Why Ketamine Therapy for PTSD?
What doctors are calling a promising novel therapy for PTSD and anxiety.
At Flow Integrative® we are proud to offer the latest in mental health treatment options. This includes Ketamine infusion therapy for the treatment of PTSD using the highest levels of safety standards and patient care.
With traditional treatments for PTSD, it can sometimes take weeks or even months before you experience symptom relief. Ketamine is an exciting new treatment option because in some cases it can provide relief from PTSD symptoms within days or even hours.
Ketamine for PTSD treatment offers fast and efficient relief from the symptoms of anxiety disorders or mental health conditions, with up to 75% of patients reporting a positive response to just a single ketamine infusion.
What is PTSD?
What Causes PTSD?
- Feelings of guilt and shame
- Nausea or a lack of appetite
- A sense of constantly being on edge
- Irritability or angry outbursts
How To Know If I Need Treatment For My PTSD?
- Physical Exam: Your healthcare professional will check to see if there are any underlying medical conditions/problems that are causing your symptoms.
- Psychological Evaluation: You will meet with your healthcare professional and discuss symptoms and any traumatic events that you have been through that might be triggering symptoms.
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5): A manual published by the American Psychiatric Association that includes a set of criteria generally seen in patients with PTSD.
What Treatments Are There For PTSD?
PTSD symptoms take a major toll on both the mind and the body, and if you’re finding it difficult to carry out everyday tasks or find that you’re isolating yourself from loved one, consider the treatments available to you. Finding a treatment that works can help give you control back over your life, as well as teach you:
- How to cope with resurging symptoms
- How to properly address your condition and its symptoms
- How to maintain positive thinking and self-confidence
- How to treat other problems that come along with witnessing a traumatic event, like depression, substance abuse, and/or anxiety
The most common treatments for PTSD include:
- Medication
- Psychotherapy
- Ketamine Infusions
Medications
The most common for combatting the symptoms of PTSD include paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft).
Psychotherapy
Also referred to as talk therapy. This includes exposure therapy, cognitive therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
Ketamine Infusions
A new and effective treatment for the symptoms of PTSD is ketamine infusions, where research shows a roughly 75% success rate for relief.
How Do I Cope With PTSD?
- Listen to your healthcare professional and follow their treatment plan. Though it takes some time–months, at times–to be effective, therapy and medication can help your symptoms. Try to have patience, and be sure to communicate with your healthcare professional to make sure you’re getting the best treatment options you can.
- Learn what you can about your condition. Understanding is the first step to healing. Read up on your condition so you can develop coping strategies that have worked for others.
- Avoid unnecessary drugs and alcohol. Sometimes people with PTSD grow frustrated when nothing seems to touch their symptoms, and as a result will turn to substance abuse. Alcohol and drugs will only worsen symptoms over time.
- Make sure you’re making time for yourself. Self-care is vital. Get enough sleep, eat healthy (when you can), and try to spend at least 30 minutes a day devoted to some sort of physical exercise, like walking, jogging, or cycling.
- Don’t shy away from support groups. No one knows your condition better than you do, but there are others who have been through similar situations. These individuals can be a great comfort to you as you continue your treatment.
How To Help A Loved One With PTSD
It’s important to have patience. Their symptoms deeply affect them, and it could be that they are acting like a completely different person than the one you know. They may be more irritable, or isolating themselves in ways they never did before. It may be difficult to hear about the trauma they experienced, or you may feel guilty for not being able to help them through this time in their life. While you may not be able to magically cure them, there are ways you can help ease some of their discomfort: