If you have PTSD, the condition can feel like a never-ending nightmare as the memories of your trauma are all-consuming. Constant anxiety, flashbacks, and avoidance can make it difficult to live a normal life. Unfortunately, traditional treatments for PTSD often fail to provide relief, and that is where ketamine comes in. A Howell PTSD specialist will use this treatment method to reduce your symptoms by interrupting the cycle of fear and arousal associated with the condition. Below is a detailed overview of how ketamine treatment works to provide you with profound relief from PTSD symptoms. 

How PTSD affects your brain

PTSD alters the way your brain processes information. When you experience a traumatic event, your brain is in survival mode and is focused on protecting you from further harm. This results in your hippocampus, the part of your brain responsible for forming new memories, becoming less active. 

As a result, your traumatic memories are stored in a more primitive part of your brain known as the amygdala. The amygdala is responsible for the fight-or-flight response and is constantly on high alert for any signs of danger. As a result, anything that reminds you of your trauma can trigger a strong emotional and physical response, even if there is no actual threat.

How Ketamine treatment works

Ketamine is a powerful antidepressant that interrupts how your brain processes information. When you receive a ketamine infusion, the medication quickly binds to receptors in your brain and blocks the NMDA-glutamate receptor. This receptor is responsible for transmitting signals between neurons and is also involved in forming new memories. By blocking the NMDA receptor, ketamine prevents your brain from forming new memories and causes a dissociative state. In this state, you are aware of your surroundings but feel disconnected from your body.

This can be an unsettling experience, but it is also short-lived. The dissociative state caused by ketamine allows you to process your traumatic memories differently. Without the emotional intensity normally associated with them, you can begin to see your memories for what they are: just memories. This can help you start to let go of the fear and anxiety that have kept you trapped in the past.

Ketamine’s Quick Effect

One of the biggest advantages of ketamine treatment is its quick effect. Unlike traditional PTSD treatments such as exposure therapy, which can take weeks or even months to produce results, ketamine provides relief from symptoms within hours. Ketamine works by directly targeting the brain’s area responsible for your symptoms.

You will receive a ketamine infusion that can take less than one hour. However, you might stay in your ketamine specialist’s office for a few more hours for monitoring. The specialist will observe you and decide on the best treatment regimen based on how you respond to the first session. You can be sure that the ketamine infusion will diminish your PTSD symptoms within hours. Traditional PTSD treatments often teach you new coping mechanisms, which can take time to learn and implement.

Manage PTSD symptoms with ketamine treatment

Ketamine treatment for PTSD is a promising new treatment option that offers relief from symptoms within hours. Ketamine works by interrupting the way your brain processes information, which allows you to start to see your memories of the trauma in a different light. If you are struggling to find relief from your PTSD symptoms, contact the experienced specialists at ReYou Ketamine Treatments.