Trauma touches many people during their lifetime, whether through their own experiences or those of a loved one. While some can manage the resulting feelings and emotions independently, for the larger majority, professional guidance is necessary.
When dealing with trauma, you have options that are worth exploring. Talk therapy is typically the first thought of method, but ketamine assisted psychotherapy is emerging as a productive option. Let’s explore the topic further.
How Trauma Affects the Brain
Trauma occurs on a spectrum of severity. Depending on where you land on that spectrum can dictate how much your brain is impacted. Chronic or severe traumas are going to cause longer-lasting effects compared to minor traumas.
When you do experience more significant trauma, you’re more likely to go on to develop PTSD symptoms, including hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, emotional regulation difficulties, dissociation, and avoidance.
Additionally, certain areas of the brain go through chemical changes. Your amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex all begin functioning differently. Any disruption in these areas can lead to cognitive, memory, and behavioral changes.
It’s for this reason that certain traumas are more challenging to overcome, especially when using solely talk therapy approaches.
Understanding Ketamine
Ketamine originated as an anesthetic, but is now being used in smaller doses for psychiatric purposes. Used in this manner, the drug offers a variety of positive benefits.
Use of ketamine can help engage your brain’s natural ability for neuroplasticity. The chemical interaction that occurs stimulates the creation of new connections and allows the brain to start healing itself.
Ketamine also helps override the part of your brain that causes you to replay certain thoughts over and over again. It can influence memory processing and enhance new learning skills.
In addition, when being used during psychotherapy sessions, it can give rise to an altered state of consciousness, which will allow you to tap into deeper areas that may be suppressed.
How Ketamine Interacts with Trauma
When ketamine is used as a treatment option, it is not as simple as taking a medication. Ketamine assisted psychotherapy involves some structure and process that requires the guidance of a professional for maximum effectiveness.
During the preparation phase, you’ll discuss your history and go through a psychological assessment. This time allows you to connect with your therapist and build rapport, which is essential for productive outcomes.
Next, you’ll begin the ketamine session itself. Music and environment can be used to further enhance your session. As the medication takes effect, you won’t participate much in the way of talk therapy, discussion, or undergo any interventions.
Following this begins the integration phase. You start to develop new narratives related to your traumatic event and process any buried memories. As you incorporate what you’re experiencing, you can implement behavioral changes as well.
The ability to engage with neuroplasticity helps build new connections that don’t cause you distress. As you reach a point where your brain isn’t ruminating over the negative thoughts and sensations stemming from your trauma, you can start to heal.
Considerations for Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
Similar to any other medication, there are potential side effects to be aware of. You may experience an elevated heart rate or blood pressure. For some trauma patients, there can be distress from the dissociative effects or triggered psychosis when in a vulnerable state. This is why ketamine assisted psychotherapy should be conducted with a trained professional.
Limitations
When beginning ketamine assisted psychotherapy, it’s important to remember that there isn’t a universal response. Benefits and outcomes of the treatment can vary.
For some, the duration of any positive effects can be temporary and require repeated sessions to maintain. There isn’t a magic answer for the length of treatment, dosing, or frequency of use.
Starting Treatment
If you’ve experienced trauma and are exploring options for recovery, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy along with trauma therapy are worth a conversation. Contact us for a free consultation to learn more and get started today.
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