Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects 11-20% of all veterans, but the condition isn’t limited to those who experienced combat duty. It turns out that 8% of all adults have PTSD at some point during their lifetime. Patrick Oliver, MD, at MindPeace Clinics in Richmond, Arlington, and Norfolk, Virginia and Washington, D.C., specializes in ketamine infusion therapy for patients with PTSD. Ketamine can quickly relieve your symptoms, even when conservative treatments fail to help. To learn if you’re a good candidate for PTSD, call one of the offices or schedule an appointment online today.
PTSD occurs after a traumatic or dangerous event. You may develop PTSD after you directly experience the event, witness it, or learn that a friend or family member lived through the trauma.
The types of trauma that frequently cause PTSD include:
Anyone who goes through a traumatic event has feelings of fear or anxiety that last for a short time. When you have PTSD, your symptoms last longer than a month.
PTSD causes significant anxiety and other symptoms that interfere with daily life. In addition to anxiety, you may:
Have flashbacks or dreams about the event
The recurring symptoms of PTSD are associated with a high rate of disability, making it hard to hold down a job or have a social life.
Mental health professionals often prescribe medications to treat the symptoms associated with PTSD, such as depression. You may also receive psychotherapy to help you deal with your memories and emotions.
Unfortunately, it’s estimated that 33% of patients don’t improve with conventional treatments. Dr. Oliver offers the option of ketamine infusion therapy for patients whose PTSD symptoms persist.
At its normal dose, ketamine is used for anesthesia during surgery. When you receive a sub-anesthetic dose, ketamine can effectively treat PTSD, as well as mental health conditions that accompany PTSD, such as depression and anxiety.
Ketamine normalizes levels of a brain chemical called glutamate that regulates the stress and anxiety caused by PTSD. The type of ongoing stress caused by PTSD leads to impaired nerve communication. Ketamine can repair that problem, which, in turn, helps relieve your symptoms.
Dr. Oliver administers ketamine therapy in the office using an intravenous (IV) infusion. You can simply relax while your heart rate and blood pressure are continuously monitored by the team.
To achieve optimal results, you need a series of sessions, typically six infusions, over two to three weeks. You may need occasional maintenance sessions, depending on how long your results last.
If you need help with PTSD, call MindPeace Clinics or schedule an initial consultation online.
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