If you've been struggling with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) long-term, you probably feel like you've tried everything. You may have spent hours in therapy and tried multiple medications, without feeling any sustained relief. The constant hypervigilance, intrusive memories, and emotional numbness can make everyday life feel impossible.

You're not alone - PTSD is a complex, challenging condition to treat. But there is hope: ketamine therapy works in a completely different way than conventional medications, and is scientifically proven to help people with PTSD, often when other treatments haven't worked. Let's explore how ketamine therapy can help you break free from the grip of trauma and reclaim your life.

PTSD: When Your Brain Gets Stuck in Trauma Mode

Post-traumatic stress disorder can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, though many people who experience trauma don't develop PTSD. While it's natural to feel distress after trauma, some individuals find these difficulties persist or intensity over time.  PTSD occurs when your brain remains stuck in a heightened state of alertness, making it difficult to move past the trauma. For those experiencing ongoing challenges related to trauma exposure, this can lead to symptoms like:

• Intrusive thoughts and flashbacks that bring the trauma back as if it were happening again
• Avoidance behaviors to steer clear of anything that reminds you of the trauma
• Hypervigilance and anxiety that make it difficult to relax or feel safe
• Emotional numbness that disconnects you from loved ones and daily life

PTSD isn't just psychological - it physically changes your brain.[1] Trauma can negatively impact key brain structures including the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, which together regulate emotional processing, memory formation and retrieval, social functioning, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities. These widespread brain changes are why PTSD can feel so impossible to overcome through willpower alone.

Why Traditional PTSD Treatments Don't Always Work

Conventional treatments for PTSD typically include:

• SSRIs like sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil) - While these can help some people, studies show only about 60% experience meaningful symptom relief, and fewer than 30% achieve full remission.[2] They also take 4-8 weeks to start working.
• Trauma-focused therapy - Approaches like Cognitive Processing Therapy and EMDR can be effective, especially those with complex or chronic PTSD. However, 30-50% of patients do not benefit sufficiently [3] 

The challenge with these approaches often comes down to timing and intensity. When someone's distress reaches overwhelming levels (like a house fire), conventional treatments (like a squirt gun) may be insufficient on their own. This doesn't mean conventional treatments don't work—they're just more effective when the emotional intensity is more manageable.

For the 30-50% of people who don't respond to these first-line treatments alone, the search for relief can feel hopeless. This is where ketamine therapy offers a valuable addition to treatment.

Ketamine can quickly reduce the intensity of PTSD symptoms, creating a window where conventional treatments can work more effectively. This is why Noma's approach includes medication optimization alongside ketamine—we don't just give ketamine, but create conditions where your existing or adjusted medications can provide better long-term support.

How Ketamine Therapy Works for PTSD

Ketamine is fundamentally different from conventional PTSD medications. The effectiveness of ketamine for PTSD has been demonstrated in several randomized controlled trials, offering hope for those who haven't responded to standard treatments. Here's what makes it so effective:

1. Targets the Root Cause in Your Brain

Ketamine works on glutamate - a different brain chemical than what SSRIs target.[4] It interacts with NMDA receptors, which leads to a glutamate surge that helps your brain form new neural connections (neuroplasticity), which is crucial for healing from trauma.

Ketamine begins to activate pathways in parts of your brain that have shown diminished activity due to trauma. These regions aren't completely inactive, but trauma and chronic stress create "noise" through stress hormones like cortisol, making neural transmission difficult. When ketamine helps these pathways function more effectively again, people typically experience relief and improvement.

Think of neuroplasticity like your brain's ability to restore communication in areas that have been underutilized due to trauma, allowing you to process experiences in healthier ways.

2. Rapid Relief from PTSD Symptoms

Unlike conventional treatments that take weeks or months, ketamine can provide relief in hours or days. This quick action can be life-changing when you're struggling with debilitating PTSD symptoms.

3. Calms Your Brain's Fear Center

PTSD causes your amygdala (involved in emotional processing, threat detection, and social behavior) to become dysregulated. Ketamine helps restore balance to this dysregulation,[5] reducing feelings of fear and anxiety that dominate PTSD. This allows you to feel safe again - often for the first time since your trauma.

4. Breaks Through Treatment Resistance

Ketamine has shown remarkable effectiveness for treatment-resistant PTSD. In one study, 67% of people with chronic PTSD experienced significant symptom reduction after just six ketamine treatments - even when other treatments had failed.[6] Research suggests that ketamine is particularly helpful for people experiencing PTSD, depression, and anxiety, as these challenges often overlap and share common roots. Rather than treating these as separate conditions, ketamine works on the brain in a way that helps with the full range of symptoms people experience.

