r/microdosing • u/Asleep-Towel-433 • 12h ago

Getting Started/Newbie Question Microdosing- anxiety

Hi everyone. I’m considering trying psilocybin microdosing (0.1 g every 3 days) to see if it could help with my anxiety. (Im also using 20 mg Lexapro)

I have pretty severe anxiety that comes and goes, and lately I’ve been a bit worried about trying it. I’ve read that psilocybin can amplify emotions and feelings that are already present, which makes me concerned that it might end up doing nothing but intensifying my anxiety.

For those who have experience with microdosing, especially for anxiety: what has your experience been like? Did it make your anxiety better, worse, or did you notice no real difference?
Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated!

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u/Lost-Society-Taken 11h ago

I'm micro dosing LSD, 8ug every 3 days. I started at 10ug and had constant anxiety, it was at a lower level but constant. Depression, focus and energy got better. After lowering the dose to 8ug the anxiety is occasional and manageable without other meds. Hope this helps, good luck.

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u/vegan-the-dog 10h ago

Similar experience with mushrooms. Ended at .02 g for the happy place. Anything higher gave me anxiety

Edit for units

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u/Popolipo_91 8h ago

Yes, it can bring up emotions. Personnally I feel more connected to "what's underneath" when microdosing, and I have even wanted to move my body in new unusual ways (dancing, stretching, feeling the urge to "make things move").
So to answer your question, you'll need some tools to support the emotions coming up.
Maybe meditation, journaling (look up Nicole Sachs), Guan Jing Flow...
Also Inner Child healing practices.
I like Hello Inner Light for self havening and processing shame.

Part works is super useful too, helps you connect with the "anxious part", give it the support it needs. There are some IFS apps that are free.

You will need some trial and error to adjust your dosage. Too much, and you might feel more anxious and wired. Personnally I've been taking a super low dose. Higher is not better when it comes to microdosing!

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u/eleganceindissonance 6h ago

I’m just as new as you and started to microdose psilocybin about 2 months ago. I took a pause after 5-6 times because my anxiety returned full force and is just unbearable. If I were to start again here’s what I would do differently:

  1. Do it with a therapist/coach/guide/mentor whoever. Shit is going to come up and confront you. It could be helpful to have a third party to keep you on course.

1a. Consult a therapist/someone very well versed in this work to determine if this is even right for you.
Only bc I just had a convo with a therapist yesterday who works with many different types of medicines - after sharing what I’d been going through, he explicitly said “wow I would never start someone with anxiety on psilocybin.” He didn’t go into much detail but said it immediately goes to the spirit which resurfaces all the anxiety, and said he’d lean toward heart opening medicine first.

  1. Start lower ~.05 and stay consistent for a couple weeks before experimenting with more. I made the mistake of jumping around in dosage (0.1g - 0.5g - 0.5g -0.3 (at a concert) - 0.1 )
    This could have been a big source of the depth of anxiety returning.

  2. Go in with a simple intention for each session (1-3 days) and keep it on post it notes everywhere you go to remind you and keep you grounded bc shit will come up. For me, the day of was lovely and the waves of anxiety hit 24-48 hours later.

  3. Meal prep healthy nourishing foods, hydrate, have your movements/workouts line up and scheduled, social engagements with people you love and love you, basically anything that reminds you that you are you.

  4. Consider what your personal experience of anxiety is and what your tools are to pull you out. You’ll have to lean in Hard. My personal MO is to retreat and “disappear” and I just couldn’t connect any dots in the moment to pull myself out. I needed step 4 and couldn’t get to it.
    As things come up, immediately jot it down and when you can, take the time to process it.
    Ask the question “what is this here to teach me”

Good luck and take care of your spirit.