Ketamine and PTSD

Taking care of one’s mental health is extremely important, but treatment can be difficult for some chronic conditions. In particular, post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD can be rather hard to live with as the mind cycles through the situations where they have developed trauma. This means having to deal with the triggers, responses, anxiety, nightmares, and more.

With progress in the medical field, there are a number of PTSD treatment options available. Many find difficulty in getting those to work on them, but you don’t have to give up on attaining a better quality of life and peace of mind. Ketamine therapy has been shown to aid in treating PTSD. Keep on reading to find out more.

What Is Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine therapy is a process where a trained physician and psychotherapist administer the medication to a certain patient. The psychedelic and dissociative properties of ketamine are traditionally associated with anesthesia and patient treatment. Through research and evidence based medicine they have been found to be useful in helping a person’s psychosocial development and growth while improving a person’s overall mental well-being.

What Is Ketamine’s Effect on Mental Illness?

There has been research into how ketamine can treat symptoms of a variety of different mental health problems, such as depression, addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more. Patients with those certain illnesses can also find it rather difficult to find medication and therapy that works for them.

Ketamine helps in making symptoms much more manageable as it targets the NMDA receptor. The NMDA receptor is a relevant factor when it comes to memory and neurological function regulation. Essentially, ketamine helps the brain in battling certain disorders that may be plaguing those aforementioned functions. 

What Is the Nature of PTSD?

PTSD is difficult to treat with the tractional methods of talk therapy and available medications. Patients with this medical condition can often be resistant to treatment as it’s rather easy to trigger reactions. What may seem like regular words and events throughout life can make people relive their own trauma within a second, making it hard to work and function around. 

Statistics show that a majority of victims who’ve undergone difficult and damaging situations end up with this stress disorder. Those seeking PTSD treatment can find it rather frustrating, which is completely valid. It’s hard to maintain any calm when debilitating anxiety can occur at any time when reminded of these events. 

Can Ketamine Help Treat PTSD?

A study shared in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that ketamine is efficient in treating several symptoms of PTSD. Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine had several trials of ketamine therapy treatment for individuals with clinically diagnosed PTSD. The ketamine therapy sessions ran over the course of two weeks. 

The results show that those patients had more than a 50% drop in their PTSD symptoms showing up. There were fewer changes in their cognition and mood as intrusive thoughts that could lead to further stress decreased. It can be quite reassuring to know that there’s still aid available, sparking hope of living with and managing PTSD.

Conclusion

In summary, ketamine therapy is something that helps in the management of multiple mental health problems. This includes PTSD, which can be rather paralyzing and difficult to have from day-to-day life. Studies have supported the idea of ketamine use to treat these certain illnesses and disorders so patients can have a better life.
Interested in this mental health treatment? Stephanie Lyn Coleman MD is a licensed physician trained in traditional western medicine from the US and providing ketamine therapy and holistic health. Get in touch with us today.

When Considering Psychedelic Therapy...

Over the past years, several developments in the medical field address new ways of treating various mental health conditions. One of the most intriguing types of treatments to date is the use of psychedelics.

Psychedelics are potent substances that produce powerful mind-altering effects known for affecting the neural circuits. With psychedelics, a patient gains benefits like relaxation, spiritual experiences, introspection, social connectedness, and an overall improvement in their sense of well-being. 

Although there are many benefits associated with psychedelics, it comes with no surprise that some patients also experience some negative effects. These include paranoia, distortions of reality, altered sense of time, intense emotions, and even seeing, hearing, or sensing strange things. Many who experience negative effects are the result of not being prepared, having an unsafe setting, or doing too high of a dose. 

For this reason, it's advised that you get psychedelic therapy from credible licensed physicians who offer holistic approaches in medicine. This way, not only will you understand the treatment, but you'll also know that you're in good hands throughout the process. 

The Effectiveness of Psychedelic Therapy and the Disorders It Treats

According to studies, psychedelic therapy promises great benefits in treating mental health conditions, such as depression and addiction. 

• Anxiety and Mood Disorders: Psilocybin-assisted therapy has been known to increase the quality of life, boost optimism, and reduce a patient's anxiety. Patients have reported feeling more socially connected and have mood improvements even after the effects of the drug.

