New Study Shows How Microdosing Psychedelics Can Enhance Your Innate Self-Expression

In recent years, a fascinating technique known as microdosing has caught the attention of a broad spectrum of individuals, from Silicon Valley’s high-flying tech entrepreneurs to the socially aware millennials and Generation Z.

And in case you didn’t know, this practice entails the ingestion of minute doses of psychedelic substances, primarily aimed at boosting creativity, enhancing mood, and improving daily performance without invoking intense hallucinogenic experiences.

Amid this rising popularity, an intriguing new study has emerged, delving into the potential effects of microdosing on a person’s sense of self. 

The research, recently published in the respected journal Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, examined the complex relationship between microdosing and what’s referred to as a ‘state of authenticity’ – the feeling of being truly genuine and honest with oneself in a given moment. As we dive into the crux of this important investigation, we explore if and how tiny doses of psychedelics could be a key to unlocking our authentic selves.

The Study on Microdosing and Authenticity

The research featured in Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs was geared toward understanding the interaction of dose size and state of mind. The researchers investigated if a microdose could help boost self-expression by positively influencing people’s moods and their interaction with daily activities. This was not an idle curiosity but a carefully designed exploration involving 18 participants based in the Netherlands. 

Over the span of a month, the participants were closely monitored, providing a total of 192 observations to form a robust data set. To capture the real-world impacts of microdosing psilocybin, the researchers collected self-assessments that applied an ‘experience sampling’ method using a phone application. 

As such, the researchers theorized that small doses of psilocybin could lead to a higher authentic feeling by enhancing mood and increasing both the amount and quality of daily activities.

Findings of the Study

The study’s results were fascinating, offering compelling insights into the influence of tiny psychedelic doses. The findings showed a significant increase in the sense of authenticity on the day of microdosing psychedelics and the subsequent day. This indicates that its effects could extend beyond the immediate period of ingestion. 

Furthermore, the study shed light on an association between:

• Microdosing psychedelics
• The number of daily activities undertaken
• The pleasure experienced from these activities. 

It revealed that on the day the participants took their microdose psychedelic, they engaged in a higher number of activities and expressed a higher level of satisfaction with these activities. This correlation extended to the following day, where activity levels remained more elevated, even though satisfaction levels gradually decreased.

Linking Current Research to Prior Findings

This recent study on microdosing and its effects on expressed self-esteem align with previous research confirming its positive effects on mood and overall mental health. In June 2022, a study offered compelling evidence that taking microdoses of psilocybin mushrooms had a beneficial impact on mood. Additionally, the positive effects appear to be widespread, transcending boundaries of age, gender, and mental health status. 

From older adults experiencing enhanced psychomotor performance to individuals across different age groups and genders witnessing mood enhancements, the benefits of microdosing are impressively consistent. 

Addressing Limitations and Considerations in Microdosing Research

One primary concern about research limitations was the potential for placebo effects, which could not be entirely ruled out based on the available data. Regimen and dose variations posed certain challenges in separating genuine drug effects from placebo influences. However, the authors noted that their study aimed to understand microdosing as it occurs in natural settings, where variations in dosage, regimen, and individual responses may occur. 

By assessing microdosing effects in such an environment, the study aimed to improve the credibility of the results, mirroring real-world conditions where individual practices, sensitivity to substances, and goals of microdosing are likely to vary among individuals.

The Bottom Line

The study on the benefits of microdosing psychedelics provides a fascinating glimpse into even more research supporting its widely acknowledged mood enhancements. By uncovering a link between microdosing and increased self-awareness, the experiment sheds new light on how it could foster a deeper connection with our genuine selves. It highlights how microdosing may increase activity and satisfaction levels, potentially leading to greater happiness. Yet, as with any emerging field of research, further studies are needed to provide concrete evidence. Those discoveries will broaden knowledge and understanding for the next generations.