Ketamine for Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD)
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About Ketamine for Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD)
In the past, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was only diagnosed in traumatized war veterans. Because of more research on trauma-based conditions and breaking stigmas, nowadays, the diagnosis is given to anyone with a history of traumatic life events exhibiting symptoms of PTSD.
What is PTSD
After a traumatic event, someone may begin experiencing intense flashbacks, disturbing thoughts, nightmares, and panic attacks, and this can go on for months and sometimes even years. There can also be intense anger and sadness, depression, and detachment from reality, and many sufferers may find it impossible to be able to fulfill daily responsibilities, jobs, and other social events due to the intensity of memories and emotions.
PTSD triggers
A PTSD trigger is something that can cause a flood of memories of the traumatic event. Flashbacks and panic attacks are often prompted and followed by a trigger. A trigger or a memory may plunge the sufferer back into the emotions, fear, and stress of the event, and depending on the severity of their PTSD, the trigger could be debilitating. Daily life of a PTSD sufferer could be triggered by anything, but some things include:
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Sounds
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Colors
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Visual Images
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Certain people
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Certain places
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The weather
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Taste
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A holiday
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A phrase
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Being touched
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Smell
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Textures
…and more
Some people with PTSD have been able to identify their triggers, while other triggers can knock them completely off-guard.
Common treatments for PTSD
The most common treatment for PTSD is therapy, most often a CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) or other psychotherapies may be used to help treat PTSD.
SSRIs are most prescribed for treating PTSD, which are also used to treat things like major depression and anxiety disorders.
Some treatments and therapies have worked in overcoming PTSD, but not all cases have been proven effective.
When nothing else worked
Because PTSD can be so complex and profound, many suffering from it have found medications, treatments, and therapies to be ineffective or inadequate. These approaches often take time, trial, and error to determine what is working.
It wasn’t until Ketamine, originally a pediatric anesthetic, as a treatment for PTSD and other mental disorders, was introduced, and PTSD sufferers finally found something that worked.
Its results are rapid, safe, and long-lasting, so patients don’t need to go through the agony of waiting and experimenting with an approach for weeks or even months before they begin seeing results.
Administered in small and safe doses, ketamine for PTSD alleviates symptoms immediately in most patients.
Why Ketamine works
Ketamine has been used to treat mental disorders since the 1990s. Ketamine targets and heals nerve cells in the brain. It is regenerative in increasing glutamate in a brain, which is a neurotransmitter.
Although glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter found in the brain, people with PTSD have a decreased level of glutamate, which can lead to many symptoms found in PTSD like insomnia and mental exhaustion.
This is why treatment is reported to have long-lasting results. Ketamine treatment heals and regenerates the brain which heals symptoms at the source.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation for ketamine infusion treatment.