how many children do you have?
one
how many pregnancies have you had?
2
how old were you when you gave birth?
29
what are your childrens' ages?
18mo
did any of those end in early release? (miscarriage, still birth or abortion?) if so, can you share a little about those experience?
Yes, first pregnancy ended in abortion
what surprised you about the mushroom journey?
I was surprised how long it took to really feel “good” from taking them. I almost quit early on because of the burden I felt taking them at times, but the lightness I felt the next day kept me coming back. Now when I take them I only feel benefits and they give me a sense of recalibration with epiphany like moments on the days when I dose (and more often, days when I don’t) instead of intrusive thoughts
Protocol & Dosing
with psilocybin, what has been your dosing experience?
microdose (.1 - 1 gram)
how long did you dose for?
throughout the year
if microdosing, what size would you have? (.1 - 1gram)
.1g, .25g, .5g
in what form were you ingesting the mushroom?
capsules
how often did you dose?
intuitively -- as needed
if you were on a protocol, what protocol did you follow?
As needed, at times every day
did you have any support with dosing?
when did you start ingesting mushrooms?
after i gave birth
After Birth & Breastfeeding
why did you choose to ingest mushrooms after you gave birth?
As an alternative to antidepressants to treat PPD
did you ingest mushrooms while breastfeeding?
did you notice any benefits to a) yourself b) to your baby and what were the benefits when ingesting mushrooms while breastfeeding?
N/a
did you notice any challenges to a) yourself b) to your baby and what were the benefits when ingesting mushrooms while breastfeeding?
Parenting
what benefits did you notice in your parenting that you attribute to the mushroom?
The mushrooms gave me the ability to see beyond my current circumstance. I was able to react pragmatically to my baby instead of frantically with the knowing that everything I was going through, each moment, was temporary. This helped my stress and anxiety levels immensely.
what were the unwanted effects or challenges of ingesting mushrooms while parenting?
Sometimes dark and twisty stuff would come up. Intrusive thoughts. A heavy ness sometimes accompanied the dose. At the very beginning, I experienced some tracers and wompy feelings that scared me since I didn’t want to actually trip.
what benefits have you noticed about your children that you attribute to the mushroom?
My child is calm and observant. Her attention span is long for her age. I attribute this to being around a regulated nervous system as she develops.
Summary
what would you like to say to other mothers & pregnant/birthing people about your own experience?
Forming a relationship with mushrooms saved my life and allowed me to be the woman I’ve always aspired to be, always known I could be, with very few negative side effects
would you recommend this path to other people?
Yes, if their heart and minds are already open to it. I would only to someone completely unaware of plant medicine if they were deep in the throes of PPD because this treatment can be overwhelming to those unfamiliar with altered states of consciousness
