Ketamine Infusions for PTSD Treatment In Alexandria, VA
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after someone has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event.
The symptoms of PTSD can be debilitating and include flashbacks, nightmares, trouble sleeping, irritability, hypervigilance, and avoidance of people or places that remind the individual of the trauma.
Why Ketamine?
Ketamine infusions have been shown to reduce symptom severity in individuals with chronic PTSD and the improvement is rapid and maintained for several weeks afterward.
This treatment may provide an alternative to current treatments such as antidepressants which are not always effective for this population. If you suffer from PTSD please contact us at (703) 844-0184 about ketamine infusions as an option for fast relief!
How Does Ketamine Help Treat PTSD?
A circuit in the brain involved with resilience as well as resistance to stress can be activated by ketamine. Research has indicated that ketamine can block NMDA-glutamate receptors in the brain.
Glutamate is a primary neurotransmitter and has a big effect on many regions of the nervous system. Overactivation of this particular neurotransmitter can cause depressive symptoms.
When ketamine blocks this neurotransmitter, it helps ease depression by recovering the balance in the glutamate neurotransmission pathway. Ketamine may also work by stimulating the regrowth of specific neurological connections.
What Causes PTSD?
PTSD is usually caused by going through (or occasionally, witnessing) a traumatic event that threatens serious injury or death. Medical science still can’t completely explain why people develop PTSD, but research indicates it may be a complicated mix of:
Stressful experiences
Family history of mental health disorders
Temperament
How your brain is regulating the hormones and chemicals in your body in response to stress
What Are The Symptoms Of PTSD?
The symptoms of PTSD generally start within a month of the original traumatic event, but in some cases may not appear until even years after the event. The symptoms tend to cause problems at school or work and in personal relationships, and also interfere with your daily life.
There are generally four types of PTSD symptoms: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative moods, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms may vary from time to time or person to person.
Intrusive Memories
Avoidance
Negative Moods
Changes in Physical & Emotional Reactions
What Are The Risk Factors Of PTSD?
Anyone who experienced or witnessed a traumatic event can develop PTSD. That said, there are some factors that may put a person at higher risk to develop PTSD.
- If the trauma is long-lasting or especially intense
- If they have experienced trauma early in life (such as childhood abuse)
- If they work a job that increases their risk of exposure to traumatic events (such as first responders)
- If they have previously had mental health or substance abuse problems
- If they lack a social support network of close friends and family
- If they have blood relatives with mental health disorders
Is Ketamine Treatment Right For You?
Are you ready to start living and loving life again? Have other medications and treatments failed to provide the relief you need? Then you might be a good candidate for our ketamine Infusions for PTSD treatment in Alexandria, VA.