Relieving Stress: Tax Day

Spring can be stressful, especially with April 18, 2022, tax day around the corner. While certified public accountants may carry the weight of tax season, most people feel the season's stress. Every year, the American Psychological Association conducts a survey called “Stress in America.” This year, “Stress about money is the highest recorded since 2015,” with 65% of survey respondents reporting that money was a significant source of stress. Many things can contribute to a stressful tax season, such as meeting the tax day deadline, will you receive a refund, and were you able to maintain a reasonable budget?  

Arthur C. Evans Jr., Ph.D., the CEO of the American Psychological Association, said, “Americans have been doing their best to persevere over these past two tumultuous years, but these data suggest that we’re now reaching unprecedented levels of stress that will challenge our ability to cope.” Tax season may induce underlying general anxiety in some.  

According to The National Alliance on Mental Illness, “Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the United States. Over 40 million adults in the United States (19.1%) have an anxiety disorder. Meanwhile, approximately 7% of children aged 3-17 experience issues with anxiety each year, and most people develop symptoms before the age of 21.”  

Ketamine IV therapy can treat various anxiety disorders, including social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, phobias, phobia-related disorders, and panic disorder. So, how does Ketamine IV treatment assist in treating chronic stress? Ketamine works by regulating a neurotransmitter called Glutamate, and an imbalance in this neurotransmitter can cause hyperalgesia (overactive pain nerves), anxiety, restlessness, ADHD-like symptoms, insomnia, concentration issues, and fatigue (Dellwo, 2020).  

Dr. John Krystal, M.D., a pioneer of Ketamine treatments, says, “With most medications like valium, the anti-anxiety effect only lasts when it is in your system. When the valium goes away, you can get rebound anxiety. When you take Ketamine, it triggers reactions in your cortex that enable brain connections to regrow. It is the downstream effects of ketamine days after the treatment that actually cause nerve generation and the anti-anxiety response seen in our patients.    

Here are some tips for a first-time Ketamine treatment session:  

1. Discuss if Ketamine is a good option for you by contacting Avesta Ketamine and Wellness.  
2. We collaborate and consult with all of our patient's physicians to ensure proper dosing and a well-rounded experience.    
3. Maybe bring a pillow or blanket to make you more comfortable.  
4. Come with an intentional mindset, just like you set an intention for a workout session or yoga class; the same goes with a Ketamine IV session.  
5. Make sure you feel safe and supported.  
6. Don’t forget to breathe!  
7. Allow yourself to question and accept what comes to mind.  
8. Take it easy for the rest of the day. 
9. Consider balancing infusions with therapy to help the decompression time 1-2 days post-infusion.  

As tax day approaches, you may consider Ketamine IV Therapy for stress and chronic anxiety - it’s essential to know your insurance coverage. You can find more information on our website regarding possible coverage options. To learn more about Avesta Ketamine and Wellness treatment options, call us for a consultation or set up an appointment online today.  

Sources:

Anxiety. Aveta Ketamine and Wellness (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.avestaketaminewellness.com/services/anxiety 

Anxiety Disorder Treatments. Florida Mind Health Center. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.flmindhealth.com/anxiety/ 

Anxiety Disorders. National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Anxiety-Disorders#:~:text=Over%2040%20million%20adults%20in,develop%20symptoms%20before%20age%2021. 

Can Ketamine Help Treat Anxiety?. Pacific Health Systems. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://pacifichealthsystems.com/blog/can-ketamine-help-treat-anxiety/ 

Crist, C. Most Americans Report Stress Levels: Poll. WebMD. (March 10, 2022). Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/news/20220310/americans-report-overwhelming-stress-poll 

Dellwo, A. GABA and Glutamate in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Vert Well Health. (September 24, 2020). Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/gaba-glutamate-fibromyalgia-chronic-fatigue-716010 

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Ketamine as Treatment. Nova Vita Wellness Center. (March 30, 2021). Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.novavitacare.com/generalized-anxiety-disorder-ketamine-as-treatment/ 

 How to Handle Challenging Experiences with Ketamine. Reset Ketamine. (March,11 2019). Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.resetketamine.com/blog/2019/3/11/how-to-handle-bad-experiences-with-ketamine 

How to Prepare for Your Ketamine Treatment. Ketamine Integrative Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.ketamineintegrativemedicine.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-your-ketamine-treatment 

Infographic: A Closer Look at Economic Stressors by Age. American Psychological Association. (March, n.d., 2022). Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2022/infographic-age-money 

Photo Source: by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Author

Dr. Ladan Eshkevari, PhD, CRNA, FAAN Dr. Eshkevari is the lead clinician at Avesta, and is a long time researcher and educator in physiology, biophysics, and anesthesiology. She is passionate about assisting patients with retractable, difficult to treat mood disorders, and relies on the latest research to bring evidence to Avesta's practice to better understand and serve patients.