Microdosing At Night: How Does Psilocybin Mushroom Affect Your Sleep?
How Does Microdosing Psilocybin At Night Affect Sleep?
Psilocybin can affect sleep by interacting with serotonin receptors in the brain. Scientific research indicates that psilocybin increases serotonin release, affecting the sleep-wake cycle. Moreover, clinical trials show that shrooms can prolong REM sleep latency by helping your brain move from one sleep stage to another.
Furthermore, the compound may also influence the default mode network, a brain network associated with self-referential thoughts, potentially contributing to changes in perception and dream experiences during sleep.
Effects of Daytime Psilocybin Consumption on Sleep
The effect of daytime psilocybin consumption on sleep patterns is an area with little research. Existing research suggests that psilocybin’s psychedelic properties may alter perception and cognition, ease major depressive disorder and mood disorders, improve mental health, and potentially influence sleep quality and duration.
Timing the ingestion of psilocybin mushrooms for optimal sleep results requires careful consideration, as taking them too close to bedtime may disrupt the natural sleep cycle. However, further research is necessary to understand the intricate interactions between psilocybin and sleep and determine the most effective timing to minimize any potential disturbances to sleep patterns.
Microdosing’s Benefits for Sleeping
Microdosing’s benefits for sleeping include stress alleviation, promoting mindfulness and relaxation, influencing circadian rhythms, dream experiences and recall, and pain management.
- Stress Relief: Microdosing certain psychedelics, such as psilocybin or LSD, has been associated with stress reduction and anxiety relief. By mitigating stress levels, individuals may find it easier to unwind and relax before bedtime, potentially improving sleep quality.
- Promotion of Mindfulness and Relaxation: Reports suggest that microdosing psychedelics can enhance mindfulness and induce a sense of relaxation. This heightened awareness and tranquillity may create an environment helpful to sleep better.
- Influence on Circadian Rhythms: Emerging studies propose that psychedelics may influence the regulation of circadian rhythms, the body’s internal clock governing sleep-wake cycles. By potentially promoting a more synchronized circadian rhythm, microdosing could aid in establishing healthier sleep patterns.
- Dream Experiences and Recall: Microdosing has been linked to vivid dreams and improved dream recall. While the impact on sleep architecture is not fully understood, the potential for more engaging dream experiences might contribute to a more restful and satisfying sleep.
- Pain Management: Chronic pain can significantly impact sleep quality. Some anecdotal reports suggest that microdosing psychedelics may help alleviate pain, which could contribute to improved comfort during sleep.
Related: Benefits of Microdosing
Research on Microdosing and Sleep
Research on microdosing and its effects on sleep patterns has uncovered a fascinating link. A recent study by MindBio Therapeutics indicated that individuals who microdose with LSD may enjoy an extra 24 minutes of sleep the day after microdosing.
Taking a small amount of a psychedelic substance appears to have a subtle impact on sleep duration, prompting inquiries into its influence on the natural sleep-wake cycle.
This encourages more research to understand how it works and to see if it happens with different substances and people.
Is Microdosing at Night a Bad Idea?
It is unclear whether microdosing at night is a bad idea. According to the Microdosing Institute, microdosing magic mushrooms using the nightcap protocol may improve sleep quality for some individuals and make them feel refreshed in the morning. However, some nighttime microdosers have reported experiencing the following risks: unpredictable effects, disrupted sleep patterns, vivid dreams and nightmares, increased anxiety and paranoia, and impaired judgment and coordination..
- Unpredictable Effects: Psilocybin affects individuals differently based on factors such as dosage, tolerance, and mental state. Taking shrooms before bed may lead to unpredictable and intense psychedelic experiences, potentially overwhelming some users.
- Disrupted Sleep Patterns: Psilocybin may interfere with normal sleep cycles, causing difficulties falling asleep or experiencing restful sleep. This disruption can result in fatigue and grogginess the following day, impacting daily activities.
- Vivid Dreams and Nightmares: Shrooms can enhance dream activity, leading to vivid and sometimes unsettling dreams or nightmares. This heightened dream state may contribute to a restless night, affecting overall sleep quality.
- Increased Anxiety and Paranoia: The hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin can amplify existing anxiety or induce feelings of paranoia. Taking shrooms before bedtime may intensify these emotions, potentially negatively affecting mental well-being during the night.
- Impaired Judgment and Coordination: Psilocybin can impair cognitive functions and coordination. Taking shrooms before bed may increase the risk of engaging in activities requiring alertness and sound judgment, such as navigating the bedroom or bathroom at night.
