Can Ketamine Therapy Really Help with Anxiety?
What is Ketamine Therapy?
Therapy is far more than the typical depictions in pop culture. It contains many variations and options, including a psychedelic therapy one. At the heart of ketamine therapy, of course, is ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic. First used as an animal anesthetic, ketamine was eventually given to soldiers during the Vietnam War and then used by emergency responders. Today it is used regularly and frequently in emergency rooms.
It was in emergency settings that ketamine was found to have psychotherapeutic effects on those who had attempted suicide. Suicidal ideation decreased dramatically in patients, and thus, more research was done. Today, ketamine therapy is regularly utilized to treat people struggling with diverse issues like substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), disordered eating, and so much more—including anxiety.
Potential Benefits of Ketamine Treatment for Anxiety:
Rapid Symptom Relief
What do we mean by “rapid?” How does a couple of hours sound? This is not to say it happens that quickly every single time, but ketamine’s ability to rewire the brain’s neuroplasticity empowers people to regulate their thoughts and emotions better.
Sustainable Relief
Ketamine therapy works quickly, but that doesn’t mean you stop after a session or two. You stick with it, and studies find the symptom relief is long-lasting.
High Rate of Efficacy
Ketamine therapy has a stellar record. It comes back to a word used above: neuroplasticity. Ketamine therapy enhances your brain’s ability to be more flexible. You become better able to adapt and adjust until anxiety’s lies no longer feel debilitating.
Key Details About Ketamine Therapy:
The Process
Ketamine is administered via nasal sprays, injections, and intravenous infusions, but lozenges are the most common method and the method used in our office. When taking sublingually as a lozenge, you will hold the ketamine in your mouth for 15 minutes before spitting or swallowing it, and the effects can be felt within minutes. Every client is different, of course, but we typically recommend at least three ketamine sessions within one or two weeks of each other for maximum benefits.
Sessions
The ketamine session itself lasts for three hours, and your therapist is present the entire time. In between longer ketamine sessions, you are strongly encouraged to meet for what’s called integration sessions. No ketamine is administered during the shorter 50-minute sessions. You will spend these sessions engaging in EMDR (if that is something you are interested in) as well as somatic therapy methods to really make use of the window of neuroplasticity following your ketamine session.
Possible Side Effects:
As with any medication, ketamine can have minor but rare side effects. Short-term side effects may include:
Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness
Disorientation and loss of neural coordination
Increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and/or body temperature
Visual or auditory hallucinations
Dissociation
Since ketamine therapy is still relatively new, long-term side effects are being studied and reviewed. What’s important to keep in mind is that ketamine can be addictive. Therefore, tolerance and physical dependence must be monitored.
Preparing for Your Session:
For any ketamine therapy sessions that include the administration of ketamine, you are required to have someone with you to help you get back home since you cannot drive for the remainder of the day. In addition:
Check with your health insurance provider to see if any sessions will be reimbursed (sometimes the 50-minute preparation and integration sessions are covered if your insurance typically reimburses you).
Get acquainted with your ketamine therapist and make sure it feels like a good fit. You should feel safe and comfortable with your therapist.
Plan to meet with a medical provider separately to receive a medical assessment and get the prescription (your therapist is not able to do this part).
In Case You’re Still Wondering.
Ketamine therapy may sound promising to you, but maybe the whole “psychedelic drug” thing gives you pause. If this is something you are wondering about, we suggest you connect with one of our ketamine therapists to learn more. Each of our ketamine therapists is skilled in combining ketamine therapy with EMDR and somatic therapies for a holistic approach. It’s the best of both worlds that will help you address anxiety from multiple angles.
If the information above has piqued your interest, we invite you to schedule a consultation. Let’s talk soon to get your questions answered and keep you moving toward recovery with ketamine therapy.