A Patient’s Experience with Ketamine Treatments
After a long and arduous journey with my treatment resistant depression and anxiety, I finally arrived at Promise Medical Family Practice for Ketamine treatments. Anne Vincent, FNP, and her friendly and welcoming staff made me feel like I had made the right decision as soon as I walked in the door. Anne spoke with me extensively of the advantages and the realities of these treatments. Once she determined I was a candidate, it was time to get started.
The Process
When I arrived at my appointment, I was checked-in and ushered back to my room. The room is set up with a heated-massage chair, extra seat, and a changeable galaxy projector. The medical assistants administered nausea medication and after vitals were taken, Anne came in to administer my first of two injections into my upper arm.
The assistants came in periodically to check vitals. They are helpful and have an incredible bedside manner. (Pro Tip: Don’t feel nervous about talking or remaining silent.) After about 20-30 minutes, Anne came in to administer the second of the two injections. The two-hour session ended, and the assistants helped me gently to my car.
The Experience
Two minutes after the injection, the experience began. (Pro Tip: Have an “intention” or purpose for each time you go to get a treatment.) The hallucinogenic effects are strong and create a constant sense of movement, hence the nausea medication.
As it progressed, I felt detached from my physical body and feelings. This came as a feeling of difference between mind, body, and soul. This was disconcerting at first but as treatments progressed it felt easier to handle.
Once I felt detached, there were many feelings that came to me. These ranged from religious experiences to the love of my family to negative feelings that I had not addressed.
After the feelings phase, words and phrases that I believed defined me started to arise. At first, these words had a negative skew. Though negative, I was able to process them in real time without judgement to myself. This was incredibly healing. The more experiences I had the more positive the words and phrases became.
Coming down from the experience there were waves of nausea, and it is difficult to walk on my own; however, Anne prescribed me Scopolamine patches that immediately improved my experience. I would recommend them to anyone trying Ketamine Treatments.
The After Effects
This is by far the most amazing part of Ketamine treatments. After the first treatment, I needed to sleep most of the rest of the day. (Pro Tip: Drink lots of water.) The next week was filled with energy and focus that I haven’t had in years. Having chronic depression, it was amazing to feel like myself without the side effects of an anti-depressant.
I found myself being calmer and more comfortable in my own skin after every treatment. My family has given me very positive feedback as well. Telling me they’ve been hearing me laugh and sing more than I have in many years. I was able to get up, complete tasks, and have fun with my baby without the fog.
This has truly been a transformative experience for me. I would highly recommend talking with Anne Vincent and see if you are a candidate for Ketamine treatments.
