Lets Talk About Anxiety: What do we know and how can Ketamine be used in treatment?

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders reported among Americans. In recent studies it was estimated that out of the 40 million Americans that suffer from anxiety only 36.9% get help. (Anxiety and Depression Association of America).

Anxiety can manifest itself in many ways. So how does one know if they are experiencing anxiety and why is it important to seek help? Anxiety can look  and feel different for many people. All genders, races, and ages experience anxiety which contributes to the many ways anxiety presents itself.

Anxiety can affect how you are physically feeling. When one experiences anxiety, stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline may be released. Physical symptoms of anxiety can cause an increased heart rate, digestive issues, nausea, shortness of breath, sleep disruption, fatigue, dizziness, and many other symptoms.

There are many different factors that can contribute to anxiety. If you have experienced childhood trauma or chronic stressors in childhood. These experiences and memories can trigger anxiety in adulthood. Current problems or changes in life can also be a cause of anxiety. During the COVID-19 pandemic many people’s day to day lives changed. In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25%, according to a scientific brief released by the World Health Organization (WHO) today.

If you are experiencing a current physical health problem or depression you may also be at a higher risk of developing anxiety. When you are experiencing anxiety you may have racing thoughts, overthink, overanalyze situations, and have distorted thought patterns. This can be extremely disruptive to your daily life, relationships, and well-being. It is possible to live with anxiety. However, untreated anxiety has been linked to long term health problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

If you are experiencing anxiety, it is best to take action and get help. Mental health professionals are available to assist you in managing anxiety symptoms. Therapists can provide you with evidence based skills to cope with anxiety. Medical professionals are able to prescribe medications to help manage persistent anxiety symptoms.

How can Ketamine Therapy be Effective in Treating Anxiety?

Ketamine has a reputation of being used recreationally as an illicit substance. Today ketamine is widely used by doctors as an anesthetic. Recently studies have shown that ketamine can be helpful under medical supervision to treat a variety of mental health conditions. Several clinical studies suggest that ketamine has significant anxiolytic effects. Adults with major depressive disorder given a single ketamine infusion have shown significant reductions in comorbid anxiety symptoms. (Taylor, et al.).

Ketamine stands out among anti-anxiety medications in that it instantly activates glutamate production and allows faster results; patients practicing state this can result in quicker relief. Typical anxiety medications target serotonin and other brain chemicals first. Today specific anxiety relief drugs might take up to six weeks to work, Ketamine can begin acting within two hours. (Strong)

If you are interested in learning more about Ketamine therapy call a local Ketamine therapy provider today to see if you are eligible for treatment.

Sources

• Facts & Statistics: Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. Facts & Statistics | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. (n.d.). https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics
• Strong, R. (2022, August 16). Ketamine for anxiety: How it works, research, how to try it. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/ketamine-for-anxiety#how-it-works
• Taylor, J. H., Landeros-Weisenberger, A., Coughlin, C., Mulqueen, J., Johnson, J. A., Gabriel, D., Reed, M. O., Jakubovski, E., & Bloch, M. H. (2018).
• Ketamine for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 43(2), 325–333. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2017.194
• World Health Organization. (n.d.). Covid-19 pandemic triggers 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-covid-19-pandemic-triggers-25-increase-in-prevalence-of-anxiety-and-depression-worldwide