When veterans come home, their experiences can return with them. Sometimes their memories (especially traumatic ones) continue to vividly pop up in their heads, even to the point where they are reliving their traumas years after those events occurred. Experiencing emotional and psychological triggers after witnessing or being part of a terrifying event is known as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a mental health disorder.
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
— Marcus Tullius Cicero
Gratitude is powerful and can be described as the “appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself; it is a general state of thankfulness and/or appreciation”(1). As we face challenges in our life, it’s incredibly easy to forget how amazing it is to be alive. When we focus on what is going well in our life, we can shift our attention to the positive things. Sure, there will be negative things going on, and we can learn to accept and change what we can. However, it’s important to also appreciate what is going right.
Western culture promotes never giving up and holding on, but like many things in life, when this mindset is taken to the extreme this persistence can lead to destructive stubbornness. You clench your fists, grit your teeth, and dig your heels into the ground ready to take on the world all the while holding deep within yourself some belief which may no longer serve you.
This is where letting go comes in. Letting go is the opposite of the control, or rather the illusion of control we seek. This desire to control can play out in many different ways…
You have a friend or perhaps a significant other who has decided to undergo ketamine infusions. You may be all about ketamine or you may be skeptical; all are valid reactions and we’ve seen them all.
But let’s cut to the chase – this isn’t about you. This is about your loved one. They have been dealing with depression, anxiety and/or PTSD, as well as mental and/or physical pain. Perhaps you have been witness to it, have had your life affected by it, or are vaguely aware of it. Regardless, your loved one has decided on their own to try ketamine infusions.
Whether they say it or not, your loved one is going to look to you for support. So how can you support them while they receive ketamine infusions?
When we have anxiety, chronic pain, or depression our mind can get stuck in a rut - also known as rumination within the default mode network. Thought patterns emerge which further hurt and potentially prevent our healing
Pregnancy and birth can be an incredible experience for both mothers and their families. The last thing a new family might be thinking after bringing home their newborn baby is feelings of depression and sadness. Having a baby can trigger a large array of emotions, including; joy, excitement, anxiety, and fear. What most mothers, and even new fathers are not expecting to feel, is depressed.
One of my favorite books is Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferris. In this book, he shares the answers to eleven powerful questions from artists, athletes, top business people, and politicians (aka the movers and the makers of our world). I thoroughly enjoyed reading their answers and imagined what my responses would be. So in this post, I will share my answers to the 11 questions for you all.
The American Society of Ketamine Physicians (ASKP) formed in 2017 and had its second annual conference near Denver, Colorado in September 2019. The gathering included over 200 people including: anesthesiologists, emergency physicians, family physicians, internists, nurse anesthetists, patients, pharmacists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, registered nurses, and support staff.
It was astounding to connect with others and learn a myriad of ways ketamine is being used therapeutically in outpatient clinics, homes, and hospitals. The learning not only came from the speakers’ presentations, who were experts in their fields, but also other ASKP members who are out in the trenches applying their unique perspective on ketamine.
When you break the word itself down, it comes in two parts: “neuro” as in neuron, and “genesis” as in creation. Neurogenesis broadly speaking is the process by which new neurons are created in the brain, thus allowing for increased plasticity of the brain and stronger synaptic connections. Adult neurogenesis is the process by which new neurons are created and integrated into existing brain circuitry when you are an adult. Adult neurogenesis can be seen in the olfactory bulb and the hippocampus.
Stoicism is an ancient Greek philosophy founded in the early 3rd century BC by Zeno of Citium. This school of philosophy guides us towards a life of tranquility and virtue. Tranquility is a state marked by the absence of negative feelings like anger, sadness, worry, and stress, and the presence of positive feelings – in particular joy. Virtue is the aim for excellence as a human being living in accordance with nature. Believe it or not, it is one of the roots of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Depression is among the most disabling conditions in our society. According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. In America, 12.5% of individuals over the age of 12 have filled an antidepressant prescription. Yet, the effectiveness of these medications are still lacking. Many patients don’t respond to antidepressant medications, and it can take months for the medicine to kick in. Unfortunately, many patients will regain their depression after being on medications long term.
Ketamine is alleviating symptoms of those suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). It works rapidly and effectively, especially compared to traditional treatment such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
So, how is ketamine making this happen? There is currently no definitive answer to “How Does Ketamine Exactly Work?”, and honestly we don’t believe there is only one single answer. We believe there are multiple mechanisms (scroll to the bottom to check out a couple videos where Dr. Ko explain the less “scientific” mechanisms, such as the spiritual mechanism)
In 2016, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey to investigate the prevalence of chronic pain in the United States. They found that an estimated 20.4% of U.S. adults (50 million people) had chronic pain. Additionally, “high-impact” (more severe, limiting) chronic pain was found in an estimated 8.0% of U.S. adults (19.6 million people).
Ketamine clinics are popping up left and right in your town, or maybe you are ready to take a flight to find one. How do you know if the clinic is for you? How do you know if you should go there? We’d love to have everybody come to our clinic, but our clinic isn’t for everyone!
While there is no perfect way to do this (nor is there a perfect clinic!), here are a few questions to get answered to help find the right clinic for you.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects the lives of many people worldwide. Shockingly, more military personnel die by suicide than in combat. Many treatments have been subpar in the past, however, ketamine may be an alternative treatment option for those who are still struggling. But there are some caveats and considerations that need to be taken before jumping on the ketamine bandwagon.
Research supports multiple ketamine infusions are needed to minimize depression symptoms and maintain antidepressant effects. We recommend pursuing the 6 series infusion to start, followed by boosters as needed.
To understand what could be best for you, you’ll need to explore where the recommended protocol comes from and what can happen with too much for too long, and more. It’s a lot but no worries we’re here to walk you through it!
