Why Our Brains Feel Stuck

How can therapy help us when we’re feeling stuck? Therapy has a lot to offer, but making progress can  be a big project, and it’s natural that we sometimes hit a wall. We’ve all been there, but what are the best ways to break free when we’re feeling trapped by the way things have always been? 

“You can’t solve a problem on the same level that it was created. You have to rise above it to the next level.” – Albert Einstein

Why Does My Brain Feel Stuck?

While it can be flattering to think of our experiences as unique to us, the reality is that we have more in common with one another than not. We can feel psychologically stuck in place for a variety of reasons, but most of us fall into a few major categories.

• We Don’t Accept Ourselves. Lack of self-acceptance will inevitably lead to energetic stagnation. When we are not accepting ourselves as we are in the present moment, flaws and all, we are blocking ourselves from harmoniously flowing with life. Instead of forcing yourself to go against your natural state of being, what if you accepted yourself as you are? What if you curiously and nonjudgmentally explored your wants, needs, and values? To know and embrace our best self, we have to know and embrace our authentic selves. Many of us have stories and beliefs that we hold on to out of protection that make us judge ourselves. What stories do you hold on to out of fear that block you from fully loving and accepting yourself?
• We Don’t Express Ourselves. When we’re depressed, we just don’t always make the time for whimsy, hobbies, creativity, and fun. Saying that might just seem obvious to you; “Of course we can’t have those things when we’re depressed!” I can already hear you saying. But without those avenues of self-expression, we might not have the tools we need to recover and stay resilient when we feel stuck. Expressing yourself doesn’t have to be a big deal. It can be you putting your headphones on and listening to music, or writing down in the most simplistic, caveman-esque way possible how you are feeling. The point is to identify and put a name to what you are feeling in some way and express that so that you can fully feel and release that emotion without getting stuck. Once you name it, you can tame it. 
• We Don’t Know How To Find The Joy In Our Lives. That means finding the joy in the life you already have, not an idealized life where everything always goes your way. In this life there is unfairness, circumstance, and imbalance anywhere you can look, but there is beauty and happiness to be found as well, if you have developed an eagle-eyes skill in finding it. If you are feeling jaded towards the world around you, take a mindful walk in nature, imagining that you are seeing Earth for the first time. When you do this,  you open yourself up to  unexpected joys.

What Are The Best Therapies For When I’m Feeling Stuck?

We’ve hit the wall. Our gas tank is empty. We’re caught between a rock and a hard place. Whatever your specifics, however you got there, and whichever metaphor speaks to you personally, you’re feeling stuck. But what are we supposed to actually do about it?

• Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy. Ketamine Therapy is a psychedelic-assisted form of talk therapy where you are guided through a psychedelic experience by a trained expert. Many patients have found themselves breaking old patterns, rewriting old stories, and getting unstuck after their experiences with KAP. It is especially potent for treatment resistant anxiety, depression, and trauma. 24-48 hours after you take ketamine, your brain becomes like soft cement. This is called the window of neuroplasticity. With a trained therapist, you can utilize this window of time to implement coping skills, solidify self-regulation practices, shift negative beliefs, change maladaptive habits, and integrate your experience. This is not a silver bullet, meaning this process takes commitment and work at home to receive maximum relief. It is not about the ketamine itself, but the ketamine being used in conjunction with therapy and self work.
• EMDR Therapy. EMDR (or Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) Therapy is an innovative and highly effective therapy for individuals looking to process traumatic memories and experiences. If you feel that you are stuck because of an event that you can’t seem to put behind you, then it could be worth it to consider a therapist who specializes in EMDR. EMDR helps to reprocess trauma by facilitating the brain’s natural healing process by using bilateral stimulation (like eye movements, tapping, or sounds) while focusing on the traumatic memory. This process helps to reprocess the memory, reducing its emotional intensity and allowing  more adaptive beliefs and coping mechanisms to develop.
• Community Outreach. Human beings are social animals, we need connection with one another in order to find fulfillment. After all, we lived and thrived for thousands of years without seeing ourselves in a mirror or writing anything in a journal. We relied on one another to see ourselves and grow with grace, and that is something that is sorely missing from much of modern life.

Why Should I Consider Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy? 

Ketamine therapy might sound far fetched, but it’s been found to be highly effective in treating anxiety, depression, and PTSD, often for patients who have not been able to find relief through traditional channels of therapy. 

Outside the traditional medical establishment, people have been experiencing the mind-expanding psychological power of psychedelics for thousands of years. If you are feeling stuck and you feel like you’ve tried everything, it might be time for KAP.

