anger.

Occasionally, but Ive stopped the experiment. I dont want to be dependent on a substance to enable me to achieve certain desirable states of productivity.

I think everyone would benefit fromhaving at least one kind of experience with psychedelics. Thedosage really depends on the individual and what theyre looking toget out of it.

This article appeared in print under the headline Leading the high life

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What it's like to take psychedelics in small doses at breakfast - New Scientist