Among the most commonly diagnosed mood disorders, depression has a way of showing up alongside most of the others. It weaves its way into so many disorders because it’s the response many people have to chronic illness, chronic discouragement…chronically feeling bad.
Symptoms of major depression include sadness or a lack of feeling, despair (or numbness), feelings of worthlessness and helplessness. Also feelings of guilt or pessimism, and loss of interest in things you used to enjoy. Not to mention poor sleep, change in eating patterns, and more. Like struggling to rub two thoughts together, because of poor cognition. Little or no energy…or motivation.
Major depressive episodes can also be accompanied by aches and pains. When they gets worse, they may include irritability, digestive problems, and thoughts of death or suicide.
Depression can follow childbirth, where it’s called postpartum depression. It can can be repeatedly triggered by a change in seasons, specifically the gloomy and cold months of winter, termed Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.
Bipolar disorder has extreme and painful mood swings, from the deepest pits of depression and despair, to the heights of elation, high energy, and euphoria, agitation and everywhere in between. The depressive episodes in bipolar disorder can last for days to years–and they are some of the most difficult to treat.
A person afflicted with bipolar disorder may also experience a mixture of symptoms. Things like elation, high energy, agitation, and rage, all at the same time, and may also feel low, worthless, and suicidal. This is particularly difficult…and may be diagnosed as mixed states. But only a psychiatrist can make that judgment.
Since 1965, depression treatment has included antidepressants and counseling. Early antidepressants have targeted receptors in the brain for neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Many believed that depression was caused by low levels of those neurotransmitters.
However, neuroscientists have learned that it’s not those neurotransmitters at the root of depression, but the inflammatory changes to the structures in the brain that support transmission of signals and communication throughout the brain that are far more responsible.
Things like stress, trauma… anxiety and depression…cause those structures to break down and not work as well. And when there aren’t enough of those structures to help transmit those signals …things get dark and quiet. And you feel sad …or just numb.
So…about the structures. The nerves in your brain, called neurons, have lots of branches that are connected to each other at synapses. Those branches can break, weaken, and thin out because of the ravages of stress and depression. Looks something like a forest after a fire.
All that broken debris must be cleaned away, and new fresh strong ones built in their place.
So what kind of treatment can do these things?
Ketamine, originally an anesthesia medication, has proven it’s safety in surgery and emergency settings for 50 years. And it’s earned its reputation as an extremely safe medication for almost any age.
But, there’s more. In the last 15 years, there’s been more and more evidence of IV ketamine treatment’s remarkable effectiveness with psychiatric mood and anxiety disorders. Chronic illnesses like depression, bipolar depression, PTSD, social anxiety and OCD and even isolated symptoms like suicidal thoughts.
Ketamine cleans away those broken branches and helps to build up new branches at a fast rate. And it enhances the formation of new synapses between neurons. It’s been described by the American Psychiatric Association as having rapid and robust antidepressant effects.
Nothing has ever been developed before that was so effective with depression and other mood disorders.
It’s the most exciting development in psychiatry of our lifetime.
But…it’s not for everyone. Still, ketamine treatment for depression is very effective for restoring the power to enjoy life for 80% of people with treatment-resistant depression, as well as for bipolar depression, PTSD, social anxiety, and OCD.
Another thing about ketamine that’s amazing. If you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, or thoughts about death and dying…. Ketamine treatment can stop them cold in 4 hours or less.
It’s a lifesaving medication, and it can transform your life, restoring your ability to enjoy .. your initiative … your hope.
If you have questions about IV Ketamine Treatment for depression, call us at 860.648.9755 or contact us.