Read more: Long term side effects of Microdosing
What is the Best Time to Take Shrooms, Day or Night?
The best time to take shrooms varies based on individual preferences. Some favour daytime for heightened visual experiences and a connection with nature. Others opt for nighttime to embark on introspective and spiritual journeys in a more tranquil environment.
The pros of taking mushrooms during the day include enhanced visual experience, outdoor exploration, social interaction, and easier integration.
- Enhanced Visual Experience: Daylight can intensify colours and sharpen visual perception, creating a more vibrant and immersive daily experience (microdosing at a small dose should not induce hallucinations)
- Outdoor Exploration: Daytime allows for outdoor activities like hiking or nature walks, fostering a deeper connection with nature.
- Social Interaction: Daylight hours provide opportunities for social interaction, potentially leading to shared insights and a sense of communal exploration.
- Easier Integration: Daylight provides a cleaner environment for processing and integrating the experience, potentially aiding in reflection and personal growth.
Cons of taking shrooms during the day include overstimulation, visibility of strangers, and potential distractions.
- Overstimulation: Bright sunlight or city noises may lead to sensory overload, making some individuals feel overwhelmed or anxious.
- Visibility of Strangers: Increased visibility may raise concerns about encountering unfamiliar people, potentially causing paranoia or discomfort.
- Potential Distractions: Daytime activities may introduce distractions that could divert attention from the introspective aspects of the experience. You can feel trippy at work as a result of mushroom consumption.
Pros of taking shrooms at night include enhanced introspection, reduced external stimuli, and easier light control.
- Enhanced Introspection: The quiet and darkness of the night can facilitate a more introspective journey, allowing for deeper self-reflection.
- Reduced External Stimuli: The absence of daytime distractions can lead to a more focused experience, allowing individuals to explore their inner thoughts without external interference.
- Easier Light Control: The night allows for easier control of lighting conditions, enabling individuals to create a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing environment.
Cons of taking shrooms at night include limited outdoor exploration and difficulty in integration.
- Limited Outdoor Exploration: Nighttime can restrict outdoor activities, limiting the potential for nature-related experiences.
- Difficulty in Integration: The lack of natural light may make it challenging to process and integrate the experience effectively.
Therefore, the best time for shroom consumption could be the daytime, provided that it has more pros than night. However, choosing to microdose with mushrooms at night or during the day will be unique to each individual.
FAQs
Will taking a magic mushroom before bedtime prevent me from falling asleep?
Microdosing magic mushrooms before bedtime may prevent you from falling asleep. However, if you find that microdosing magic mushrooms during the day makes you drowsy, you may find that they help improve your sleep quality at night.
Can Psilocybin Improve My Sleep?
Yes, psilocybin may improve your sleep, but the exact mechanisms by which it does so are unknown.
What are the Long-Term Effects of Psilocybin on Sleep?
The long-term effects of psilocybin may improve sleep quality and reduce sleep disorders.
Final Thoughts
Psilocybin, the key component in magic mushrooms, exhibits promise in enhancing sleep for a majority of users. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that in isolated instances, psilocybin may contribute to disruptions in sleep patterns.
As research continues to explore this fascinating area, gaining a deep understanding of how psilocybin interacts with sleep becomes essential. This knowledge will help us maximize its wellness benefits while carefully minimizing any possible effects on sleep quality.
Sources
- Psilocin acutely alters sleep-wake architecture and cortical brain activity in laboratory mice” by (2022) Thomas, C., Blanco‐Duque, C., Bréant, B. J. B., Goodwin, G. M., Sharp, T., Bannerman, D. M., & Vyazovskiy, V. V. Translational Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-01846-9
- The Effects of Daytime Psilocybin Administration on Sleep: Implications for Antidepressant Action by (2020) Dudysová, D., Janků, K., Šmotek, M., Saifutdinová, E., Kopřivová, J., Bušková, J., Mander, B. A., Brunovský, M., Zach, P., Korčák, J., Andrashko, V., Viktorinová, M., Tylš, F., Bravermanová, A., Froese, T., Páleníček, T., & Horáček, J. Frontiers in Pharmacology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.602590
By Rachel Grey
I’m Rachel Grey, a Ph.D. psychologist specializing in psychedelic therapy with psilocybin and natural plant medicines. I obtained my doctorate from the University of Toronto, where I immersed myself in the study of these transformative therapies. With over 10 years of experience, let’s embark on transformative journeys of healing, growth, and self-discovery as we explore the power of psychedelic therapy together.