The Ketamine Therapy Experience for PTSD

What to Expect During Treatment

At Noma, ketamine therapy for PTSD is administered as a rapid dissolve tablet (RDT) that dissolves under your tongue. Here's what the experience typically involves:

1. Pre-treatment preparation - Your guide will help you set intentions and create a comfortable environment
2. The dosing session - Lasting about 30-60 minutes, you may experience subtle shifts in perception. Noma uses non-dissociative dosing that provides therapeutic benefits while minimizing intense effects.
3. Integration therapy - Following each dose, you'll work with your therapist to process insights and reinforce positive changes

Many people with PTSD report that ketamine creates a sense of emotional distance from traumatic memories - allowing them to process these experiences without being overwhelmed by fear and anxiety.

How It Feels: A Different Kind of Treatment

During ketamine treatment, you might experience:

• A feeling of emotional detachment that allows you to examine traumatic memories without being overwhelmed
• Enhanced perspective that helps you see your experiences differently
• A sense of calm and safety that may have been elusive since your trauma
• Increased emotional openness that can help you reconnect with yourself and others

"For me personally, I felt there was no way out of the hole I was in. The Noma program showed me it's possible to dig myself out," shares E.B., a Noma Therapy patient.

The Noma Approach: Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD

At Noma, we don't just offer ketamine - we provide Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), which combines ketamine's biological benefits with expert trauma-informed therapy. This integrated approach is critical for lasting results.

Why Combination Treatment Works Better

Research shows that ketamine alone provides temporary relief, but when combined with therapy, the benefits last much longer. In one study, KAP produced sustained reductions in PTSD symptoms for up to 5 months after treatment.[7] The proper doses of ketamine, administered at strategic intervals, create optimal conditions for processing traumatic memories and significantly reducing symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder PTSD.

Our four-month program includes:

• 8 guided ketamine dosing sessions strategically spaced to maximize neuroplasticity
• One-on-one therapy sessions with trauma-informed therapists
• Medication management to optimize any existing medications
• Integration support to help you apply insights to daily life

Learn more about our unique approach in our article on What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

The Convenience of At-Home Treatment for PTSD

For people with PTSD - especially those experiencing hypervigilance or anxiety in unfamiliar environments - receiving treatment at home can be transformative. Our virtual program allows you to:

• Remain in your safe, comfortable space during treatment
• Avoid the stress of travel and unfamiliar clinical settings
• Schedule sessions at convenient times
• Have more control over your treatment environment

This approach is particularly beneficial for those with PTSD, as leaving home and entering new environments can trigger symptoms or create additional anxiety.

Results You Can Expect: Breaking Free from PTSD

Ketamine therapy can help with all types of PTSD, including complex PTSD from childhood trauma, chronic PTSD that hasn't improved over time, and PTSD with co-occurring depression or anxiety.

Most patients notice symptom improvements after their first or second ketamine session, with benefits like:

• Reduced intrusive thoughts and flashbacks
• Decreased hypervigilance and anxiety
• Improved sleep and concentration
• Greater emotional connection with loved ones
• Enhanced ability to engage in therapy

In our Affordable Ketamine Treatment article, you can learn more about how we make this breakthrough treatment accessible.

Is Ketamine Therapy Right for Your PTSD?

Ketamine therapy may be particularly beneficial if:

• You've tried SSRIs or other medications without adequate relief
• Traditional therapy hasn't fully addressed your symptoms
• Your PTSD is complicated by depression or anxiety
• You need relief more quickly than conventional treatments can provide
• You struggle with the side effects of traditional medications

Our program is covered by most major insurance plans including Medicaid, with ketamine doses starting at just $90 each. This makes our treatment not only effective but also affordable.

Getting Started with Ketamine Therapy for PTSD

Recovery from PTSD is possible, even if you've been struggling for years. Ketamine therapy offers a different pathway to healing - one that works with your brain's natural ability to adapt and change.

At Noma, we'll conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine if ketamine therapy is right for you, then create a personalized treatment plan addressing your specific PTSD symptoms and history.

Ready to take the next step toward freedom from PTSD? Schedule a free consultation to learn how our ketamine therapy program can help you break free from trauma and reclaim your life.

This article has been medically reviewed and approved by Thomas Kim, MD, MPH, underscoring our commitment to providing accurate, up-to-date, and reliable information.

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