Breaking Down Ketamine For PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a crippling mental health condition that is triggered by experiencing or witnessing a distressing event. All age groups and genders can be affected by PTSD, although a few groups in particular are more likely to be affected by the disorder.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans are more likely to have PTSD than civilians. Veterans who deployed to a war zone are also more likely to have PTSD than those who did not deploy. This makes sense, as vets are more likely to have experienced or witnessed severe trauma on the battlefield.

Their research also shows that women are more likely to develop PTSD than men. About 8 of every 100 women and 4 of every 100 men will have PTSD at some point in their life. This is in part due to the fact that women are more prone to experience sexual assault and other types of traumatic events than men.

Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Although it’s not entirely clear why PTSD develops, multiple theories have been suggested since it’s discovery in the 1980’s.

The NHS states that the disorder may be a result of a survival mechanism, high adrenaline levels or overall changes in the brain.  Whether the cause is the body’s instinctive mechanism to help you survive the trauma or instead, malfunctions in the hippocampus—the part of the brain that deals with memory and emotions—remains to be seen.

Despite not knowing why it develops, there are a number of common symptoms that those with PTSD tend to experience. Here are the PTSD symptoms that are generally grouped into four types compiled by Mayo Clinic:

• Intrusive Memories
• Avoidance (avoiding thinking or speaking of the traumatic event or avoiding reminders of it)
• Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood
• Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions

Ketamine For PTSD

Ketamine infusion therapy is a relatively new treatment for PTSD, and yet multiple studies conducted by institutions such as the Yale School of Medicine, the VA Office of Research and Development, and Mount Sinai Hospital have all found that doses of ketamine over just a few weeks proves to be a fast and effective alternative treatment for PTSD.

Ketamine for PTSD works by quickly increasing levels of the most common neurotransmitter in the brain – glutamate. Normal amounts of glutamate are necessary for healthy brain function, and these levels are often lowered in individuals with PTSD, anxiety, depression and more.

Check out our page on how ketamine works for a more in-depth look at the “miracle” drug that is changing the game for those with trauma-based disorders.

Ketamine Infusions for PTSD at New Pathways Clinic in Cleveland

Our therapeutic team at New Pathways Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio is proud to help those who are beginning, or continuing, on the path to healing from post-traumatic stress disorder. Our expert staff has spent more than 10 years in the healthcare industry, helping those with mental health disorders to live fulfilling lives.

If you or a loved one is struggling from PTSD, we urge you to contact us by filling out this form, or sign up for a free consultation to get started.