• Ketamine Therapy Can Alleviate Anxiety. KAP has helped many patients find significant (and permanent!) relief from their anxiety, even when conventional anti-anxiety medication failed to help. With the help of KAP, you can target anxious thoughts. Ketamine acts like a fresh snowfall on a ski-slope, smoothing out the slopes and giving you the chance to explore new ways of understanding yourself and processing anxiety.
• Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Can Help With Depression. Seeing through the fog of depression might feel like an impossible task. That’s where getting outside help comes in. KAP has helped many patients zoom out beyond the limited perspective of their depression, and see the bright side where once there was nothing but fog. Ketamine can help you quickly get to the root of your depression and uncover what your authentic self needs to feel more purposeful and fulfilled.
• KAP Is A Promising Therapy For Post Traumatic Stress. KAP helps individuals  gently access and reprocess traumatic memories in a safe and controlled environment. Ketamine can create a state of reduced defensiveness and increased brain flexibility, allowing individuals to revisit difficult experiences with less emotional reactivity. Many people report feeling “far from their body” while under the influence and have unique emotional or visual experiences that differ from normal, everyday thoughts. This can give you a break from habitual thoughts and gain a new perspective on traumatic situations.

Is Ketamine Therapy Covered By My Insurance? 

The answer is somewhat complicated by the different legal statuses of ketamine therapy in different states. Only part of the initial 90-minute KAP intake is covered by insurance, and “dosing sessions” or sessions where the ketamine is actually administered are not covered by insurance. Preparation and Integration sessions (where you set intentions and build a map and then process what you’ve experienced in your KAP session respectively) are usually covered by insurance.

Paying out of pocket is never ideal, especially with insurance premiums being what they are, but as we wait for the legal consensus to catch up to the medical one, KAP is still worth considering for its unique effectiveness with treatment-resistant anxiety, depression, and trauma. We have a great team of therapists who can get you the care you deserve whatever your financial circumstances are. 

• Therapists Who Take Cigna Insurance. There’s no reason that it should be so difficult to find a therapist who accepts your Cigna insurance. Wherever you are on your journey, we have a right-fit counselor who’s got you covered (and is covered by your insurance!)
• Therapy For People With United Healthcare Insurance. If you have health insurance from United (or its umbrella company, Optum), you’re in the right place! If you’re covered by Optum, whether it’s Optum Oscar, Optum Oxford, or United Optum, we can match you with a right-fit counselor who’s covered by your plan.
• Therapists Who Accept Aetna Insurance.  Finding counseling that fits in your lifestyle can be quite the journey, but Integrative Counsel is here to help you at every step of the way. We have many therapists who are covered by your insurance, and here to offer you guidance as you break free of your old patterning.

Why Should I Consider EMDR Therapy?

EMDR Therapy can be especially helpful when you’re feeling stuck (emotionally, mentally, or even physically) because it targets your unresolved memories and experiences. EMDR helps you reprocess distressing events in a way that reduces their emotional charge, allowing you to process them without feeling quite so triggered by them. When you’ve hit the wall, EMDR can help you finally break through it.

Community Therapy For St. Petersburg 

One of the most powerful ways to step outside your own bubble is to connect with your community.  Some will share your experiences and offer you their empathy. Others will have very different experiences from you and offer you their perspective. If feeling stuck is the sickness, meeting and empathizing with different kinds of people in your community is the medicine.

And that’s exactly why Integrative Counsel is Keeping St. Pete Weird & Well this May 18th! We’ll be offering a therapeutic experience for your community, with giveaways, demos, and free-by-donation wellness services like acupressure, massage, and bodywork.  

St. Petersburg Therapists Who Can Help You Get Unstuck

Our team is qualified and committed to guide you in your journey to a better life. No matter how far along (or barely even begun) your journey is, we have an expert who would love to help you along your way.

• Quinn Smalley, LMHC, ATR , Is A Counselor For Life Transitions. Quinn Smalley is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who helps her patients adjust to new situations, like leaving home for college, the end of a serious relationship, or the start of a new career. Quinn Smalley combines CBT and Art Therapy to help her clients let go of their attachments and appreciate the present moment for what it is instead of resenting it for what it is not.
• Michael Anthony, LCSW, Is A Counselor For Relationships. Michael Anthony helps his clients navigate relationship issues, toxic masculinity, and the search for inner peace. Michael is a somatic and mindfulness-based counselor who incorporates the teachings from Martial Arts in his sessions.
• Lauren Mishkin, LMHC, Is A Trauma Counselor. Lauren Mishkin is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who helps her patients with processing their past through their bodies, healing from trauma, and finding renewed hope in the future by accessing your body-informed wisdom. Lauren helps her clients let go of their attachments to the past, and form newer, healthier ones. 
• Alli Cravener, Counseling Intern, Helps You Unlock Your Creativity. Alli Cravener is a therapy intern  in St. Petersburg who helps her clients find their identity and explore their inner child through art therapy, finding freedom from self-imposed limitations and fears.

 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.