I have been going to a ketamine clinic for almost a year. Mostly, I think, it is helping.
It is a little awkward, however. When I was much younger I did recreational hallucinogens, and eventually had a 'bad trip', followed by a flashback and a year of consequential anxiety.
At first, the ketamine therapy was great. The sky was a little more blue, the birds sang a little more and a little more sweetly...that sort of thing. The biggest thing was that I didn't go from zero to 'THE END OF THE WORLD' in a millisecond. Because that was going well, I went off pill meds (SSRI). The follow up treatments every 3 months are good, though accompanied by increasing 'bad trip' anxiety...hasn't happened, but the anxiety is still there. But in some ways it seems to be following the same pattern other meds do...great at first and then plateau. It takes the edge off the bad feelings, but I have been going to the End Of The World rather quickly, to the point of thinking The End would be better. Granted, it doesn't last as long, but, still...
I have not yet discussed this with the provider, I don't know if more frequent or higher doses would help. Either way, price will be an issue, as insurance doesn't cover it and I ain't rich.
It doesn't help that I lost my regular counseling session due to work schedule, and then COVID happened.
And now comes Seasonal Affective Disorder to put icing on the cake.
Hang on, hang on...the sun will come out again someday.
It is a little awkward, however. When I was much younger I did recreational hallucinogens, and eventually had a 'bad trip', followed by a flashback and a year of consequential anxiety.
At first, the ketamine therapy was great. The sky was a little more blue, the birds sang a little more and a little more sweetly...that sort of thing. The biggest thing was that I didn't go from zero to 'THE END OF THE WORLD' in a millisecond. Because that was going well, I went off pill meds (SSRI). The follow up treatments every 3 months are good, though accompanied by increasing 'bad trip' anxiety...hasn't happened, but the anxiety is still there. But in some ways it seems to be following the same pattern other meds do...great at first and then plateau. It takes the edge off the bad feelings, but I have been going to the End Of The World rather quickly, to the point of thinking The End would be better. Granted, it doesn't last as long, but, still...
I have not yet discussed this with the provider, I don't know if more frequent or higher doses would help. Either way, price will be an issue, as insurance doesn't cover it and I ain't rich.
It doesn't help that I lost my regular counseling session due to work schedule, and then COVID happened.
And now comes Seasonal Affective Disorder to put icing on the cake.
Hang on, hang on...the sun will come out again someday.