Anxiety is currently the most common mental health concern in the US, with over 40 million adults experiencing symptoms that can make everyday life extremely challenging. While there are several types of anxiety conditions with varying symptoms, some of the most typical include: excessive worrying, feelings of nervousness or dread, and physical symptoms like a pounding heart or shortness of breath.
If you’re struggling with anxiety and looking for help, there is hope - even if you’ve already tried anxiety medications without much relief. You may have heard of ketamine therapy becoming a widely accepted treatment for depression; and could be wondering if this novel treatment could benefit your anxiety symptoms as well.
Ketamine therapy can be a very effective treatment for many mental health conditions; including major depressive disorder, bipolar depression, PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and treatment-resistant anxiety and depression.
In this article, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about ketamine therapy for anxiety- including how it works, where to find it, and how it can benefit you.
Ketamine was initially introduced as an anesthetic. It has been widely used in medicine for short-term surgical procedures, due to its dissociative effects and ability to manage pain. More recently, it is gaining popularity as a highly effective treatment for mental health conditions. In particular, it’s known for its ability to improve symptoms even in people who have not responded to more conventional treatments.
Ketamine therapy is administered in a few different ways - through infusions, nasal spray, injections, and sublingual tablets. Doses and treatment schedules will vary depending on the type of ketamine you’re receiving, and where you’re getting your treatment. It’s an innovative treatment that holds a lot of promise for people struggling with mental health concerns, including anxiety.
Ketamine is especially promising for people with long-term anxiety or depression that has persisted despite conventional treatments. Chronic depression or anxiety that has been challenging to treat using conventional methods may be referred to as “treatment-resistant”, or “treatment refractory”.
Experts believe that experiencing depression or anxiety long-term can alter some of the connections in your brain, including the connections that influence your mood. But ketamine interacts with a chemical in your brain called glutamate, which is a neurotransmitter that is key to healthy brain function and mood regulation. The surge of glutamate that the ketamine produces promotes neuroplasticity, which is your brain’s ability to form, adapt, and reorganize neural pathways.
Depression and anxiety can change the brain over time, making it more difficult to adopt new ways of thinking and experiencing. This may be a reason why many people do not have a significant response to conventional medications alone. The neuroplasticity induced by ketamine can actually help rewire your brain; so when ketamine is combined with psychotherapy, it can lead to significant symptom reduction and long-lasting change.
While ketamine therapy is most often used for depression, it can also help with anxiety. Neuroscience shows that depression and anxiety cause similar changes in brain activity, so ketamine appears helpful for both conditions. In fact, many people with symptoms of both have found relief from ketamine treatments.
If you’ve been struggling with anxiety, here are some of the reasons you might consider ketamine therapy:
There are several clinical studies on ketamine treatments for anxiety showing very promising results.
One of the most appealing qualities of ketamine therapy is how quickly it can work to improve symptoms, especially compared to more conventional treatments like SSRIs. The effects of ketamine can begin within days or even hours of receiving treatment; and many people experience significant improvement in their anxiety within 24-48 hours of their first dose. But that doesn’t mean everyone will notice a major change right away. You may need several treatments to allow time for your brain to adapt, and to create real, lasting changes in your symptoms. Each person’s course of treatment looks a little different, and ketamine is most effective when combined with psychotherapy and appropriate medication management.
There are several common types of anxiety disorders, and ketamine may be helpful in treating any one of them.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is the most common anxiety diagnosis in the US. It is characterized by excessive and persistent worrying. People with GAD may have concerns about everyday life that are exaggerated, and they might constantly feel restless and on edge.
When ketamine increases neuroplasticity, it rewires your neurons to help shift your thought patterns and perspectives, which can lead to a decrease in worrying. When combined with therapy, the ketamine treatment can help adjust your brain, making it easier to feel calm and relaxed.
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) causes people to feel intense fear about social situations. People with social anxiety can benefit immensely from ketamine treatment. The increase in neuroplasticity in combination with psychotherapy can help you change negative thought patterns, become more open to new experiences, and be more confident in facing your fears.
Panic disorder causes recurring, unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden wave of fear and a sense of losing control. Ketamine can be effective for panic attacks because it works quickly, potentially bringing immediate relief. It also can continue to be effective over time as the increased neuroplasticity reduces your overall anxiety, making panic attacks less likely.
Phobias are intense fears of something specific, like an object, an activity, or an environment. Ketamine is useful for phobias because it can rapidly reduce your fear response and calm your brain. In addition, the neuroplasticity helps to change how you think about and react to your fears over time.
Ketamine can impact the brain in ways that lessen many anxiety symptoms, providing the treatment is coupled with psychotherapy in order to create lasting change.
Most people who seek ketamine therapy for anxiety have already tried more conventional treatment options. A few of the most common treatments for anxiety include SSRIs, benzodiazepines, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
SSRIs: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressants that increases the levels of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that impacts your level of happiness, and more serotonin correlates to a more positive mood. While their intended use is for depression, they are also regularly described to treat anxiety disorders.
