Spotlight Story: Phillip Rolle

My name is Phil and I go by xchilphilx (pronounced "chill Phil") on social media and gaming platforms. I am a gamer and variety (i.e. I play games from a handful of different genres) streamer on Facebook Gaming and Twitch. While I do sometimes play competitive games such as first-person shooters, my content usually centers around slower action-adventure games and platformers. In addition to streaming, I also create gaming-related content on various platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. My streaming and content style can be described as laid-back, informative, and more tailored towards the casual gamer. As a streamer and content creator, I am focused on community interaction (I try my best to read and respond to all comments, chat messages, etc.), mental health awareness, positivity, inclusivity, and giving back to my community through gaming. I regularly hold follower giveaways and make regular donations to various charities from the proceeds I receive by streaming. Outside of gaming, I hold a degree in Computer Engineering from York University, hold multiple certifications in IT, and work as a Project Manager for a medium-sized tech company. I am also a proud father of a four-month-old daughter and live with my partner in the Halton region of the GTA.

My journey into microdosing began as a way to find a more natural, alternative way to treat mental illness, as I've suffered through anxiety and depression most of my adult life. Before trying microdosing, I had been taking antidepressants for several years with notable improvement at the beginning but had since felt like I was just "maintaining" my mood/mental function. While I was still concerned about the stigma and possible side effects on my body from psilocybin, on recommendation from a friend, I decided to start a trial period of microdosing for a few weeks. Since I’ve started, I've seen a remarkable improvement in my mood, motivation, productivity, and creativity. I feel less of the “brain fog” I used to feel, with more mental clarity. I'm in my thirties, and I can say with confidence that I have been feeling way better mentally than I did in my twenties. Not only have I been performing better in my personal life, I am also less stressed and overwhelmed in my professional life. I truly feel like microdosing has improved my performance and ability to manage my day-to-day work tasks.  In addition to this, microdosing has even helped me in my gaming/streaming career. I feel more alert, react and make decisions more quickly, and don’t feel as exhausted after a long streaming session as I used to.

My advice to anyone looking to try microdosing is, contrary to most other hobbies and new interests, not to jump in wholesale and not to expect a miraculous change overnight. Unless you plan on having a planned ‘trip’, and as with any other medicine or stimulant, it’s best to start slow and follow the recommended guidelines on dosage and frequency. I also recommend taking it in tablet form, this way the dosage is always accurate. I started with the smallest (100mg) dose every three-four days, as well as kept a log of my mood and any changes I was feeling during the process. It’s important to note that everyone reacts differently, but I am confident that anyone who gives microdosing a genuine attempt will reap the benefits. It will change your life for the better, and I’m truly living proof of that.