'I Microdosed Magic Mushrooms for a Year—It Changed My Perspective on Life'

Growing up, my grandma's biggest mantra was: "Without your health, you have nothing." Throughout my entire life, that statement has really resonated with me and that mindset has continued into my adult years.

Her advice gave me the hunger to consistently learn and develop my knowledge about what it really means to be "healthy," whether that be through food, supplements, fitness or sustainable habits.

Now, I'm on a mission to find balance in my own life, while sharing my experiences and ever-growing knowledge about wellness with my family, friends and social media followers, in the hope they can find the same.

The first time I took magic mushrooms I was in high school, around the age of 15 or 16. At the time, I really didn't like the feeling of "not being in control." Looking back, I was just inexperienced and uneducated.

My first microdosing experience

I first heard about microdosing through a friend. They explained it meant administering a low dosage of a psychedelic drug, so it's unlikely to produce whole-body effects.

Initially, because of my previous experiences, I said: "Heck no, I'm not doing that." But I kept hearing positive stories about microdosing online and from friends. There was a lot of talk about self-exploration, growth and how it had positively impacted people's lives. I'm all about improving my wellbeing and expanding my knowledge, so, eventually my curious mind got the best of me.

The first time I microdosed psilocybin, the psychedelic found in magic mushrooms, was last year, at the age of 22. I was kind of nervous to try it out, but it was such a small dose that I wasn't too worried.

I took my dose alone, on a day off, and then went for a walk. Mid-walk, around 30 minutes after taking my microdose, I found myself with strong feelings of gratitude and appreciation for the nature around me. The flowers seemed bolder, the sky appeared to be a deeper shade of blue and I felt like the sun kissed my skin. The slight change in scenery was like looking through a beauty filter. It offered a shift in perspective.

Deciding to continue microdosing

I decided to continue microdosing when I felt the initial shift in my mental state. You know that feeling when someone offers a new way of looking at something and it instantly changes your perspective? That's kind of what microdosing feels like, when paired with good habits. It gives you the opportunity to change your mind.

I've been microdosing for around a year now, but I never "decided" to do it long term and don't do so on a schedule. It's something I enjoy and do when needed. I'll stop when it no longer serves me.

The process of microdosing involves taking a small dose of psilocybin, not enough to trigger hallucinations, but enough to facilitate noticeable changes. For me, it helps to feel more calm, focused, productive, creative, energized, grateful, uplifted and even more patient and present.

I find this change in my mental state can help me push through creative blocks, social fears, and help me find more joy in little things, which all contribute to my overall well-being and mental health.

I typically take 125mg of dried psilocybe every two to three days, with the exception of a larger dose if I'm going out with friends and don't want to drink. A dose this size the majority of the time provides body sensations, changes in visual and auditory perception. Lights seem brighter, music sounds better. I would personally never take a dose larger than this when going out. For me, taking over one gram can cause more of a spiritual experience, which I would not want before having to have conversations with people.

When taking small amounts of psilocybin, I typically feel the effects of my dose within 30-45 minutes. With a 125mg dose, this is not a "holy s***" moment, rather a subtle yet noticeable uplifted feeling. Sometimes I'll even forget I've taken it; I just become so focused on tasks I've been procrastinating, or end up going for a walk and feel filled with gratitude.

I get my microdoses in capsule and chocolate form from Microgenix, a microdosing company based in British Columbia, Canada. They offer organic and vegan options, which is super important to me. When looking for a product, I believe finding a reliable, consistent source is key.

I find raw mushrooms taste really awful, so getting microdoses in the form of capsules and chocolate is incredible for me. I typically spend $70 on a jar of capsules, made up of a blend of reishi, chaga, lion's mane mushrooms, ginger root and dried psilocybe and can last me up to three months.

I currently live in a city where the personal possession of small amounts of recreational drugs is set to be decriminalized next year. But I believe the push for full legalization is getting stronger everyday. When I think of an illegal drug, I think of something that ruins people's lives through addiction and substance dependance. However, for me, psilocybin is not addictive and has had nothing but a positive impact on my life.

Long-term impacts of microdosing

I am often asked whether I'm worried about long-term effects of microdosing, which I think is funny considering the amount of normalized chemicals many of us consume every day. Based on studies to date. I believe the long term effects will be even more eye-opening and introspective than the short term, positive effects I've experienced.

Microdosing has had an impact on every part of my being, from my work to my social life. It has helped me look inwards and understand myself more fully. This isn't solely the work of psilocybin, but the practices and small achievable goals I set for myself, while microdosing.

In my view, pairing your doses with small achievable goals is integral to a sustainable, long term healing process. For example, if your goal is to better understand yourself, I would suggest pairing your dose with fifteen minutes of journaling. In my opinion, microdosing on a schedule is not intended to be something you do forever, it's something to help you get to where you want to be.

Microdosing is not necessarily for everyone. I would always recommend checking if it will interfere with any medications you are taking and I feel it's important to note there are no conclusive studies in regards to the effects of psilocybe on fertility or pregnancy.

It can make some people feel anxious, especially if consumed with larger amounts of caffeine or focus drugs, so microdosing is really subjective.

Microdosing has not had any negative impact on my relationships. On the contrary, I find that taking a larger dose with my partner and spending the night in is an amazing way to connect on a deeper level than we ever have before.

Microdosing with friends has led to conversations and experiences that we most likely wouldn't have had otherwise. Overall, it has improved my relationships in all aspects of my life.

My advice on microdosing

I believe you should always determine your intention with microdosing; there may not be one concrete reason for your interest in mushrooms, but it's good to make note of what it is you are trying to achieve within yourself for the best results. For example, are you trying to mitigate social anxiety, stay focused or clear creative blocks?

In my experience, determining your intention will help you choose the right dose. For example, on days I'm feeling stressed and have a huge workload, I take 125mg, which helps calm my anxiety, heighten my focus and increase my productivity. However on nights out with friends, I typically take 400-800mg, depending on how I'm feeling.

While microdosing may not be for everyone, it has changed my life, and so I hope anyone who feels the need to try psilocybin finds what they are looking for in a safe and healthy way.

Dani Lee, 23, is a social media influencer focusing on wellness and health. You can follow her on TikTok @danijlee. She is an ambassador for Microgenix.

All views expressed in this article are the author's own.

As told to Newsweek associate editor, Monica Greep.