Around 450 million people suffer from mental illness worldwide, and anxiety and depression are the most common illnesses.
If you suffer from anxiety and/or depression, you know just how difficult it can be to overcome ad get back to living a happy and healthy life. Many people try different types of treatments and medication but have found no improvements in their mental health.
However, ketamine has shown great promise in helping people with treatment-resistant depression and anxiety.
Keep reading to learn how you might benefit from using ketamine for anxiety and depression.
What Is Ketamine Treatment?
Ketamine treatment is something that a doctor might recommend to a patient who has tried other treatments, such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), and found no improvements.
Ketamine is administered via an IV infusion in the arm with the effects lasting up to several weeks. Typically, a patient will have three infusions the first week, two in the second week, one in the third week, and then use it only for maintenance, about once per month.
This is a huge improvement over a treatment such as SSRIs, which people need to take daily to experience the benefits. Also, if someone stops taking SSRIs, they may experience negative side effects such as severe depression and anxiety.
Ketamine for Depression
Ketamine treatment works due to the reaction that occurs in the brain after an infusion. The brain will actually regrow connective pathways that lead to the ability to develop more positive thought patterns and behaviors. It’s also fast-acting, making it a great treatment option for people who are severely depressed and need immediate relief from their depression.
It’s important to emphasize that the benefits people experience are not from ketamine itself, but from the way the brain reacts to ketamine. Ketamine causes a reaction that promotes regrowth in the brain, which is why it is effective for long periods of time after only a few treatment sessions.
One study showed that ketamine was effective for 70 percent of people with treatment-resistant depression. This means that people who have had little to no success through other treatments actually found significant improvements in their mental health through ketamine treatments.
Ketamine for Anxiety
In addition to working for treatment-resistant depression, ketamine has also shown encouraging anti-anxiety effects as well. Some forms of anxiety that ketamine has been shown to improve include:
- Social anxiety disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
One study showed that just one infusion of ketamine relieved generalized and social anxiety in patients for up to 14 weeks, with the effects starting immediately after treatment.
Ketamine Might Be the Treatment You Need
There are plenty of reasons to be excited about using ketamine for anxiety and depression, especially if you’re someone who hasn’t had success with other treatment options. If you think you could benefit from ketamine treatment, talk to your doctor and see if it’s a viable option for you.
Also, be sure to check out the rest of our health blog page for more helpful info on improving your overall wellbeing.
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