How Ketamine Feels: A Smart Patient's Guide to Ketamine Therapy
March 2, 2022
If you're here, you might be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure.
Maybe you've been trying to cope with anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition and you're wondering if medication could help. Or maybe you're already taking psychiatric medications and they aren't helping much, so you're curious about doing Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) instead.
Don’t worry, we’ve walked alongside many people asking the very same thing. You don’t need to figure it all out on your own. We’re here to help.
Here are some common situations where medication can make a real difference:
If everyday life feels nearly impossible getting out of bed, going to work, taking care of loved ones, medication might be worth exploring.
During panic attacks, severe anxiety, or thoughts of self-harm, medication can offer short-term relief that gives you space to stabilize and begin healing.
Some mental health conditions don’t just benefit from medication. In many cases, they require it for meaningful, sustainable progress.
ADHD is one of the most responsive conditions to psychiatric medications. Both stimulant and non-stimulant options can significantly improve attention, focus, emotional regulation, and everyday functioning. While lifestyle modifications like sleep hygiene, exercise, and structure are important, most people with ADHD need medication to avoid serious issues such as academic and job difficulties, impulsive accidents, or increased risk of addiction. ADHD medications are often a lifelong support. People generally thrive when they remain on them long term. It is sad to see how many patients struggle with unmanaged ADHD because they are afraid to take a medication. There is no evidence that taking stimulant ADHD medications is bad for the brain. As long as ADHD medications are not dosed too high to the point that a patient has high heart rate or blood pressure issues, they are also not damaging to the heart. It is better for a patient with ADHD to take medications than not too in the vast majority of cases for a multitude of reasons.
For individuals with bipolar disorder, mood stabilizers are essential and usually required for life. Antidepressants alone are not only ineffective but can be dangerous by triggering manic or mixed episodes. Even therapy, while helpful, cannot control the biological mood cycling that defines bipolar disorder. Untreated mania can actually be neurotoxic, leading to long-term brain changes and increased functional decline. Stabilizing mood is not optional, it’s a foundation for health and safety.
SSRIs are commonly prescribed for depression and anxiety, especially in severe or crisis situations. They can play a key role in stabilizing symptoms and preventing relapse. However, they are not usually intended for lifelong use. Long-term SSRI use may come with side effects like emotional blunting, sexual dysfunction, and cognitive decline.
Benzodiazepines Should Be Used Sparingly and Strategically
Medications like Xanax, Ativan, or Klonopin can offer quick relief during intense panic attacks or periods of severe anxiety. However, frequent or long-term use increases the risk of dependence, withdrawal difficulty, and cognitive issues. That said, a low-dose, short-term, as-needed approach may still be appropriate in certain cases, such as panic disorder. There is some evidence that Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy may also reduce withdrawal discomfort and make tapering off benzodiazepines more manageable.
When you meet with our therapists, they will assess whether you may be living with one of these conditions and help you explore whether medication should be part of your long-term plan, or whether it could be tapered in the future after KAP.
KAP is not a replacement for all psychiatric medications. However, it can be a powerful tool when traditional approaches haven’t provided enough relief.
Some people pursue KAP with the hope of getting off psychiatric medications. This is sometimes possible, but there are important exceptions. People with bipolar disorder typically need to remain on mood stabilizers long term, and people with ADHD generally require ongoing medication in addition to lifestyle interventions.
We do not usually make changes to medications until a full KAP series has been completed, and the patient is showing clear and consistent improvement. When the time feels right, we collaborate with your psychiatrist or prescribing provider to make decisions together. If the current medication plan isn’t working well or tapering becomes a possibility, we ensure everyone is on the same team and acting with your best interest in mind.
You may not need or want medication and that’s completely valid. Many people heal in other ways:
If your symptoms stem from a breakup, job stress, grief, or a difficult season in life, therapy and support may help you navigate through it without medication.
If you’re seeing progress with CBT, DBT, mindfulness, or other therapeutic approaches, it’s perfectly reasonable to keep going in that direction. Medication is not required unless you begin feeling stuck again later.
Improving sleep, diet, movement, and relationships can have a powerful impact on mental health. Some people notice significant relief as these factors fall into place.
Having close, supportive relationships with friends, family, or community can be incredibly protective. You don’t have to do this alone, and sometimes that connection is more powerful than any prescription.
When you come to us, we won’t just hand you a prescription. We sit down, listen deeply, and make a plan together based on:
If you begin medication or KAP, we’ll follow your progress closely and adapt as needed. Nothing is rushed or permanent.
It’s completely normal to feel unsure about psychiatric medications. Here are a few of the concerns we hear most often:
“Will it change who I am?”
The goal of treatment is not to dull who you are. It’s to help you reconnect with yourself. Most people feel more like themselves once their symptoms are under control.
“What if there are side effects?”
We always begin with the lowest effective dose and monitor your response closely. If something doesn’t feel right, we’ll make adjustments. You are never stuck.
“Will I have to take it forever?”
That depends on your diagnosis and how your brain responds. For some conditions like ADHD and bipolar disorder medications are usually a long-term part of care. People with these diagnoses tend to have safer, more fulfilling lives when they stay on their medications. For example, untreated ADHD can lead to impulsive decision-making, car accidents, job loss, and substance use disorders. Untreated bipolar disorder increases the risk of recurring manic episodes and long-term cognitive harm.
Other medications, like SSRIs and benzodiazepines, may be used temporarily. If your goal is to reduce or eliminate medications through Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, that may be possible. However, this is unlikely in the case of ADHD or bipolar disorder, where medication is often essential.
“What if it doesn’t work?”
That’s okay. Finding the right medication and dosage can take time. We’re here to support you through that process and help you explore alternatives if needed.
We don’t believe in the idea that taking a pill or just administering ketamine to someone is the whole solution. Our goal is to create a healing plan that honors your values and supports your whole self.
Whether medication is part of your journey or not, our focus is on helping you finally feel better, and stay better. You don't have to figure this out on your own.
Ready to talk it through?
📞 Call us at 1 (833) 313-2512
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