If you have been working with your doctor to manage depression for some time, and if standard antidepressants are not working, then your doctor might be recommending ketamine therapy. This treatment is usually administered via IV, and it is not a continuous treatment. Rather, you have one treatment session, and perhaps a follow-up or two if needed. Ketamine can be very effective, but some people seem to get more out of the therapy than others. How can you ensure you get the most out of your ketamine treatment? Start by following these tips.
1. Use some techniques to encourage a good mental state prior to treatment.
Ketamine is a psychoactive substance, and the treatment does alter your mental state temporarily. The better your mental state when you start the treatment, the better the outcome tends to be. Of course you do not have total control over your mental state, and a poor mental state is the reason you're seeking this treatment — but as much as possible, you should ensure you are in a good mood when you undergo ketamine therapy. Do some deep breathing, practice yoga, or listen to meditation tapes beforehand.
2. Keep still.
Ketamine can make you feel dizzy, and once you start feeling dizzy, it is a hard feeling to shake. Therefore, it's best to keep as still as possible during the treatment. Find a position that is comfortable as the treatment is beginning, and then stay there. Most patients do best keeping their eyes closed and lying back with their head slightly elevated, such as on a pillow.
3. Avoid food for an hour beforehand.
Nausea is another side effect of ketamine treatment, but you can greatly reduce your likelihood of feeling nauseous if you don't eat for an hour before your treatment. And for the 24 hours before your treatment, try to stick to blander, plain foods that you know won't make your stomach upset. If you are able to avoid the nausea, you will have a more rewarding session on ketamine.
4. Talk with your therapist afterwards.
You should emerge from your ketamine treatment with a different perspective on life and wellness. However, it is important to talk about this shift in perceptions in order for it to stick. Schedule a session with your therapist a couple of days after your ketamine treatment so you can talk through what you learned and experienced.
Ketamine can be life-changing, but you will want to follow the tips above to ensure your experience is as positive as possible.
Share23 April 2020
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