Can microdosing mushrooms change your mind? 

Let us count the ways

Can microdosing mushrooms change your mind?

*How To Change Your Mind*, by Michael Pollan, was the catalyst that began mine and Cory's microdosing journey back in the Summer of 2020.

Covid was six months in, and we were traveling to and from Wyoming frequently to spend as much time with Papa T camping in the great outdoors, as we were strictly social distancing.

But internally, I felt like a scratched record.

You know the feeling—skipping over the same anxious thoughts or gloomy moods day after day.

I was curious how microdosing mushrooms would "help me"....

Boy was I in for a surprise...

Since beginning my microdosing mushrooms journey...

My life is full of:

• Creativity
• Music
• Living authentically
• Flow
• Deep connection
• Sobriety

I am a full-time copywriter, author, and online publisher.

Writing and publishing books is literally in my blood.

I am a 4th generation author in my family, and the first woman to carry that torch.

But before we go further...

Let’s get one thing straight: microdosing is not about seeing kaleidoscope colors or talking to elves in your kitchen, lol. 

If the walls start breathing, you have taken too much!

A true microdose is "sub-perceptual," meaning you shouldn't feel high at all.

Instead, it is about hitting a sweet spot where you feel just a little more "on."

For me, it’s about subtle shifts in my day-to-day reality, helping me flow through life rather than fighting against it.

The clash of protocols and creativity

Today, I am surrounded by musical instruments such as:

• Crystal singing bowls
• Tibetan singing bowls
• Native American flute
• Rattles
• Chimes
• Shakers
• Drums (some handmade by yours truly)
• A didgeridoo
• A singing triangle

My husband and I got into intuitive painting, and for Cory, it was a huge outlet for him as he supported his family when Papa T bravely fought through his journey with Stage 4 colon cancer.

Cory has also learned how to play the bongos and congas.

And yet, I'm trained as a registered dietitian and nurse... very protocol-type jobs.

Creativity is not allowed in nursing; the protocols simply don't allow it.

You do have some room for creativity within dietetics, but there are still rigid protocols where the few good jobs exist.

The more creative you want to get within dietetics, the more you have to fly solo on your own as a solopreneur.

Which is a creative endeavor in and of itself.

Crystal singing bowls

Can microdosing mushrooms change your mind regarding creativity?

My childhood was saturated with creativity.

I played musical instruments like:

• The flute
• The piccolo
• The recorder
• The snare drum
• My brother's saxophone
• The piano (which I taught myself how to play)

Writing was also a big part of my early education.

I was even voted the editor-in-chief of my high school's literary magazine (ironically, when I was out sick).

But then life happens.

Adulting happens.

Those creative outlets that defined you as a child take a very low priority.

This is especially true when you are so busy studying and fitting yourself into a protocol-driven society.

And now, because of my career as a writer, I get to create my days and my life the way I want them, in a way that feels soothing and regulating to my nervous system.

I flow throughout my day and honor the energy with which I show up everyday.

Somedays, I have no interest in working.

Those days I allow myself to heal, rest, do a lot of yoga, keep the TV off, and sit in silence.

I do whatever I feel I need to do with the energy I have.

Sometimes I need to lay down and take a nap.

That is the best I can do.

I used to be so regimented, so busy.

I would squeeze in as much as I could into my schedule.

And I was always sick and tired.

So far, two ways microdosing has changed my mind are:

• The priority of creativity in my life, as well as 
• allowing myself to be present with the energy I show up with everyday.

The Science: Can microdosing mushrooms change your mind physiologically?

So, what is actually happening under the hood?

When we talk about mushrooms for brain health, we are often talking about neuroplasticity.

Think of your brain like a snowy hill.

If you sled down the same path every day (your protocols, your habits, your anxieties), that groove gets deep and rigid.

It becomes impossible to sled any other way.

That is depression and rigid thinking.

Microdosing is like a fresh layer of powder on that hill.

It allows you to take a new path.

It increases the production of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a protein that acts like fertilizer for your neurons.

This encourages the growth of new dendrites and synapses, literally allowing your brain to communicate in new, more creative ways.

It helps your brain talk to parts of itself that haven't spoken in years.

This is why I can now sit with my crystal bowls or write for hours without the rigid constraints of my nursing background holding me back (although it did take some time!).

This physical rewiring is why so many people feel like they are finally waking up from a long mental slumber.

Can microdosing mushrooms change your mind by quieting the ego?

This brings us to the Default Mode Network (DMN).

The DMN is a network of interacting brain regions that is active when you are not focused on the outside world.

It’s the "Me, Myself, and I" center.

It’s the voice that ruminates on the past, worries about the future, and criticizes your every move.

In people with depression or anxiety, the DMN is often hyperactive.

It’s too loud.

When that overactive "manager" in your brain goes on a coffee break, other parts of your brain that don't usually talk to each other start communicating.

This is where the "flow state" comes from.

This is why I can detach from things I can't control.

The rigid "self" that needs to control everything softens.

Can microdosing mushrooms change your mind about addiction?

Microdosing mushrooms allowed me to commit to lifetime alcohol and hard drug sobriety, not so long after I started microdosing, actually...

I struggled with this for many years, and since I started microdosing, my cravings for alcohol have disappeared.

God what a gift!!!

So there is another way microdosing mushrooms can change your mind—by rewiring the pathways associated with addiction.

