PTSD is a serious mental health disorder that can have a serious impact on every of your life. Many people associate PTSD with armed service veterans; however, it is estimated that 6% of adults in the U.S. will experience PTSD at some point. For many people with PTSD, specialized treatment, like ketamine for PTSD therapy, is essential in getting the help they need.
What is PTSD?
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a mental health disorder brought about from exposure to a traumatic situation or event. In some cases, the condition develops after repeated exposure to the same traumatic event.
Some of the situations and events that could cause PTSD include:
- The loss of a loved one.
- Experiencing ongoing physical abuse.
- Experiencing ongoing sexual abuse.
- Being physically assaulted
- Being sexually assaulted.
- Killing people as part of your military duties.
- Seeing people being killed during wars, school shootings, etc.
The effects of PTSD can be characterized by the person constantly reliving the traumatic event over and over. Additionally, being placed in certain situations, locations, sounds, smells, or social settings that cause the person to remember the trauma could trigger PTSD.
People who suffer from PTSD can develop irrational fears, experience nightmares, and have problems sleeping. In addition, they can disassociate from normal life, become withdrawn and depressed.
It is essential to remember that PTSD can occur for any type of traumatic event or experience. As such, it is not uncommon for those suffering from PTSD to have their own unique circumstances that require custom-tailored treatments and therapies.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is an anesthesia first used to sedate animals for veterinary procedures and surgeries in the 1960s. In the 1970s, the FDA approved the use of ketamine as an anesthesia in humans. When administered, ketamine does not slow the heart rate or breathing, so people do not have to be on a ventilator to be sedated.
During the Vietnam War, ketamine was used to sedate injured soldiers. Ketamine was also used during the Persian Gulf War in Iraq in the 1990s. The use of ketamine to sedate injured soldiers led to an accidental discovery of its ability to reduce the risks of PTSD in soldiers. Those that had been administered ketamine rarely, if ever, developed PTSD after returning home.
Another accidental discovery occurred when ketamine was administered to those who had either attempted suicide or were contemplating suicide to sedate them. Medical professionals began to notice that suicidal thoughts and feelings of depression started to subside in patients given ketamine after a single dose.
These breakthrough discoveries led to further research into using ketamine as an effective therapy to treat PTSD, depression, and other related mental health disorders.
How does Ketamine Therapy Work?
Research into the effects of stress brought on by traumatic events has found that the neurotransmitter glutamate becomes overly active. As a result, when someone relives traumatic experiences repeatedly, it elevates stress levels. The increased stress levels and overly active glutamate begin destroying the brain’s neurons responsible for regulating stress levels.
Ketamine therapy targets the areas of the brain that primarily deal with long-term memories and emotional responses. When ketamine is administered, it blocks the glutamate receptors. By slowing glutamate neurotransmitters, ketamine helps lower stress levels and anxiety. Furthermore, ketamine stimulates healthy neurological pathway regrowth and restores neurons the glutamate destroyed. In addition, ketamine is fast-acting, so it can cause the destroyed neurons to begin to regenerate in just a matter of hours.
As these neurons regenerate, people given ketamine therapy begin to notice their PTSD symptoms and depression start to dissipate. Continued ketamine therapy further helps alleviate the symptoms of PTSD, making it possible for people to begin to address their traumatic experiences while no longer reliving them over and over.
Who Should Consider Ketamine Therapy for PTSD?
Anyone who suffers from PTSD should consider ketamine therapy, especially if other treatments and therapies are not working. Additionally, ketamine therapy has been found to be more effective than antidepressants often prescribed for PTSD.
Unlike ketamine therapy which works quickly, antidepressants can take weeks or months before they begin to help. Antidepressants can bring about other unwanted side effects as well. Even patients who have been taking antidepressants as prescribed can benefit from ketamine therapy.
In some cases, some people can discontinue antidepressant use after a series of ketamine therapy treatments. Furthermore, the benefits of a single ketamine therapy session could last for weeks. With a series of repeated therapies, the effects can be extended for months or even years.
Can Ketamine Therapy be Used for Other Mental Health Disorders?
Aside from the benefits ketamine therapy provides people suffering from PTSD, this therapy can also be beneficial for people who suffer from:
- Anxiety
- Bipolar Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Depression
Additionally, research has shown that ketamine is an anti-inflammatory. As a result, ketamine therapy can treat chronic pain, fibromyalgia, neuralgia, and other painful conditions brought on by inflammation.
Ketamine Therapy for PTSD in Southern California
If you have PTSD and are tired of feeling anxious, nervous, stressed, and unable to overcome your traumatic experience, then you should seriously consider ketamine therapy at Neuro Wellness Spa in Southern California.
We are happy to offer a consultation to discuss your needs, preferences, answer your questions, and help you decide if ketamine therapy is right for you in a caring, safe, and supportive environment.
For further information about ketamine therapy or to schedule a consultation appointment, please feel free to call us at at 1-877-847-3984 or contact us today!