• Alcohol and Substance Abuse: Other studies showed that psilocybin-assisted therapy also reduced drinking and alcohol cravings, improving a patient's will to abstain from drinking alcohol. However, more clinical trials are needed to measure the effectiveness of psychedelic treatment on people dealing with alcohol and substance abuse. 

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: According to clinical trials, there are long-term positive effects of psychedelic therapy on people who have PTSD. 

Things to Consider With Psychedelic Therapy

Although psychedelic therapy is considered safe and well-tolerated by most people, it still pays to know the risks involved when getting this treatment.

• Negative Psychological Reactions: Psychedelic treatment can increase symptoms of anxiety, panic, and paranoia, especially when not administered properly. When this happens, the patient is known to be going through a "bad trip" and could trigger terrifying experiences of anxiety and loss of control.

• Personality Changes: Some believe that psychedelics can trigger personality changes since it produces mind-altering effects. Some people experience mild forms of this, such as a sudden increase in extroversion and openness. 

The Bottom Line: Best to Avoid Self-Treatment When It Comes to Psychedelic Therapy

When you're undergoing psychedelic therapy, you should have this administered by a licensed physician who practices a holistic medicinal approach. Although psychedelic treatments are highly effective and beneficial, some risks are still involved if you don't administer the drug in a safe and supportive way. 

Why Choose to work with Dr. Stephanie Lyn Coleman?

When it comes to mental health conditions, you must take the right approach to help manage your symptoms and experiences. With that being said, you should connect with Dr. Stephanie Lyn Coleman. 

We focus on mental health and psychedelic medicine to help treat burnout and mental symptoms related to COVID-19 and overwhelm of everyday life. 

Stephanie Lyn Coleman MD is a licensed physician trained in traditional western medicine culture but believes in following a holistic approach to health through ketamine therapy. 

Want to learn more about psychedelic therapy and how it can help you? Book an appointment with us today!

Psychedelic Medicine

Psychedelic medicines have been a hot topic in the scientific and medical world in the past few years. With mental illnesses being rampant in our society, scientists are beginning to study new forms of therapy—and rediscover some old ones. 

Research linking psychedelic medicine and the medical world is nothing new to us. They have been studied heavily from the 1950s to the 1970s, but many psychedelic drugs have been made illegal due to the reported potential for abuse and lack of use in medicine. However, recent research revived the field and found that psychedelic drugs do hold some promise for medicinal use.

Psychedelic Medicines and Their Use

Psychedelics are a loosely classified group of psychedelic medicines that trigger an altered state of consciousness. This altered state of consciousness involves warps in sensory perceptions and thoughts, and it’s also known as a “trip” or “psychedelic experience”. Traditional psychedelics act on the serotonin receptor and include mescaline, psilocybin, LSD, and DMT.  Ketamine is a dissociative anesthesia with psychedelic properties. MDMA also works on the serotonin receptors but in a different way and is considered an empathogen.

Psychedelic medicines have varied effects and uses through creating non ordinary states of consciousness. Psilocybin or “magic mushrooms”, for instance, can cause significant visuals, colors, synesthesia, and an intense rush of emotions, such as euphoria. Some drugs, such as ketamine, have also found use as anesthetics in addition to producing a dreamlike state of consciousness. 

Although most psychedelic drugs have been made illegal because of their potential for misuse, a 2020 article reviewing recent psychedelic research pointed out that there are now safe methods of using their benefits. In addition, studies have shown that more harm comes from substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and cocaine in significantly greater numbers. This has implications for a budding field of therapy for mental health: psychedelic therapy.

Do We Have Scientific Proof for the Medical Benefits of Psychedelics?

Recent research proved to be fruitful for psychedelics and the field of medicine. New studies have connected the use of psychedelics with improvements in the participants’ mental health. For example, a 2020 study on ketamine found that the drug can help alleviate symptoms of depression. It does so by heightening the brain’s plasticity, which helps it make new connections and help it better sense prediction errors. As a result, the use of ketamine has a rapid antidepressant effect even in patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Psilocybin also has had its fair share of studies highlighting its benefits on mental health. In a 2021 study, the drug exhibited antidepressant effects in patients with moderate to severe major depressive disorder. It even did well, if not better, than escitalopram, a type of antidepressant. Many other psychedelic medicines such as MDMA, mescaline, and LSD received favorable results in recent scientific studies.

