Sonia Gray opens up on being in psychedelic drug trials

Psychedelic therapy trials are discussed through Sonia Gray's experience with anxiety and treatment-resistant mental health. Gray describes taking part in an eight-week LSD microdosing clinical trial at the University of Auckland and a University of Otago ketamine trial, framed as research linked to the two-part documentary Mind Menders. The story connects Gray's personal mental health journey with the clinical aim of using psychedelics at the right dose and setting to change brain activity and potentially improve mental state. Gray emphasizes that she is cautious about overstating benefits, notes how filming and recalling her history was difficult, and says ketamine helped her make sense of past experiences while she does not want to use it long term. The piece also highlights societal and cultural pressures that can worsen distress alongside advances in therapy.