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Unpacking The Benefits Of Psychedelic Therapy And Microdosing For Mental Health
Throughout our mental health journey, it’s natural to hit a plateau in progress. It may feel as if after all the therapy sessions, journaling, and self-care you’ve undergone, there’s still more that your mind may need in order to reach the psychological benefits you’re seeking.
One alternative medicine option known as microdosing, offers small doses of psychedelics to spark changes in the brain to alter the way they think and create tangible, psychological improvements.
What is Microdosing?
Microdosing refers to the practice of taking a very small, sub-perceptual dose of a psychedelic substance, such as LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) or psilocybin mushrooms, typically on a regular schedule. The aim is to experience subtle cognitive and emotional benefits without the full-blown psychedelic effects associated with a standard or recreational dose.
Taking this subthreshold dose of psychedelics (typically within the 10 to 20 mcg range) allows one to operate within their daily lives without being restricted or slowed down by the normal effects of psychedelics or hallucinogens.
In some traditional indigenous healing communities, microdosing is often the preferred approach for individuals seeking healing, rather than macrodosing.
Microdosing vs. Macrodosing
“There is a long-standing history of different kinds of dosing of ‘master plants,’ as I call them, in traditional communities, where shamanic doses (or very high doses), were only taken by the maestro,” Maya Shetreat, MD, author of The Master Plant Experience tells xoNecole. “In fact, they would only offer a microdose to the people participating in the ceremony or to the person they're doing the healing on.”
While macrodosing might be more common among visitors of what Shetreat calls, “the global north,” the traditional method can vary among different communities, and in some cases, macrodosing may not be a part of their healing practices at all.
Due to the legality of psychedelics in most places, Dr. Shetreat shares that The Institutional Review Board (IRB) mandates that individuals taking psychedelics, even in microdoses, must be closely monitored in clinical or hospital settings, which can be “impractical” and often inconvenient as early research develops.
Unlike full-dose experiences, which are planned with preparation and integration sessions, microdosing doesn't make sense for such intensive monitoring. This is because microdosing involves taking sub-psychedelic doses that don't significantly alter one's state, and individuals usually take these doses every few days, making constant clinical supervision impractical for most people's daily lives.
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The Benefits of Microdosing for Mental Health and Well-Being:
While research is still limited on the full range of benefits from microdosing, Dr. Shetreat shares that while subtle, there are “benefits with neuroplasticity,” meaning that neurons in the brain make new connections, even with microdoses over a period of time.
Additionally, microdosing has been shown to be beneficial for individuals who are not able, for any number of reasons, to experience large doses of psychedelics as they can be disorienting. “Some people are medically contraindicated due to their mental health or medications that they're taking, and are very sensitive to having really large psychedelic experiences,” she explains.
However, individuals with anxiety, depression, OCD, and also medical conditions, like chronic pain, autoimmunity, asthma, ADHD, and autism, have been shown to benefit from microdosing.
Is Microdosing the Best Option for You?
In terms of whether microdosing is a suitable option for you, clinical papers based on self-reported experiences suggest its potential benefits as being a safer and less intense approach to mental health issues.
“People tend to feel happier, lighter, more social, and more inclined to take good care of themselves like exercise and eat better,” Dr. Shetreat explains.
“They tend to avoid other altering substances like alcohol and feel less depressed; many people have gotten off of antidepressants using microdosing.” However, some may have concerns about microdosing due to its legality.
What To Expect From Your Microdosing Experience
Although the initial day of ingestion may not be the most potent day in terms of physical or mental experience, Dr. Shetreat shares that some individuals report having a particularly euphoric day following ingestion. “Many people experience benefits on the day that they take the microdose, but there are also people who describe the next day as being what we would call ‘The Best Day' where they feel a sense of euphoria,” she says.
In order to make the most of your microdosing experience, she suggests keeping an open mind, self-reflection, and clear intentions, which in turn, holds significant value in maximizing its benefits.
“Treat this experience with a master plant or psychedelic as being just as meaningful and sacred as a large experience can be,” she says, “Engaging in the meaning-making and thinking of it in a ceremonial way makes a difference. Coming in with a sense of preparation for the experience itself — during and afterward — has really great value.”
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Aley Arion is a writer and digital storyteller from the South, currently living in sunny Los Angeles. Her site, yagirlaley.com, serves as a digital diary to document personal essays, cultural commentary, and her insights into the Black Millennial experience. Follow her at @yagirlaley on all platforms!
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Blair Underwood Initially Turned Down 'Sex And The City' Because 'It Was About How Samantha Was Fascinated By Dating A Black Man’
Actor and heartthrob Blair Underwood is opening up about why he turned down Sex and the City the first time he was offered a role. Many fans of the HBO series may recall Blair's time on the show in which his character was dating Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). However, he was previously offered another role where his character would date Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
During his interview with AV Club, the Set It Off star revealed that he was uncomfortable with the initial offer due to the character's fascination with him being a Black man.
“I actually did say ‘no’ the first time,” he said. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.'”
But that didn't stop them from reaching out again. This time he was offered to play Dr. Robert Leeds, the love interest to Miranda and he decided to go for it. "So they were nice enough to call about a year later, and I said, 'Well, is it gonna be about race?' And they said, 'No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!' And I think it really did only come up maybe once," he recalled.
"It did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as 'the Black guy.'
"I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, 'No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing."
Blair has had a wide-ranging career playing everything from a lawyer on L.A. Law to playing Madame CJ Walker's husband on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker. And during his interview, he revealed another role that he initially turned down, Set It Off. The movie, which is considered a classic in Black culture, stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Blair's character, Keith, played a banker and love interest to Jada's character, Stony.
He explained why he said no at first and eventually accepted the offer. "I had initially said “no” to that. Because I was playing this historic, iconic African-American historical figure in Jackie Robinson, and the time, y’know, there was Boyz N The Hood, and Menace II Society was out there, and I’d finished playing this noble Negro… [Laughs]," he said.
"And I’m reading the script, and there’s a scene where Jada Pinkett’s character—Jada Pinkett-Smith now—was going to sell her body so she could make some money to send her brother to college. And I remember, honestly, I threw the script across the room. I was, like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to do something uplifting for the Black culture and Black characters, and I don’t know if I want to see this.”
After a conversation with the movie's director F. Gary Gray and the actor's manager encouraging him to finish reading the script, Blair had a change of heart. What he first thought about the movie turned out to be totally different.
"So I finished the script, and I saw that the character they were asking me to play was really the love story in the midst of all of this turmoil of all of these characters, the four ladies: Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Jada," he explained.
"It was so well-written, it was such a great platform for them. And to be able to play the love story and the storyline that gave Jada’s character a leg up and a way out of this world, something to hope for, to wish for, someone to love her… I said, 'You know what? I’d like to be a part of that.'
"And I’m so glad I did, because that film resonates to this day. People all the time come up to me and say that they love that movie. So I’m glad that I did it."