Silicon Valley Is Micro-Dosing Magic Mushrooms To Boost Their Careers – Forbes

Getty

Silicon Valley, the home of Facebook, Apple, Google and Twitter, is the embodiment of the hustle culture. It's a place filled with Type-A professionals all desperately competing to start the next big unicorn company that will go public and earn the founders and early employees millionsor billionsof dollars. They also desire to advance their careers against some of the smartest and most talented people in the world.

Professionals in and around Silicon Valley, particularly those 35 years and older, are trying everythingincluding questionable fadsto appear younger than they are, and which may offer an edge for their career. Just because we are in a hot job market and strong economy, it doesnt mean that it's easy for white-collar professionals to succeed in their careers. There is still pressure, anxiety, fear of failure and the need to stay competitive. To improve themselves, weve witnessed the phases of intermittent fasting, cryotherapy, long-term meditation retreats in far off exotic locations, Botox and facelifts for men.

The work world is obsessed with youth for a number of reasons. Older workers earn more money and are deemed too expensive. Management believes they could easily be replaced by younger employees who will cost significantly less. With a hyperfocus on social media and concerns of staying relevant for their customers, those with grey hair seem outdated and dont fit in with the corporate culture, according to some senior management.

The push to stay young and relevant is reaching a frightening level with a new emerging trend. It's reported in the BBC that people in Silicon Valley are taking magic mushrooms, which is really a dose of psilocybin, an LSD-type of drug. For example, $2,000 per month will get you your own psychedelic-trip coach guru. Hell guide you through your mind-altering journey.

Taking mushrooms is a sirens song luring fast-track professionals to boost their creativity and greatly enhance their work performance. It feels like the next level up from asking your doctor for a prescription of Adderall. White-collar professionals and college students alike cite their Attention Deficit Disorder to get a prescribed drug that elevates their adrenaline, sharpens focus and helps people to work better and faster.

Steve Jobs was said to have partaken in psychedelics and playfully derided his rival, Bill Gates, as being unimaginative and suggested that he should drop some LSD. Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert cartoon strip, pundit on YouTube and Periscope and resident of Northern California, claims that he took mushrooms once and it was the best day of his life and he no longer felt any limits to his life and career success. Joe Rogan, the host of one of the most listened-to podcasts and another California resident, is a big proponent of micro-dosing mushrooms and has had numerous guests on his shows, ranging from scientists to MMA fighters, who have shared their positive experiences from micro-dosing.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted two psychedelicspsilocybin and MDMAas breakthrough designations, which permits them to be clinically researched after showing promising potential in treating patients with mental health conditions.

The research is not all positive and include number of drawbacks. One study showed that participants scored higher than usual in connectedness, creativity, focus, happiness, productiveness and well-being. However, it didnt last long, which is counter to the argument that one dose will last long or even change your life forever. There was also an increase in the trait, neuroticism, where emotions become amplified. So, if you feel depressed, it will make it worse for you. Proponents say that one out of a thousand will have a bad trip and could possibly end up with some long-term ramifications. The fear is that you will be that one hapless person.

It's still too soon to tell the long-term benefits or detractions. This trend, like many, may fade and be replaced with a new and better get-successful hack.

Read the original here:

Silicon Valley Is Micro-Dosing Magic Mushrooms To Boost Their Careers - Forbes