In recent years, studies have found that ketamine therapy can be life-changing for those suffering from depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. The effects of ketamine are fast-acting and can offer relief to users in as little as 30 minutes to an hour. In many cases, these treatments offer relief and benefits for weeks following administration.
But many ask, how does it work? And how can these psychedelic experiences help me? Let’s take a look at just how ketamine works in your brain, the benefits it offers, and how you can achieve breakthrough change with this life-transforming medicine.
How Ketamine Affects Your Brain
When you take ketamine, it sets off a reaction in the brain’s cortex that allows the brain to form new connections between cells. The neurotransmitter called glutamate will then start to trigger the effects of the ketamine, which can take about an hour or two to present. It can provide significant relief of symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
The effects of ketamine are similar to those produced by other dissociative substances such as PCP (phencyclidine) and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide). It acts as a non-competitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. These are the same receptors involved in learning and memory processes.
Less than 5% of patients who are treated with ketamine experience mild side effects, and these usually subside within an hour or two of taking the drug.
Ketamine works by:
- Targeting glutamate, the neurotransmitter responsible for learning, memory, and mood.
- Aiding in the repayment and growth of neurons so that new connections can be formed in your brain.
- Promoting oneness, connection, resilience, and belief transformation.
- Disrupting deep overactive thoughts in the Default Mode Network of your brain so that you can discover a new perspective and remove negative thoughts.
- Enhancing neuroplasticity by increasing the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factors.
- Creating an anti-anxiety effect without the side effects that traditional antidepressants have.
How Ketamine Can Benefit Your Health
Ketamine therapy has been very effective in helping patients with mental health disorders who haven’t found relief elsewhere. There are several benefits associated with ketamine treatment, the most notable are – safe, fast-acting, fewer doses, and new perspectives.
Safe
Ketamine has been proven safe for medical use, especially when administered in low doses for extended periods of time. Less than 5% of ketamine-treated patients report mild side effects, subsiding within an hour or two of administration.
The most common side effect associated with its use is dry mouth. Other less frequent side effects include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, confusion, hallucinations, and increased blood pressure.
Fast Acting
One of the number one benefits of ketamine therapy is its rapid onset of antidepressant effects. It offers patients significant relief from symptoms of depression and anxiety in a matter of minutes to an hour. The acute effects of the medicine can last between 30 minutes to 2 hours, while the longer-term therapeutic effects can last from weeks to months.
When compared with traditional antidepressants, this is a drastic difference, because SSRIs can often take weeks to months before you start seeing any sort of results or relief. Even then, some users don’t see improvement at all with SSRIs and are left with treatment-resistant depression. According to one study, only 20% of people saw an improvement in their symptoms with antidepressants.
Fewer Doses Needed
When compared to traditional antidepressants, ketamine requires fewer doses to achieve the desired result. This makes ketamine more cost-effective and reduces the risk of developing tolerance and dependence.
There is growing evidence that shows the use of low-dose ketamine reduces the number of depressive episodes in those with major depression. Another study published found that people who had received oral ketamine at home showed a significant reduction in their depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
New Perspectives
Ketamine therapy provides a new perspective on mental health conditions. It helps patients get a lasting and meaningful transformation and outlook. During a ketamine session, it helps them dissociate and allows them to rediscover themselves, reduce their stress, optimize their life and develop an overall more positive outlook.
Achieve Lasting Results Through Your Ketamine Treatment
If you’re looking for a way to treat your depression or anxiety, and you’ve tried other treatments that just don’t seem to be working, ketamine therapy may be the answer.
At HAPPŸŸ, we don’t just prescribe you ketamine and send you on your way without support. Our fully-trained Care Professionals oversee your ketamine treatment and provide ongoing care with meticulous attention. We believe that preparing for your therapy session and providing post-session resources and guidance is just as important as the session itself.
Each client is paired with a Care Navigator and is given a personalized program that combines the power of clinician-prescribed ketamine with personal support. Our programs utilize evidence-backed exercises to help achieve breakthrough results for anxiety, severe Depression, chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more. With HAPPŸŸ, you’ll be able to find lasting relief and freedom from the comforts of home.
Find Relief and Healing with HAPPŸŸ’s FLÖW Program
If you’re looking for a way to create lasting change in your life, consider using ketamine therapy as part of your healing journey. A single session of ketamine therapy can offer immediate and lasting positive effects, so don’t put off treatment any longer.
Take our free 1-minute assessment to know if FLÖW ketamine-assisted therapy is right for you. Achieve your breakthrough with the power of life-transforming psychedelic medicine.