Are There Any Risks Involved?

Many psychedelics are still classified as illegal substances because the hallucinogenic and euphoria-inducing effects give the drugs a high potential for misuse. Although many of these substances have shown not to be physiologically addictive and are actually used to treat addictions. There are also some significant side effects such as nausea, drowsiness, dissociation, and panic attacks. However, the misuse and side effects can be mitigated under the supervision of a professional during psychedelic therapy.

Psychedelic Therapy for Mental Health

Psychedelic drugs and scientific research have a long history. Thanks to recent research, scientists are now seeing the possible medicinal benefits of these drugs, particularly when it comes to mental health. As experts gain more knowledge regarding drugs and mental health, psychedelics hold a more promising future in therapy.

If you’re seeking psychedelic therapy in the US, Dr. Stephanie Lyn Coleman has what you need. Stephanie Lyn Coleman, MD is a licensed physician who studied integrative medicine techniques and received training in ketamine-assisted therapy. She specializes in psychedelic medicine, working with a team of professionals to provide holistic health. Take care of your mental health—contact us today!

Another side of Ketamine Treatment

Ketamine Therapy: An Effective Treatment for Chronic Pain

If you’re suffering from chronic pain, then you’re one of the thousands of other people all over the world experiencing the same discomfort. Having chronic pain means a lifetime of suffering and isn’t something you can get rid of by taking some painkillers or applying an ointment. What’s worse is that there’s no cure-all solution for it as it can be caused by a wide variety of conditions. 

However, new research shows that ketamine, a well known anesthetic, can actually be used in sub-anesthetic doses to treat pain. Read on to find out more about this breakthrough discovery.

What Causes Chronic Pain?

One of the reasons why chronic pain isn’t easy to treat is because it’s different for every person, making it hard to pinpoint the exact cause of the pain. As such, chronic pain can be caused by a number of factors, from initial injuries like back sprain and pulled muscle to nerve damage. In those cases, the primary reason for the pain is because of the damaged nerves, which means that treating an underlying injury may not help resolve the issue at hand. Chronic pain can manifest in a number of ways and some of its common signs and symptoms are as follows:

• Joint Pain

• Muscle Aches

• Burning Pain

• Fatigue

• Sleep Problems

• Loss of Stamina and Flexibility due to Decreased Activity

• Mood Problems, Including Depression, Anxiety, and Irritability

Can Ketamine be Used as a Treatment Option?

Ketamine has been used by medical professionals for a long time as an anesthetic. Eventually,  it gained a bad reputation because of people abusing the drug due to its hallucinogenic effects. However, that has since changed as researchers have discovered new ways to use ketamine for medicinal purposes. Research shows that ketamine is effective in mental health treatment as well as pain management.

How Can Ketamine Help Treat Pain?

More often than not, traditional pain management options often treat pain symptoms as they occur, rather than preventing pain in the first place. Some of the more common pain management options include the use of physical therapy, integrative or alternative techniques, and pharmacological solutions. Now, ketamine treatment shows promise in offering relief to those suffering chronic pain.

A 2009 study published in the National Institute of Health showcases ketamine’s ability to block pain. The researchers linked ketamine to inhibiting the release of glutamate within the glia. The effect causes the blocking of the neural transmission of pain signals. 

Ketamine also works by repairing and altering neural pathways and replacing damaged nerve pulses with new and healthy ones. Recently, the use of ketamine infusion therapy has become widely accepted as an effective treatment for fibromyalgia, CRPS, Lyme disease, migraine headaches, and other conditions with symptoms of chronic pain.

Does Ketamine Have Side Effects?

Like any other drug or form of pain relief, side effects are expected to happen if you take too much of it. Patients have reported experiencing hallucinations, drowsiness, dizziness, dissociation, and a “spaced out” feeling. These are all minor side effects that can be minimized as long as you follow the specialist’s recommended dosage. We have also seen inflammation in the bladder and possible effects in the liver if taking long term, high doses of ketamine. These symptoms appear to predominantly correct with stopping the ketamine use.

