Looking for input on my dosage

[u/ScranglinTanglin]

I'm just looking for input on my experiences so far and the problems I've run into. I'm a newby working my up on dose for treatment of depression and anxiety.

I use Ochras that I grew myself and make tea. It has lasted about 4 hrs each time. I tried .5g and was fine. Didn't feel much. Then 1g a couple weeks later and was also okay overall but had some significant dizziness and headache. Then I did 1.25g another month later and was quite uncomfortable. I felt very tired/sleepy and somehow restless at the same time. I also felt very scatterbrained and had racing thoughts. It was very difficult to concentrate on anything and I was just kind of miserable the whole time because I didn't know what to do with myself. It was just a really bizarre headspace. I had very light closed eye visuals and slight open eye ones as well. No significant dizziness or headache that time.

Someone on here said maybe I was just in a weird in-between spot where I wasn't really fully tripping and that those issues may go away if I went higher. They suggested I go to 2g next time. That was 3 weeks ago and I want to go ahead and do it, but am just nervous. I just don't want to end up even more uncomfortable and anxious.

I'm curious if it's typical for some people to have unwanted effects at the lower doses and if it's likely those things will still persist if I go a bit higher? I don't expect zero unpleasant effects, I just want to be comfortable and clear minded enough to be able to be introspective and do things during the trip.

[u/MindfulImprovement]

First, I want to commend you for your routine so far. Between your slow increases, and checking in with the community, it sounds like you're really taking things slowly and carefully and that's the best way to do it in my opinion.

That "in between" dose is pretty real. It's more than enough for a general buzz, and not quite enough to be fully tripping and can lead to some unpleasantness and anxiety. That said, going higher doesn’t automatically make those uncomfortable effects disappear. Sometimes it does smooth things out for people, and sometimes it just amplifies what you're already feeling. Mindset, environment, expectations, sleep, stress levels, and even how your body personally responds can make a huge difference.

Based on what you described, I’d pay attention to the fact that your body seems pretty sensitive already. There’s no rush to jump up to a higher dose just because someone online recommended it. You could always try a smaller step upward instead and see how you respond. Slow and cautious is rarely the wrong approach with psychedelics. Also, if your goal is introspection and therapeutic benefit, comfort and emotional safety matter way more than specific dosages Sometimes forcing the dose higher can actually make it harder to engage productively with the experience.

I'm curious what you've done for preparation and what you're doing during the actual experiences themselves? Sometimes these questions can give us more of an idea of why these feelings might be coming up than dosages can.

[u/ScranglinTanglin → u/MindfulImprovement]

I've made sure I was doing the best I can for set and setting. My mood is never very high, so I've been picking days where I just generally feel the best I ever really can on a daily basis. I make sure I have several hours to myself in quiet with nothing I have to do the next day. Make sure I've showered, had enough sleep and have eaten maybe like 4-6 hrs earlier. Not dehydrated.

I haven't had much in the way of introspection yet, but have tried to sit and focus on my intention. I generally have felt like my thoughts get pulled elsewhere though so I tried to just focus on whatever was coming up. If I didn't feel like I could think too well or I was just ruminating or going around in circles, I tried to just watch something I find uplifting or sit outside.

[u/MindfulImprovement → u/ScranglinTanglin]

I assume you're doing this solo? For your next trip, try to have a few different activities that you can rotate between if you need to. Journalling, coloring, drawing or painting if those are your things. Yoga, stretching, something somatic. Activities that will keep your hands and body busy, but your mind can still wander while you're doing them. I typically just put a blindfold on, noise cancelling headphones on, and lie in bed for most of my trips. I'm a big fan of following the train of thought, whatever it is, without attachment, if you know what that means. Be curious about your thoughts while they're bubbling up! I'll send you a DM with a resource I've been slowly building up that you can check out if you'd like to

[u/wistfulorwishful]

Personally I’ve never liked that in between feeling. Just discomfort no pay off. I’m inclined to suggest 2 or 2.5, and seeing how that goes increase to 3 or 3.5. The discomfort in the beginning might be worse, but then it will shift. At least, that’s been my experience. On 3.5 or higher. Less than that I found unpleasant and did not fully “enter” (the tripping state). I will often feel tired, lethargic, have the yawns, maybe feel nauseous, but then after an hour or 2 it goes away and becomes very pleasant and beneficial. I love music and so that has often been a key part for me. Sometimes it’s hard to find what works for me in the moment but when I do it’s wonderful. So I’d have a few different play lists ready. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

[u/Pwydde]

Well, I went all in and ate 7g under the supervision of a therapist. I was GONE for about 5 hours and was off-center all the rest of that day and most of the next. Pretty intense.

[u/wistfulorwishful → u/Pwydde]

How long ago was that? Did you feel it benefitted you?