ANXIETY

Anxiety is a highly prevalent, serious mental health disorder that can affect one's responses to daily life making it a challenge to complete activities. There are several different types of anxiety disorders including agoraphobia, panic disorder, specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, OCD and separation anxiety disorder. Each has their own nuances and identifying and understanding these differences can be critical in in treatment. Untreated anxiety often triggers episodes of depression, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, chronic pain, headaches, digestive issues and poor quality of life. Common symptoms include nervousness, sense of impending danger or doom, trouble concentrating, sleep difficulty, and increased heartrate. 

Traditional treatments usually involve oral antidepressants, buspirone, gabapentin, and in some cases antipsychotic medications. Typically, if someone does not respond to the first trial of an antidepressant, chances of controlling the anxiety fall off with each additional oral antidepressant trial. 

Ketamine treatment for anxiety has a faster onset of symptom relief than traditional oral antidepressants and does not have the same risk profile. Ketamine treatment for anxiety allows for a shift in perception on issues that trigger this condition. Ketamine "rewires" the brain to react in a calmer and more peaceful state-of-mind. 

Research shows that ketamine treatment for anxiety is a safe and effective alternative. It acts by rapidly acting on glutamate-a neurotransmitter that is involved in memory, learning, mood regulation and anxiety regulation