An Overview of Ketamine for PTSD
It is completely natural to feel scared during and after a traumatic incident. Fear plays an important role in the body’s actions and triggers split-second decisions to “fight-or-flight.” Many individuals recover after a traumatic event, but some continue to experience ongoing issues. These individuals may be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a unique disorder with many sufferers receiving inadequate treatments. A new and innovative post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment is offered at Texas Ketamine Specialists. Ketamine for PTSD has the ability to relieve the ongoing symptoms associated with the condition in Dallas, Plano and Richardson, Texas patients.
What to Know About Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is a disorder that develops in certain individuals following a scary, shocking or dangerous event. The condition is not a sign of weakness, but an after-effect of war, sexual assault, an automobile accident, a death, natural disaster or other life-changing event.
Not every person develops post-traumatic stress disorder following a traumatic event. For those who do, symptoms usually begin within 3 months of the incident. The symptoms must last more than a month and be severe enough to hinder daily life in order for a PTSD diagnosis to be reached.
Common PTSD symptoms include:
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks of the event
- Distress after a reminder of the event
- Avoidance of certain situations
- Negative thoughts and mood
- Hyperarousal
Common Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment
At this time, there are two main forms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment, including medications and psychotherapy.
Medications for depression are often prescribed in order to alleviate symptom intensity and help sufferers get through each day with limited anxiety, flashbacks and negative thoughts. Psychotherapy involves meeting with a mental health professional to learn how to cope with the thoughts and feelings. Many sufferers are also encouraged to discuss the traumatic event repeatedly until it is no longer difficult or upsetting.
These two post-traumatic stress disorder treatments are not always effective in every patient. Patients who do not respond to traditional treatment now have a promising treatment option known as ketamine for PTSD.
Ketamine for PTSD
Ketamine for PTSD is a new alternative treatment for those who have not responded well to other PTSD treatments. The ketamine infusion is administered over a 40 minute window in a controlled and comfortable setting at Texas Ketamine Specialists.
Research has shown that if a PTSD sufferer is going to achieve positive results with ketamine, symptom relief will occur within hours or days, not weeks or months. Ketamine for PTSD can rapidly alleviate symptoms and patients will know if the treatment is appropriate within 1-2 infusions. This allows the patient to determine if ketamine is a viable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment in a short amount of time. No more waiting weeks or months to see if a treatment is effective.
To determine if you are a candidate for this post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment, or to learn more about ketamine for PTSD, please contact the Dallas, Plano and Richardson, Texas area office of Texas Ketamine Specialists today.