Conclusion

Ketamine infusions may just be the the alternative treatment that pain sufferers have prayed for so long. It provides a way forward and lasting relief from chronic pain. To find out if ketamine therapy is for you, ask your local physician for any recommendations.

Dr. Stephanie Lyn Coleman works with ketamine, predominantly to treat mental health, with sublingual or intramuscular injections. Some pain conditions may be amenable to this style of treatment and others may need longer intravenous infusions. Reach out and schedule your free consultation to find out more!

Where is the evidence?

Over the past few decades, the psychological health sector’s research and development levels dedicated to furthering the capabilities of modern treatments have exponentially improved. 

As the field itself continues to evolve alongside its tools, techniques, and methods, the lives of millions of patients have seen tremendous improvements in their overall conditions. In the case of psychotherapy, constant advancements have allowed the field of study to progress in terms of remedying mental health issues that have persisted without cures for centuries.

If you’ve been meaning to help yourself or a loved one get treatment for a problem like PTSD, depression, or suicidal thoughts, then you’ve most likely tried using psychotherapy to recover and improve. While the treatment method itself can prove to be useful when it comes to making way for progress, greater results can be expected and achieved when ketamine is brought into the mix! 

The support behind ketamine

While it may seem like a stretch at first, ketamine therapy is more than a mere science experiment, mental health fad, or outdated alternative to counseling. 

With a storied application in emergency rooms, operating rooms, and battlefields that extends to over half a century and counting, it seems as if the drug bears a point for consideration for mental health treatments. As the list of studies backing the breakthrough use of ketamine itself for various purposes grows, it’s clear that it has come a long way from its single-purpose image where it was only used to relieve physical pain.

How does it help with mental health?

Although ketamine is often associated with providing pain relief, scientific research has tied it to an abundance of benefits for one’s mental health, thanks to testing and constant development. 

Based on the findings of a growing number of studies, scientists have discovered that the drug in question possesses profound neuroregenerative effects on the brain. Neuroregeneration has been recognized as a crucial process in the recovery of mental health patients because of its ability to undo any damage that causes a decline in one’s psychological fitness.

Based on these scientific findings, ketamine has been proven to help form new connections that rebuild nerve cell connections and alleviate mood disorder symptoms. The ability to rebuild can lead to successful long-term recoveries because destroyed nerve cells are recognized as the catalysts for conditions such as chronic trauma, depression, and anxiety! 

Putting the two together for the best results

Like psychotherapy, using ketamine treatments for mental health can lead to desirable outcomes when used correctly. Yet, it is capable of achieving even better results when paired with the aforementioned treatment.

Using the advantages of ketamine therapy and standard psychotherapy, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) helps spark mental health improvements through progressive treatments. The capability of this treatment to achieve marginally better results than either of its comprising approaches alone lies in two key factors:

1. Conducting a guided psychotherapy session with a patient under a low dose of ketamine allows them to enter a trance-like state where they can interact freely with a therapist while utilizing the anti-depressant effects of the drug

2. Psychotherapy provided before and after a ketamine treatment makes it easier to increase dosing for greater physiological change and makes way for conducive sessions even without mid-consumption interaction

With the two bases for function mentioned above, a patient will be able to better manage their health condition because KAP makes it easier to achieve progress by handling and approaching challenges more productively. Dr. Stephanie Lyn Coleman’s team, support patients to undergo the treatment method in question because of the wide range of benefits it provides, some of which are (but not limited to):

• Constant symptom relief

• Improved brain health and recovery (which also happens through induced plasticity that modifies cognitions and behaviors requiring synaptic plasticity)

• Improved independence in mental health management

Conclusion

Dealing with a mental health condition as best as possible will always require the right treatments to ensure the best results possible—this is where Ketamine-Assisted Therapy can be especially helpful. Through the use of KAP, you’ll be able to significantly improve the quality of treatment you’re getting and potentially increase the rate of your progress!

If you are interested in Ketamine Therapy in Santa Monica, LA, and the surrounding areas, then schedule a consultation today!