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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects around 6% of adults in the United States, causing recurrent symptoms like nightmares and flashbacks stemming from traumatic memories. At Ki_Ketamine in Stamford and Westport, Connecticut, Peter McAllister, MD, FAAN, and the team provide one-on-one Ketamine infusions to reduce PTSD symptom severity. To find out if you’re a candidate for low-dose Ketamine infusion therapy, call Ki_Ketamine or book an appointment online today.
PTSD Q & A
How does PTSD start?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by a traumatic event. Even if there was no singular event in your past that caused trauma, you can develop PTSD because of challenging long-term circumstances in your life or by simply witnessing a traumatic event.
Some examples of trauma that can cause PTSD are:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Assaults
- Combat
- Accidents
- Severe illnesses and injuries
- Natural disasters
- Bullying
- Sudden death of a loved one
The effects of experiences like these can last for months, years, or even the rest of your life in the form of PTSD.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
PSTD symptoms vary from person to person and can cause ongoing challenges in your life. They fall into four key categories:
Intrusive symptoms
Intrusive symptoms include involuntary thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, and memories.
Avoidant symptoms
While experiencing PTSD, you might avoid reminders of your trauma, such as activities, situations, people, and the memories themselves.
Mood and thought changes
Changes in your moods and thought patterns can occur because of PTSD, too. These include guilt, shame, detachment from others, and negative thought distortions.
Arousal and reactivity changes
PTSD can cause you to be irritable, reckless, or easily startled. You might also have trouble sleeping because of PTSD.
How do Ketamine infusions treat PTSD?
Symptoms of PTSD can be challenging to treat as they have a broad impact on your life. If standard treatments like medications and psychotherapy don’t improve your symptoms, Ketamine infusion therapy may be able to regulate your nervous system to reduce symptoms. You’ll get the best outcome by continuing counseling or therapy alongside your infusions.
Low-dose Ketamine works in your central nervous system by targeting specific receptors in your brain to increase levels of a neurotransmitter called glutamate. These neurotransmitters play important roles in brain function, including memory, cognition, and emotional regulation. By blocking receptors, Ketamine decreases mood, memory, and behavior symptoms of PTSD.
During your appointments at Ki_Ketamine, you can interact with the practice’s therapy dog for further relaxation and contentment.
To find out if Ketamine infusion therapy can treat your PTSD, call Ki_Ketamine or book an appointment online today.