Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) can feel like an overwhelming storm that refuses to pass. For people living with the condition, the emotional scars left by prolonged trauma may bring flashbacks, anxiety, emotional numbness, and a constant sense of being on edge. Traditional treatments, like talk therapy and antidepressants, don’t always provide the relief patients desperately need. But what if there’s another way to find healing? That’s where ketamine for complex PTSD comes into the conversation – a treatment offering hope to those who’ve felt stuck for far too long. What Is Ketamine? Ketamine has been used as a medical anesthetic since the 1960s. It’s a fast-acting medication originally developed to ease pain and sedate patients during surgery. Over time, researchers discovered that ketamine had an unexpected benefit: It could rapidly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, even in people who hadn’t responded to other treatments. Today, ketamine is making waves in mental health care...
An intrusive thought is an unwelcome, involuntary thought, image, or unpleasant idea that may become an obsession, is upsetting or distressing, and can feel difficult to manage or eliminate. (source: Wikipedia ) Common examples of intrusive thoughts include unwanted, intrusive thoughts about the safety of oneself or others, causing distress, and thoughts of performing dangerous actions. These thoughts may lead to negative behaviors, which may increase vulnerability to future experiences of trauma. Intrusive thoughts have been linked to recent life stress, sleep deprivation, prior anxiety, and childhood abuse. The state of depression , suicidal ideation, or anxiety may also be caused by the release of stress hormones. Analysis of studies in subjects who had experienced prolonged periods of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found that intrusive thoughts and flashbacks are associated with greater than 50% of symptoms, especially memory fragmentation. Intrusive thoughts often occur ...