While some people experience symptom relief from SSRIs, they don’t work well for everyone. It is common for a doctor to prescribe trials of several different SSRIs if you don’t have enough relief, but many people don’t experience as much improvement as they’d like even after trying multiple medications. SSRIs can also take a long time to take effect, and can come with some unpleasant side effects.
Ketamine works quickly with minimal side effects; plus, you can also receive ketamine therapy while staying on your SSRI if the medication is providing some amount of relief.
Benzodiazepines: This class of drugs include medications like xanax and valium. While they work quickly, they come with a lot of risks and side effects. They might cause drowsiness, confusion, or a flattened affect. They are also very addictive, making them a less than ideal option for anxiety treatment.
Noma’s approach to ketamine therapy is low-dose and supervised, removing the risk of dependency.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: CBT is an effective, evidence-based form of psychotherapy that focuses on changing your thoughts and behaviors to improve your symptoms. However, it doesn’t work overnight; which is why many people pair long-term therapy with medication.
CBT can be even more dynamic and effective when paired with ketamine therapy, due to the increased neuroplasticity that allows your brain to make meaningful changes in your thoughts and behavior.
Ketamine is believed to be very safe at appropriate doses. At Noma, you will receive a thorough evaluation before beginning treatment, to make sure you don’t have any medical conditions that could put you at risk. Your doses will consist of safe amounts of ketamine, with treatments that are spread apart and closely monitored within a time bound program. While you’ll be able to resume normal activities the same day, you should not drive or operate heavy machinery until the day after treatment.
It’s also important to note that you may be experiencing feelings of anxiety relating to starting treatment. This is a new type of treatment, and it’s normal to be nervous about something you’ve never experienced. You might feel anxious about what your body will feel like, or what emotions might come up. It’s important to remember that you will be safe, no matter what you may feel during your dosing session. Noma’s guides will help calm your fears and help you make a plan for before, during, and after sessions to ensure you have the smoothest experience possible.
Ketamine treatment can have some side effects, like feelings of dissociation or stomach upset. But you are much less likely to experience side effects with standard doses of ketamine sublingually, making Noma’s approach very well-tolerated. Be sure to report any unusual or persistent side effects to your care provider.
While many people do experience immediate relief from their anxiety after starting ketamine treatments, some might actually feel more anxious at first. That’s because ketamine might bring up some unfamiliar feelings, and that could cause temporary feelings of anxiety. It’s also common for people in ketamine treatment for depression to start to feel symptoms of anxiety. Depression often masks deeper emotions, and as ketamine lifts depression, hidden anxiety might surface. This is why being in therapy during ketamine treatment is so important. Your therapist can help you navigate your anxiety and any other feelings that may come up during your treatment.
Ketamine can be a powerful tool for treating conditions like anxiety. But for it to be truly effective, it should be combined with psychotherapy and medication management.
First, it’s essential to be in therapy while receiving ketamine treatments because your therapist can help you navigate any difficult feelings that might come up. Ketamine can bring intense emotions to the surface, and having a professional guide you through these moments can make a big difference. Noma provides you with a compassionate, highly-trained collaborative care team with next-level practitioners, including a therapist (if you don’t already have one).
Second, ketamine helps positively adapt your brain. This means it can help with new and better ways of thinking. But, to get the most out of this effect, you need to pair it with talk therapy. Talk therapy helps reinforce these changes in your brain, making them stick. This means you can benefit from long-lasting change rather than just a temporary fix.
It’s also important to consider general medication management alongside your ketamine treatment. You should work with a healthcare provider to review any medications you’re currently taking, and to discuss what medications, if any, might be helpful alongside the ketamine. At Noma, we offer a program that includes guided ketamine therapy from home, talk therapy, and medication management in a single, effective treatment program.
Ketamine is a very effective treatment for many mental health conditions. It can be extremely beneficial for people with anxiety, and is a great option for people who haven’t had enough success with more conventional treatments.
Ketamine works much differently than standard mental health medications like SSRIs. It interacts with a chemical in your brain called glutamate, which promotes neuroplasticity. The increase in neuroplasticity helps your brain adapt, improving your mood and changing your negative thoughts. Ketamine can provide fast relief; and when combined with psychotherapy and medication management, can achieve long-term results.
Treating anxiety can be tricky, and our integrative approach maximizes the benefits of ketamine treatment, giving you the best possible chance at lasting improvement. At Noma, we offer a program that includes guided ketamine therapy from home, talk therapy, and medication management. With a compassionate, highly-trained collaborative care team, our integrative approach maximizes the unique benefits of ketamine treatment– giving you the best possible chance at achieving significant and sustained relief from anxiety.
Noma also accepts most major commercial insurance plans, as well as Medicaid. We’re committed to making ketamine therapy accessible to everyone who needs it, and our program consists of high-quality care at an affordable price.
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature
Treatment-resistant depression: therapeutic trends, challenges, and future directions - PMC
Pharmacotherapy of Anxiety Disorders: Current and Emerging Treatment Options - PMC
Ketamine - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
Anxiety Disorders - Facts & Statistics