Promising studies have come out supporting the idea that magic mushrooms help with:

• Smoking cessation
• Heavy drinking
• Even meth addiction

I’m a nicer, kinder person to myself, even when I’ve had a challenging day.

It’s easier to forgive the shortcomings of the perfectly imperfect human race, and to detach from the workings and doings of things over which I have no control.

It's not a "willpower" problem

Most people underestimate how common heavy drinking is and how few people get evidence-based help.

In the US, NSDUH data consistently show that only a small fraction of people with substance use disorders receive treatment in a given year.

Can microdosing mushrooms change your mind regarding emotional resilience?

Absolutely.

As I mentioned, I am kinder to myself.

But it goes deeper than just "being nice."

It’s about emotional resilience and unlocking feelings.

Unlike SSRIs, which can sometimes make you feel like a flat, emotionless zombie, the benefits here often involve *feeling* more.

You might find yourself crying at a beautiful sunset or laughing harder than you have in years.

It reconnects you to your heart.

In my old life, a stressful event would trigger an immediate, protocol-driven reaction.

• Panic
• Fix it
• Stress

Now, there is a pause.

Microdosing seems to create a small space between the stimulus (a bad email, a flat tire, a difficult emotion) and my response.

In that space, I have the freedom to choose a different reaction.

I can choose curiosity instead of judgment. I can choose breath instead of tension.

Can microdosing mushrooms change your mind about nature?

Remember those trips to Wyoming to see Papa T?

That connection to nature wasn't just about location; it was about perception.

When you quiet that DMN, you stop feeling like an isolated observer and start feeling like a participant in nature.

The wind in the trees, the sound of the river, the vibration of my drums—it all feels more immediate and interconnected.

For those of you who are interested in growing your own mushrooms, you might find that the healing starts before you even take a dose.

Cultivating your own medicine is a game-changer.

There is something deeply grounding about watching these little fungi grow.

It connects you to the cycle of life and gives you total control over the quality of what you are putting into your body.

This sense of awe is healing.

It lowers inflammation in the body and reduces stress hormones.

It reminds me that I am not just a nurse or a writer or a wife and friend, but a living part of this beautiful world.

Safety, Protocols, and Respecting the Medicine

Before you run off to start your journey, we need to have a serious chat about safety.

While mushrooms are physically very safe, they aren't for everyone.

If you have a history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia in your family, you need to be extremely careful, as psychedelics can trigger mania or psychosis.

Also, be wary of mixing them with other meds, especially Lithium or Tramadol.

And let’s not forget the law!

Depending on where you live, these little fungi might still be illegal.

Always know the risks so you can make a smart, informed decision for yourself and your family.

If you’ve weighed the pros and cons and want to try it, the golden rule is "start low and go slow."

Learn how to start microdosing by clicking here.

Please don't take it every day, or you'll build a tolerance instantly!

A popular method is the "Fadiman Protocol," where you take a dose one day, then take two days off.

Another is the "Stamets Stack," which combines psilocybin with Lion’s Mane and Niacin for an extra brain boost.

Keeping a journal is a must—how else will you know if it’s working?

Can microdosing mushrooms change your mind about work?

I have always struggled with showing up to work for someone else (pretty typical for PTSD).

My dad was the same way.

Based on my ancestors, I was meant to pave my own path.

It’s also in my astrological chart, lol.

I never thought I was anything other than a nurse and dietitian.

Now I have created a business and a lifelong passion into a fruitful dream come true for myself.

As a solopreneur, your mind is your greatest asset.

If your mind is cluttered, rigid, or fearful, your business suffers.

Since integrating this practice, my work has shifted from "hustle" to "alignment."

I no longer try to force outcomes.

I write when the words want to come.

I rest when the body demands it.

And paradoxically, I am more productive than ever because I am not wasting energy fighting against myself.

Much different than counting the hours, if you are a slave to the time clock.

Can microdosing mushrooms change your mind permanently?

You might wonder if these changes only last while the mushrooms are in your system.

The answer, for me, has been no.

The goal of microdosing isn't to be "on" something forever; it's to learn new ways of being.

Think of microdosing as a tool, like a really good pair of running shoes.

The shoes won't run the marathon for you; you still have to move your feet!

If you just pop a microdose and sit on the couch eating junk food, nothing much will change.

You have to pair it with integration. 

Because of the neuroplasticity I mentioned earlier—using mushrooms for brain health—you are literally building new infrastructure in your brain.

Once those new paths are forged, you can walk them without the sled. 

You learn what it feels like to be creative, calm, and connected, and your brain learns how to access that state on its own.

Final Thoughts

Now, I have to address the elephant in the room:

Is it just the placebo effect?

Some studies suggest that people who *thought* they were taking mushrooms felt better, even if they took a sugar pill.

It’s a valid point!

Our minds are powerful, and so is placebo. 

But even if a little bit of the magic comes from your own hope, does it matter if the result is a happier, more functional you?

I say take the win where you can get it!

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So, can microdosing mushrooms change your mind?

Yes!!!

It can change it from rigid to flexible.

From fearful to loving.

From addicted to free.

It has taken me from a world of strict medical protocols to a world of:

• singing bowls, 
• intuitive painting, and 
• deep, soulful writing

It has helped me navigate the grief of Papa T’s illness with grace and helped me support Cory as he found his own rhythm on the congas.

It hasn't just changed my mind; it has returned me to the creative, open-hearted person I was always meant to be.

I’m happier because I have created a more aligned life myself.

You want to live a happier life, don’t you?

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