Depression is a condition that impacts millions of people in the US alone, and many of them are looking for robust treatments that actually have an impact. One form of treatment that's gaining popularity in recent years due to its positive impact for many people, and its low levels of risk, is ketamine therapy.
At A Mind's Journey, we're happy to offer caring, compassionate ketamine treatments for depression, PTSD, anxiety and more. Looking specifically at depression, what do we know - and hypothesize - about how ketamine therapy impacts the brain and other functions of this condition, and how does it help many people feel better? This two-part blog series will go over a number of elements that are either known or suggested by the research that's currently available.
One of the most well-known parts of the ketamine therapy experience for many people is the dissociative effects that can take place, or the "trip" that many people feel. However, it's important to note that the bulk of the positive impact for most patients is not found in these effects themselves, but rather in the way your brain reacts to this ketamine exposure in a longer-term sese.
We'll get into some of these specific effects in our upcoming sections, but it's important to understand what dissociative effects really are. Essentially, dissociative effects refer to a "disconnection" or splitting away from reality - in other words, you feel separate from your body and the environment around you. Some people feel this more strongly than others, and our team of professionals at A Mind's Journey can work with you to make sure that the experience is comfortable and positive for you.
While more research is needed to fully confirm this area, medical professionals believe that part of what may contribute to long-term depression in some people is a loss of important brain synapses (or connections within the brain that allow nerve cells to communicate). The theory is that depression places so much stress on the brain that these synapses are shed as a result.
However, further research has shown that within 24 hours of medical ketamine treatments, these synapses may actually be regrown. This means that the communication pathways within your brain may become much more active and healthy again, leading to an increase in mood, energy and motivation levels for many people. If these synapses are able to rebuild to a healthy level, this could be a major breakthrough in terms of providing robust treatments for depression.
In part two of our series, we'll look at some other facts on how ketamine may impact things like neurotransmitters and brain receptors to help combat depression. For more here, or to learn about any of our ketamine treatments for varying issues, speak to our caring staff at A Mind's Journey today.
