Anxiety is defined by the American Psychological Association (APA) as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.” It affects approximately 40 million Americans, or 18.1% of the population, making it the most commonly diagnosed mental illness in the country. Avesta Ketamine and Wellness located in McLean, Virginia, Bethesda, Maryland, and Washington DC offers ketamine infusions for anxiety management. To find out more about how ketamine interacts with your brain to quickly ease symptoms of anxiety, call Avesta Ketamine and Wellness for a consultation or book an appointment online today.
How does ketamine treat anxiety?
Ketamine interacts with brain receptors capable of regulating your behavioral responses, so it works well to treat symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mood disorders, including anxiety.
Ketamine works by regulating a neurotransmitter in your brain called glutamate. Out-of-balance glutamate can lead to depression or anxiety, depending on the imbalance. Because ketamine is fast-acting, treatment leads to a rapid reduction in symptoms.
Glutamate mediates your responses to stress. It also regulates thoughts and emotions by increasing and strengthening neural connections within your brain. Perhaps most importantly for anxiety specifically, glutamate helps your brain produce a calming response over time.
What should I expect during ketamine treatments for anxiety?
Our team starts by informing you during a free medical consult of what to expect during your ketamine treatments. Over the course of 2-4 weeks, you come in for six to eight 45-60 minute infusion sessions. The speed of the effects varies among individuals, but generally, you can expect to notice a difference around the fifth to sixth session.
At this point, your Avesta provider evaluates you, and can adjust your dosage according to your needs. You get the best possible results by completing all the recommended initial and maintenance sessions, continuing care with a mental health practitioner, and getting periodic ketamine booster infusions as needed.
If you currently take medications for anxiety, you may continue taking them throughout your time in ketamine treatment. As your brain creates new pathways due to glutamate production, you have an easier time thinking and behaving positively with less anxiety.
If you have an anxiety disorder, you might feel like your symptoms control your life. To find out if you are a good candidate for ketamine anxiety treatments, book a consultation by phone or email Avesta Ketamine and Wellness today.