A Really Good Day

After years of trying, and often failing, to find solutions to her irritability, anger, frustration, and depression, Ayelet Waldman turned to an unexpected source – LSD. Waldman experimented with the effects of taking tiny microdoses of the drug over 30 days by placing two drops on her tongue each day, seeing whether it could lead her to a calmer and happier state in life.

She begins exploring the misunderstood substance, its history, and its potential benefits. Drawing on her formal legal career, she saw firsthand the impact of the United States War on Drugs. She reflects on the double standard and absurdities on a nation addicted to prescription drugs willing to incarcerate millions for using a substance with a great safety record. Ultimately, Waldman was in search of the secret to having a really good day. (listen to more here)

A Really Good Day makes a strong case for the therapeutic use of psychedelics, and I think having more personal stories like this one is very important. She walks the reader through a step-by-step approach to microdosing in the book, which simultaneously functions as her journal. Microdosing, even though a megatrend, is not understood very well. Furthermore, it is not yet proven whether the psychedelic has an effect on mental well-being or if it is a placebo effect. Furthering the education and spreading information surrounding this topic is essential, and I believe relatable people like Ayelet Waldman giving a personal account is a necessary component of that.

Watch Ayelet Waldman’s lecture, which introduces the reasons she started microdosing and all the other things her book covers: