What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a general term for a mood disorder that causes excessive feelings of nervousness and fear. Everyone gets feelings of anxiety sometimes, but having an anxiety disorder can be downright debilitating. You might start to struggle in school, at work, and within social relationships because of your anxiety.
Anxiety disorders, like generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and agoraphobia, tend to cause symptoms like:
- Worrying
- Muscle tension
- Trembling or shaking
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Trouble concentrating
- Heart palpitations
Depending on the specific anxiety disorder affecting you and its severity, you might get anxiety attacks. Anxiety attacks include increased physical effects of anxiety that are concentrated, usually in relation to a specific upcoming event like a relationship issue or a test at school. Symptoms include a racing heartbeat, faintness, and shortness of breath.
How does ketamine treat anxiety?
Avesta Ketamine and Wellness uses ketamine, a nonaddictive medication, to 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.
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?
Avesta Ketamine and Wellness teaches you about what to expect during your ketamine treatments before you begin your course of treatment. Over the course of 2-3 weeks, you come in for six 45-60 minute infusion sessions. The speed of the effects varies among individuals, but generally, you can expect to notice a difference around the third or fourth session.
At this point, your Avesta Ketamine and Wellness provider evaluates you. After this evaluation, they can adjust your dosage according to your needs. You get the best possible results by completing all six initial 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 anxiousness.
If you have an anxiety disorder, you might feel like your symptoms control your life. To find out if you’re a good candidate for ketamine anxiety treatments, book a consultation by phone or email Avesta Ketamine and Wellness today.
