Goons on the Ice, Microdosing Golfers and Gridiron Trauma—How psychedelics help athletes repair, reset and thrive

As a former elite athlete, this topic is pretty near and dear to my heart. When we think psychedelics, most of us will conjure up visions of drum circles and glow sticks or tapestries and eye masks. Locker rooms with lineups scrawled on whiteboards or 20-page scouting reports don’t immediately come to mind. That said, athletes are generally strong candidates for psilocybin therapy, and here’s why.

Let’s be real—athletes are tough. They push their bodies to the absolute limit, shrug off injuries like they’re mosquito bites, and keep going until, well, they can’t. But what happens when the same thing that made them great—grit, endurance, taking hits like a champ—starts to work against them? What happens when their bodies—once sturdy vessels that shuttled them to greatness—fail to keep up beside younger, faster and stronger competition?

While a handful of athletes are turning to psychedelics to improve their focus and prolong their careers, many more are seeking out psilocybin therapy for chronic injuries and renewed perspective as retirement looms on the horizon. Let’s break down a few stories and give a little context to what might be happening behind the tie-dyed curtain!

From the Ice to the Mind: Athletes and Psilocybin for Brain Injury Recovery

Former NHL player and Stanley Cup champion, Daniel Carcillo knows firsthand what it’s like to have his skull used as a hockey puck. After suffering multiple concussions, Carcillo was left with memory loss, mood swings, and a lingering sense of doom that traditional treatments couldn’t touch. Then, he turned to psilocybin. And guess what? His brain started bouncing back. He’s now a leading voice in the movement to use psychedelics for post-concussion syndrome.

His story and many others—from football players and boxers to rugby players and basketball stars—are beginning to shape the narrative around psychedelics and professional sports, and though the research is in its infancy, here’s what the brain science tells us. The brain is malleable, adaptable, and surprisingly good at fixing itself with the right support. Psilocybin has been shown to enhance neuroplasticity, which is just a fancy way of saying it helps the brain rewire and repair. Studies suggest that psychedelics encourage synaptic growth, reduce inflammation, and even wake up parts of the brain that have been snoozing.

Science is catching up to what athletes like Carcillo already know—psilocybin is a powerhouse for brain health. Early studies indicate that psychedelics can reduce brain inflammation, improve cognitive function, and help regulate emotions. A 2021 study even found that psilocybin increases brain connectivity, meaning it may help the brain heal in ways traditional medicine can’t. Sure, we need more clinical trials, but when former athletes are trading their prescription meds for mushrooms and reporting major improvements, it’s time to pay attention. For athletes who’ve spent years getting knocked around, this could be the closest thing to hitting the neurological reset button.

Microdosing to Improve Focus and Reduce Anxiety

In the other hand, a club. A golf club. Psilocybin isn’t just tonic for chronic, physical pain. Some athletes—overwhelmed by the anxiety of their high-pressure very-public professions—are using psilocybin to keep perspective during the heat of competition.

Golfers have turned to microdosing—consuming sub-perceptual amounts of psilocybin—to enhance focus and reduce anxiety during play. This practice is believed to promote a heightened state of mindfulness, allowing athletes to remain present and composed under pressure. Reports suggest that microdosing can lead to improved concentration, better decision-making, and a more relaxed mental state, contributing to enhanced performance on the course.

Beyond Recovery: How Psilocybin Helps Athletes Find New Purpose

Not every athlete has a concussion history, but plenty of them hit another wall—what do you do when your body just won’t cooperate anymore? Retirement from sports can feel like an identity crisis, and many struggle to find meaning beyond the game. Psilocybin is proving to be a powerful tool in helping athletes navigate this transition, offering a fresh perspective, mental clarity, and even a renewed sense of purpose. Whether it’s sparking creativity, processing years of bottled-up emotions, or just making peace with the next chapter, psychedelics are giving athletes something they desperately need—a new playbook for life.

Resources for Further Reading

ESPN Story—Pain, hope, science collide as athletes turn to magic mushrooms

Golf Digest—Why serious players are dosing psychedelics like mushrooms and ayahuasca

CNN—These athletes suffered life-changing injuries. Then, they turned to psychedelics