KETAMINE TREATMENTS
How Ketamine Infusion Helps Suicidal Ideation Treatment
Many people suffering from different mental illnesses like depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, etc. can have recurrent suicidal ideations that can lead them to cause self-harm, or tragically, even suicide. Feeling suicidal does not mean you are weak, crazy, or flawed or you have any character defect. It only means that you are experiencing pain more than you can cope with at a given moment. The pain seems unbearable, overwhelming, and permanent during that phase but with support and time, you can overcome this pain and the suicidal thoughts will eventually pass.
What are Suicidal Ideations?
Suicidal ideations refer to thinking or planning about ending one own’s life. The thoughts can range from fleeting consideration to a detailed plan of suicide but do not include the actual act of it. Suicide is especially dreadful because it is a preventable death. It can be considered as a culmination of a complex combination of physical, mental, genetic, and environmental factors, and it is particularly likely to strike during phases of family, individual and/or socioeconomic calamities associated with shame and loss. While many people who experience suicidal thoughts do not attempt it, some may actually do. It is important to recognize the signs that may indicate if a person is experiencing suicidal ideations.
These signs include:
Feeling or appearing trapped and hopeless about a situation
Increased use of abusive substances
Having severe mood swings
Withdrawing from family and friends and preferring to be left alone
Engaging in risky and self-destructive activities and behaviors
Giving away assets or getting affairs in order without any obvious reason
Having an abnormal preoccupation with violence, death or suicide
Getting means that can take life such as guns, knives, medications, etc.
Saying goodbye to others
Treatment Plans and Options
Treating suicidal ideations can be complicated due to the fact that certain medications have been actually linked to causing or worsening suicidal ideations in the patients. Therefore, alternative methods of treatment are considered to mitigate risk of suicide.
These methods include:
- Antidepressant, anti-anxiety, antipsychotic medications under strict observation
- Psychotherapies
- Hospitalization
- Outpatient treatment
- Healthy lifestyle modifications
- Ketamine infusion therapy
KETAMINE INFUSION THERAPY
Ketamine infusion offers a promising alternative for people who aren’t seeing much improvement from existing treatment options for suicidal thoughts. It is far more effective in easing suicidal thoughts than the traditional medications. A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry showed that ketamine helps alleviate suicidal thoughts in people with depression much faster than any other treatment modality that currently exists – within hours.
Furthermore, a single adjunctive ketamine infusion may remain effective for up to 6 weeks. Ketamine therapy ticks many useful boxes for treating several mental health conditions including suicidal ideations i.e. it acts fast, lasts for a longer period of time, and is a relatively safer option if administered properly. Patients who have undergone ketamine infusion therapy have reported speedy cessation of suicidal ideations and a significant reduction in depression and anxiety – conditions that usually coexist.
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