Can Ketamine Therapy Help With PTSD?

Even with all the talk therapy in the world, the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can be debilitating, pervasive, and difficult to treat. Flashbacks can interrupt your joy and send you on a roller coaster ride through some of your most traumatic memories. Oftentimes the treatment can be just as bitter as the symptoms, and if you’re not making progress, it can feel like there is no hope for recovery. 

If you’re struggling with PTSD, then that’s exactly why you should consider ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. 

“Some people’s experiences are very intense the first time, others are more aware and it becomes more like a regular session with the guard rails down. The real gift of the ketamine is not the dosing session itself, but the neuroplasticity; the ability to rewire our brains even when they’ve been impacted by trauma.”  Lauren Mishkin

Can Ketamine Cure My PTSD?

As much as we try to deny it, there is no magic pill to cure any of our mental ailments. Ketamine assisted psychotherapy is no different. If you’re at the start of your journey in treating your PTSD, you’re likely better off exploring a few other options first, like talk therapy or somatic therapy. When it comes to mental health, finding relief requires long-term commitment to self-examination, mindfulness, and physical health.

But if your PTSD or depression have proven to be treatment-resistant, then KAP could provide unique relief for some of your most dreadful symptoms. Ketamine therapy has shown great promise for those suffering from chronic post traumatic stress, that is to say, those who have been experiencing symptoms for longer than twelve months. Although it is not a magic pill, ketamine is prescribed for PTSD and depression for good reason: its psychedelic properties can allow you to zoom out on some of your most traumatic experiences and see them from a new and uniquely therapeutic perspective. 

Is Ketamine A Psychedelic? 

The word psychedelic has a lot of baggage associated with it. Perhaps it calls to mind party drug culture, new age spiritualism, or more specifically for me, the work of John C. Lilly, in which he dosed himself with LSD, hopped into a sensory deprivation tank, and attempted to psychically communicate with dolphins. While each of these experiences with psychedelics certainly have their merits, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is a very different breed of animal. 

More and more, we are seeing medical and mental health professionals espouse the unique benefits of psychedelics on our mental health. It should be no surprise. Although western medicine has long dragged its feet in acknowledging the healing power of psychedelics, indigenous cultures have been utilizing the healing properties of psychedelics for generations.   

Although its original use was as an anesthetic, ketamine has also been noted for its psychedelic, perception-altering properties. Nowadays, many doctors are prescribing ketamine off-label for psychedelic-assisted therapies, and many patients are seeing results. 

I Have More Questions About Ketamine Therapy

It can be daunting to do something for the first time, especially if we have no prior knowledge of what it will be like. It’s natural to have questions, and we are happy to provide answers. 

• What Does A Ketamine Assisted Therapy Session Look Like? We partner with  Journey Clinical, whose  medical team will prescribe you your dose of Ketamine and conduct a medical assessment to determine eligibility. Then, your therapist will conduct a psychological assessment to see that it is safe for you to proceed.  After that is taken care of, you will have a preparation session, where you will work with your therapist to set your intentions for the dosing session. Then, you will have a dosing session where you will be with your therapist as you self-adminster your ketamine dose. Your therapist will be there to support you through whatever comes up through your psychedelic experience, however, this portion is mostly internal. You will have an eye mask and headphones that will play a playlist of your choosing, or, our therapists will provide you with one. After your dosing session, ideally within 48 hours when your brain is the most malleable, you will have an integration session, where you will integrate all of the insights gained from your journey.  Oftentimes the insights gained from one dose of ketamine will provide weeks and weeks of insight for traditional talk therapy sessions, and also weeks and weeks to integrate fully. With the right guide at your side, this process can be spiritually enlightening, perception-shifting, and ultimately life-changing. 
• What Can You Treat With Ketamine Therapy? For patients whose symptoms have proved resistant to treatment, KAP can be a tremendous lifeline. Ketamine therapies have proven to be transformative for patients with PTSD, anxiety, and depression.  
• Can Ketamine Help My Anxiety? If the previous paragraph did not answer this question to your satisfaction: Yes! Ketamine therapy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of anxiety. Even in patients who suffer from substance-use disorders, KAP can offer therapeutic benefits that are hard to find anywhere else.  That is because Ketamine makes it easier for you to rewire your brain and old mental patterns that are currently blocking you.

 If you feel stuck on your healing journey, working with a therapist who provides KAP can help. Based on your needs, our intake specialist will help you get matched up with your perfect therapist. Click here to schedule a consultation.

Sunny Ebsary is an educator, multi-modal artist, and writer specializing in the intersection of myth and mental health. Sunny’s writing walks the line between poetic and logical, giving readers a chance to interface with the mind and imagination. Sunny’s been putting pen to paper since he was a child, writing everything from albums, novels, and plays, to essays, interactive games, and of course, many articles! While studying both psychology and writing, he realized his real passion in life was helping others unlock their creative spark. Whether he’s leading a D&D game, directing a production, or diving deep into the brain, you can be sure Sunny will be ushering you toward finding meaning in your life.