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- Psychedelics are being tested to treat mental illnesses like anxiety and depression.
- Some moms are microdosing, or taking small doses of psychedelics, for their mental health.
- A therapist who specializes in working with moms shared some advice in The Washington Post.
Psychedelics are experiencing a renaissance of late, and some of that interest has come from new moms, said Melissa Whippo, a therapist who specializes in using psychedelics to treat perinatal mental-health conditions.
Whippo wrote in a recent Washington Post column that she's worked with many women who experience depression and anxiety soon after giving birth and want to try psychedelic medicine as a treatment option.
Microdosing, or taking extremely small doses of a psychedelic to reap potential benefits while avoiding a full-on experience, has garnered more popularity in recent years.
Whippo said in her column that some of her patients have told her they feel more comfortable taking what they consider a more "natural" treatment, like magic mushrooms, than taking an antidepressant. She added that she helped support one patient in particular who wanted to try microdosing to amplify the psychotherapy she was already undergoing.
While a handful of companies are working to develop psychedelic compounds and get them approved as medicines for mental illnesses, psychedelics are not federally legal in the US.
Here are four things to keep in mind if you're looking to try out microdosing, Whippo wrote:
Learn about the studies that have been conducted on psychedelics and microdosing
Psychedelics are being tested in a host of clinical trials to see if they can help treat conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. While most of these trials are in extremely early stages, a handful of companies are testing these compounds in larger groups of people to get them approved as medicines.
Whippo wrote that some of the research seems promising. She pointed to a 2021 study that found microdosing seemed to help decrease depression, anxiety, and stress in adults, based on the results of a survey.
Check in with your doctor
"Working with any amount of psychedelic medicines in a responsible way means checking in with a trusted health-care practitioner," Whippo writes. She added that it's important to keep your medical history in mind and make sure that you're not taking any medications that may interact with the psychedelic, no matter how small the amount.
Consider the source of the psychedelic you plan to take
Many psychedelics have a long history of use in Indigenous cultures. Whippo writes that as a result, it's important to figure out who is making the psychedelic you're taking and who is benefiting from its sale.
Make sure you have a proper support system in place as you prepare for your experience
While microdosing shouldn't produce the hallucinogenic effects associated with taking a full dose of a psychedelic, Whippo said that taking any amount may bring up some unexpected memories or feelings.
Preparing for the experience and making sure you have a way to process your feelings afterward can help you get the most benefits from the experience, she said.
Tell Insider about your experience with psychedelics. Email Yeji Lee at ylee@insider.com.