Ketamine infusion therapy is quickly gaining traction as a legitimate treatment for certain mental health conditions. Not only are ketamine treatments for depression, anxiety, and PTSD safe and reliable, but they can offer long-term relief very rapidly in as little as one to two infusions.
Ketamine is a drug that has been used as a horse tranquilizer since the 1960s. It was first developed as an anesthetic for humans in 1965 by Parke-Davis Laboratories. Since then, it has been used to treat everything from jitteriness after surgery to pain associated with fibromyalgia to depression or anxiety disorders. The drug is now also being studied for its potential use as a treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Because ketamine’s effects are still being studied, many doctors are hesitant to recommend it for treating mental health issues like depression or anxiety. However, researchers have found that when administered intravenously over approximately one hour—and sometimes less than an hour—ketamine can help alleviate symptoms of these conditions without causing serious side effects or requiring any other medications.
Ketamine infusion therapy is one of the most promising treatments for a wide range of conditions. However, while the role of psychedelics in medicine is showing promising growth, patients looking to receive these treatments should always know exactly what to expect and be ready when the time comes. The answer to this, for many, is meditation.
Meditation has been used for centuries to help calm the mind and body, and it can be used in conjunction with ketamine infusion therapy as part of a pre-meditated approach. Meditation can help structure the experience of receiving ketamine infusion therapy by creating a setting that reduces stress before you begin treatment.
The link between ketamine and meditation is rather complex. In fact, they’re not so much “linked” as they are “intertwined.” Both have been shown to have similar effects on brain activity; however, ketamine has been shown to increase levels of alpha waves (a type of brain wave) while meditation decreases them (source). In fact, many studies suggest that both practices induce similar changes in brain activity (1).
It’s also important to note that there’s no evidence that wearing headphones or listening/reading during meditation will increase or decrease your chance of experiencing any kind of psychedelic effects (source).
Set and Setting
Set and setting refer to the internal and external factors that influence any psychedelic experience. It’s crucial to be aware of this before receiving any sort of psychedelic treatment, as this can have a profound effect on how you experience the drug.
The guidebook The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead, first introduced in 1964, outlines two key components of set and setting: an appropriate dosage of psychedelic substance and a comfortable environment.
Ketamine infusion therapy involves infusing the drug through a drip and then monitoring the patient’s response. This can take place in a hospital or clinic, but it is also possible in a private setting. In either case, there are several factors that need to be taken into account when administering this treatment.
The first factor is the “setting.” The patient’s environment and behavior are important to consider as well because they can affect how you choose to administer ketamine. On top of this, the weather can also play a role—it may be hot outside or cold, for example—and certain cultures may have different attitudes about what constitutes appropriate behavior during treatment (for example, interrupting someone while they’re talking).
The second factor is the “set” of the individual receiving treatment; this includes their mood, personality traits and beliefs, perceptions of reality, and other’s perceptions of them (especially if they’re receiving care at home rather than in an institution), and so on.
In the first session of any psychedelic treatment, it’s likely that your therapist will ask you to meditate. If this is not a regular part of your routine, it can be a bit intimidating. We’ve all been there—you want to do what you’re supposed to do, but you don’t know how or where to begin. Meditation is easy. The hard part is figuring out how to do it. You don’t have to be an expert or even use special equipment or props. You just need a few minutes every day for a month or so and some insight into what works for you.
The goal of meditation is simple: It’s about being present in the moment and letting go of worrying about things that may not even happen right now (or ever). That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t plan ahead or think about our goals—it just means we should focus on doing those things right now instead of worrying about them when they may not happen at all yet.
Meditation with DreamWork helps you relax and feel more comfortable in your own skin, helping you understand your emotions better to manage them when they arise — so you stay calmer overall.
Meditation for KETAMINE Treatment
Meditation is a great way to calm down, relax and calm your mind. In fact, it’s been scientifically proven to do just that!
So whether you’re looking for an alternative to medications like ketamine for anxiety or depression, or are just interested in learning some new techniques to help you get there, meditation is an excellent way to start.
If you’re not sure how to meditate, don’t worry! There are many different ways of practicing mindfulness and meditation. For example, meditation could be as simple as sitting still and focusing on your breath or your thoughts. Or it could be more complex: if you’re more comfortable with that kind of thing, try using guided imagery (imagining yourself in a place away from stress) or even breathing exercises (like counting your breaths).
The point is that there are lots of ways to practice mindfulness—and all of them can make a difference in your life!
Ketamine infusion therapy is a powerful and effective treatment for depression. However, it can be very unsettling to receive the drug, because it causes some people to feel detached and even disconnected from their bodies. Meditation has been shown to help calm the mind and body during this process, as well as improve overall well-being.
One of the most popular types of meditation is mindfulness meditation, which involves sitting comfortably with your eyes closed and focusing on breathing. You can also listen to guided meditations or read inspiring quotes from figures like Buddha or Shakespeare when you’re feeling particularly stressed out. The goal is not to focus on any particular activity but rather to simply bring your mind’s attention back to the present moment without drifting into concerns about the past or future.
Mindfulness meditation is one of many techniques that can be used on their own, or in classes such as yoga or qi gong. Whichever method you choose, meditation is a reliable way to set a real intention before receiving treatments such as ketamine infusion therapy and should be considered beforehand.
The process of Ketamine Infusion Therapy
In the past, ketamine infusion therapy was used as an emergency treatment for people suffering from severe depression. However, ketamine is now being used as a pre-hospital treatment for patients with suicidal ideation, and it can help them to relax in a meditative state.
If you are considering using ketamine infusion therapy, you should be aware that this treatment can induce dissociation. This dissociation will make you feel disconnected from your surroundings and may cause you to lose touch with reality. You might even experience hallucinations or delusions.
Meditation can help prepare patients for the dissociative state induced by ketamine infusion therapy so that they can more easily accept the experience and interpret what they are experiencing while undergoing treatment. They also may be able to tolerate the experience more easily because they have learned how to relax their minds before they receive their infusions of ketamine.
If you are interested in learning more about meditation or if you would like to learn how it could help prepare you for receiving your first infusion of ketamine, please contact us at DreamWork today!
As the founder and chief operating officer of DreamWork, I’ve worked with hundreds of patients over the past two decades. I’ve seen firsthand how important a setting can be in producing a valuable, effective experience.
When you’re experiencing depression or mental health issues, you need to feel safe and comfortable. That’s why we’re dedicated to creating a space where all patients receive treatments in a comfortable, safe environment.
