The benefits of ketamine treatment for mental health mood disorders like anxiety, depression, and PTSD are well documented, with many patients reporting quick and lasting results. One of the drug’s characteristics that is believed to be so beneficial to patients is its ability to produce a dissociative state. A dissociative state creates what is also known as a flow state, a mindset in which a person is more easily able to disconnect from their body and other distractions. Read on to learn more about what causes dissociative states and their effects on the brain and your mental health.
Disassociation: What is it and how does it help?
Ketamine has been used as an anesthetic since the 1970s, however, for the past decade or so doctors have been tapping it for another powerful use: its ability to relieve treatment resistant depression and anxiety. Disassociation can occur during a ketamine treatment and usually refers to a state of feeling free or separated from thoughts, feelings, identity, and sometimes even your body. This state can also interfere with the everyday processes that control perception, memory, or consciousness.
Ketamine treatment is useful in treating mental health disorders because of its ability to target the synaptic vesicles that store glutamate neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters are central to the function of our nervous system and impact mental health. Research shows that the dissociative state created by this treatment allows this part of the mind to experience greater antidepressant effects, and that those patients who experience a dissociative state report better results from their sessions.
Ketamine Treatment and Mental Health
When considering whether ketamine treatment for your mental health might be a good match, you should consider the type of treatment being offered and what the likely outcome might be. Experiencing treatment in a professional setting means your session and dosing will be carefully monitored, leading to a more easeful and impactful experience.
One of the most important things to consider when thinking about undergoing ketamine treatment is finding a professional you trust. Schedule a consultation with one of our practitioners who will help you gain more confidence and understanding about what you will experience during your session and begin to feel more at east about managing your mental health.
Contact Bluewater Psychiatry