Could ketamine help?

[WonderWhatsOutThere]

I'm suppose to do Ketamine-assisted therapy (KPA) soon-ish but I'm not sure if I have it in me told hold out until then, and even then my depression (while influenced by many things) had been made persistent by a PHYSICAL problem that no one seems to have an answer to, not mental.

I guess if I'm just wondering if KPA is even worth it when it sounds like it's only effective when the problem is mental

 

[A Dream of a Dream]

i believe it's worth trying and hope that you give it a shot.

 

[beautifulpristine]

I'm also looking into trying this, it's like 2k USD out of pocket for me though.

 

[WonderWhatsOutThere]

I'm also looking into trying this, it's like 2k USD out of pocket for me though.

I have no clue how much it is for me, but I'm losing my insurance soon, so that's a problem

 

[wishingonstars]

I'm suppose to do Ketamine-assisted therapy (KPA) soon-ish but I'm not sure if I have it in me told hold out until then, and even then my depression (while influenced by many things) had been made persistent by a PHYSICAL problem that no one seems to have an answer to, not mental.

I guess if I'm just wondering if KPA is even worth it when it sounds like it's only effective when the problem is mental

I have also heard that it can help with chronic physical pain, I think it's worth a shot. I'm hoping to do KPA if I can hold out long enough as well and my thought process is if it doesn't help then I have tried everything and so the only option left is to ctb. Not sure if this would help you but sometimes having conditions for when you allow yourself to end things (e.g. once I've tried KPA) kind of relieves some of the pressure.

 

[Mynameisnotimportant]

My partner loves it but I'm very hesitant because of twomad

 

[woofwag]

Yes, it very much can. I have only done it a few times recreationally, but even then found it massively improved my mood/pain. I have PTSD, and after I did ketamine one night and did therapy the next day. It helped me process much more effectively than I normally would have, and I felt refreshed after therapy instead of just emotionally exhausted. Everyone's body is different, so keep in mind that it may or may not work for you. But I would say it's worth a shot.

 

[jazzcat621]

As someone that has done all 3 types of ketamine therapy, (spravato, lozenge, and injection) I'll tell you that its really a miracle drug for fighting depression. It's been effective on me for around a year. It's not a cure all, as obviously im still here on sasu, but its definitely saved me.

 

[shiba]

Seems to do wonders for silicon valley

 

[Grav]

I just finished a battery of 6 IV sessions and I don't feel that much different. I am functional and am not in a nosedive so maybe that may be averted now but overall I'm still at neutral. No insights or scenes of past trauma just shapes and colors. I'm not writing it off as I believe it was worth trying before doing anything final. If something changes I'll post it. I've also had TMS done last year and that had a minor effect (impulsivity) but didn't stop nosedives.

 

[Seneca65AD]

I had IV sessions but also "nasal" + counselling sessions. I really liked it. I am not sure other patients did because I frequently head crying and screaming from other treatment rooms. but for me, there was no great epiphany. The music was great and I spent my "trips" floating on a sea of lava - it was great and to be honest, I understand how people can get hooked. Hell, give it a shot - I have not heard of it causing anyone to get "worse".... but be sure to check with your treatment provider first.

 

[Bitch With An Apple]

Ketamine dulls physical sensations even in sub-anesthetic and sub-psychedelic doses (although psychedelic doses are its best use imo but that comes with a lot of qualifiers so I don't mean that as a blanket statement).

For me dissociatives like ketamine relieve existential anxiety in a way nothing else does. They do also relieve physical pain at the same time, so I think it's worth pursuing because it could both relieve physical pain and then give you the space to relieve derived psychological pain on top of it once that physical pain is removed.

However, ketamine is limited by its extremely short duration. It doesn't work as a panacea on its own unless you're taking it literally every few hours, and then you're looking at "psychosis" (I have a negative bias against that kind of classification of mental states so whatever, but it's something that varies by individual) and potential bladder damage.

Ketamine at best can signal what a bearable reality is outside the scope of how reality usually is, and can provide a space where you have the faculties to build on that. It can also possibly (again, qualifier tags)... oh no my mind blanked on this one hehe. But if you choose to pursue it you'll figure it out.

Imo it's absolutely worth it and I wish I could do the same. Just be aware of risks from chronic consumption.