Ketamine is currently the only FDA-approved psychedelic medicine for treating mental health conditions. In the last few years, studies have shown that Ketamine-assisted therapy is an effective and safe treatment for those with various mood disorders to find relief from their symptoms, particularly those with anxiety and other mental health issues.
What is Anxiety?
What is Anxiety?Anxiety can be defined as a state of worry, fear, or dread that causes you to feel tense and nervous. It’s not uncommon to experience anxiety at some point in your life. However, if it becomes chronic, it can lead to more serious problems such as panic attacks, depression, and even suicide.
There are several different types of anxiety disorders. Some people have one type, while others may have multiple types. The most common types include social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Social Anxiety Disorder
People with social anxiety disorder suffer from an intense fear of being judged by other people. They often avoid situations social situations. This avoidance leads them to miss out on opportunities to make new friends and form relationships.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) affects about 6% of the population. People who have GAD tend to worry excessively about everyday things like money, health, family members, and work. These worries cause them to feel anxious all day long.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions and compulsions. An obsession is an unwanted thought or image that repeatedly enters someone’s mind. For example, someone with OCD may think about harming themselves or have repeated sexual thoughts. A compulsion is an action that helps relieve the person’s anxiety. Someone with OCD will perform rituals over and over again until their anxiety goes away.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is caused when a person experiences a traumatic event. Common symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares, irritability, anger, and difficulty sleeping.
Common Symptoms of Anxiety
The following are some of the signs and symptoms of anxiety:
- Feeling nervous or restless
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- Difficulty controlling feelings
- Trouble concentrating
- Feeling tense or on-edge
- The feeling of impending doom or danger
- Lack of energy
- Panic attacks
- Elevated heart rate
Of course, there can be other symptoms you may be experiencing that are related to anxiety, but these are the most common ones that people report having.
What Causes Anxiety?
There are many different reasons why people develop anxiety disorders. Some common causes include:
- Trauma: This includes physical abuse, sexual assault, neglect, emotional abuse, etc.
- Depression: People who suffer from depression often have an increased risk of developing anxiety.
- Stressful Life Events: These may include the death of a loved one, divorce, moving, job loss, financial difficulties, etc.
- Substance Use/Abuse: Alcohol, drugs, prescription medications, etc.
- Genetics: There are certain genes that increase the likelihood of developing anxiety disorders.
Diagnosing Anxiety in Patients
The first step towards treating anxiety for many people is to get a proper diagnosis of the type of anxiety they have. The most common types of anxiety are generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Anxiety is diagnosed by taking a detailed history of symptoms, conducting a mental status exam, reviewing previous medical records, and performing a physical examination. If necessary, additional tests may be performed to rule out other conditions.
Common Treatment Options for Anxiety
Medication
Some patients with anxiety disorder and other mental health challenges can benefit from medication. Medications used to treat anxiety include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, sleep aids, and others.
Psychotherapy
Another option for the treatment of anxiety disorders is psychotherapy. Psychotherapy involves talking with a therapist about how you think, act and feel. Therapy can help you identify thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that contribute to your anxiety. You may also learn coping strategies that reduce your anxiety.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
This form of therapy focuses on identifying negative thinking patterns and replacing them with positive ones. CBT can be an effective treatment for anxiety because it helps you change your thoughts and behavior patterns so that you no longer engage in harmful habits or thought patterns. For example, if you tend to ruminate over past mistakes, CBT teaches you to focus on the present instead.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
This type of therapy combines mindfulness meditation with cognitive behavioral techniques. Mindfulness is a practice where you become aware of your thoughts, emotions, and sensations without judgment. MBCT teaches you to recognize when you are engaging in unhelpful thought processes and then replace those thoughts with more helpful ones.
How Ketamine Can Help Anxiety Disorders
Ketamine has been used as an anesthetic in America since the 1970s. In recent years it has gained popularity for treating symptoms of depression and anxiety due to its dissociative and antidepressant effects. When taken at low doses, even a single dose of Ketamine has been shown to have profound effects on the human mind.
Studies have also shown that Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy works similarly for anxiety as it does for depression.
Benefits of Ketamine Treatments
Ketamine has been shown to be a safe and non-addictive treatment option for patients with treatment-resistant anxiety. It has some unique properties that make it particularly useful for treating anxiety disorders.
- It works fast. Within minutes of administration, Ketamine reduces anxiety and increases mood. This makes it ideal for people who need relief right away.
- It has been shown to be more effective than traditional antidepressants or SSRIs. Studies show that Ketamine is effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety, especially in those who have treatment-resistant depression and anxiety.
- It doesn’t come with a long list of adverse effects like traditional antidepressants. Unlike many other drugs, Ketamine does not produce negative side effects like insomnia, digestive issues, sexual dysfunction, and weight gain that can have a negative impact on the patient’s quality of life.
- It’s easy to administer. The sublingual route of administration means that Ketamine can be taken as an oral pill. It can be administered in the comfort of your own home, and you never have to leave your house to experience the positive outcomes of ketamine-assisted therapy.
What to Expect with Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
When using Ketamine to treat anxiety, many people see results almost immediately. Following Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy treatments, studies showed that patients experienced an earlier improvement in their symptoms and longer-lasting relief than they did with traditional antidepressants.
During the psychedelic-assisted therapy session, people often feel relaxed, creative, and euphoric during their ketamine sessions. Many report feelings of new perspectives, shared connection, increased clarity, renewed purpose, and awareness of spirituality.
Improve Your Life and Mental Health with Ketamine
At HAPPŸŸ, our Ketamine experience goes beyond just the treatment session. We believe that preparing for your therapy session and providing post-session resources and guidance is just as important as the session itself.
Our team of medical experts will first work with you to determine if you are a good fit for our psychedelic Ketamine therapy. We will then work to create a customized treatment program that is tailored to you and your needs. Your entire treatment program will be facilitated and overseen by experienced professionals to provide a transformational experience.
Book a free 15-minute discovery call with a member of our welcome team to see if our 12-month FLÖW Program is right for you.
