Support for Ketamine Treatment: A Guide for Family and Friends

It’s common for family and friends to have limited knowledge about how ketamine is used to address mental health issues. As a ketamine assisted psychotherapist, I’ve written this article to provide guidance for supporting your loved one through their treatment process.

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that helps patients enter a dream-like state, allowing them to connect with their ‘inner healer’ and activate the brain’s ability to ‘rewire’ which is known as neuroplasticity. This opens the door for valuable insights and deep emotional healing from mental health struggles like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. For further information about how ketamine works, please check out Keta Medical Center’s blog which offers more in-depth articles.

Post-Ketamine Session Care

Immediately after a ketamine session, patients may feel groggy or experience mild physical and mental impairment. They may need assistance with walking, as well as help getting in and out of cars or public transportation while they take time to reorient themselves. Family members and friends are welcome to accompany the patient to our offices. Most people sit and wait in our comfortable lobbies until the ketamine session ends but if the patient prefers to have a familiar face in the treatment room for additional support- that is perfectly fine.

If you are in regular contact with someone undergoing this treatment, please be aware that they may be in a more vulnerable state as they explore unresolved issues. Some patients may be extremely tired after treatment while others may feel a surge of energy. Some may experience immediate emotional relief or a type of spiritual transcendence that fosters a sense of inner peace. Others may respond differently and uncover darker thoughts or repressed memories related to trauma. Please be aware that more challenging intense reactions should still be considered a beneficial aspect of the healing process.

Encouraging Healing Through Challenges

We encourage patients to lean in to any and all material coming up because there is no such thing as a ‘bad trip’. The medicine loosens ego defenses and allows people to more easily access sensitive issues without getting overwhelmed. The subconscious mind will only reveal what the patient is ready to see so triggering experiences are actually a positive sign that the medicine is working. It is just highlighting the most pressing issues to talk about in therapy. Therefore, patients should approach the medicine with an open and curious mindset that enhances the treatment’s effectiveness.

Each person’s experience in the altered state is unique, and responses can vary from session to session. But everyone can be assured that our medically supervised offices are safe settings to just ‘let go’ and trust the process.

How to Offer Your Loved One Support

It is important to follow the patient’s cues and offer support in a gentle and respectful manner. They may or may not feel like talking, eating, or sleeping, and the best approach is to honor their needs without pressuring them.

If they do want to share about the altered state of the ketamine journey, you can play a major role with active listening. You don’t need to problem solve or offer advice, just being present to listen will help them navigate the post-session experience.

Simple reflective, compassionate and reassuring phrases can be incredibly comforting.

• “Sounds like that was a really impactful experience”
• “I’m here for you in whatever ways you need me to be”
• “You’re in a safe place” or “You are loved and appreciated”
• “I’m proud of you for taking such courageous steps in your healing journey”
• “Is there anything I can do to better support you during this time?”

It’s also important to remember that ketamine helps patients access their inner world, and they may appreciate time for quiet introspection and journaling. In that case, it’s best to respect boundaries and avoid conflict. Be mindful not to initiate tense conversation topics and do your best to help create a calm atmosphere.

Please realize that being a trusted and supportive sounding board is an extremely vital role but it is different from the responsibilities of a professionally trained therapist. Hopefully your loved one has an existing relationship with a mental health provider who they can have an appointment with a day or two after their ketamine treatment. If not, they are welcome to utilize our services for integration KAP sessions.

Encourage Self-Care

In the hours following a session, encourage your loved one to engage in any kind of gentle, self-care that brings them joy. Relaxing or creative activities- such as art, music, cooking, time in nature, reading, or simply resting – can help them integrate the experience in a positive way. Journaling is also an excellent action step to capture significant aspects of the ketamine journey.

Patients should avoid overstimulation (such as returning to work, attending parties or drinking alcohol), and unnecessary distractions (like excess TV watching or scrolling on social media). During this neuroplastic window, it is important to foster feelings of self-love, compassion, and kindness which will help maximize the benefits.

In the Days/Weeks Following Ketamine Treatment

 

Navigating Change in Close Relationships

The individual has chosen ketamine treatments because they are seeking emotional relief and meaningful change. While we all want positive transformation for those we care about, unexpected interactions can evoke mixed emotions. It is important to allow your loved one the space to freely express their thoughts and feelings without judgement.

Healing takes time but as the patient’s depression lifts or anxiety dissipates, they may no longer require the same level of support. Evolving with more insight and a new independent way of being can create shifting relationship dynamics that may feel unsettling. It is normal for transitional times to be uncomfortable so just try and be patient with the adjustment period. Ideally, you are able to trust the process with compassion and optimism, allowing new ways of being to unfold in a safe and respectful way.

Big Change is the Goal

Patients may have come to treatment feeling stuck and in time ketamine can help unlock powerful realizations, giving individuals a renewed motivation to directly address struggles. Patients often achieve greater self awareness, the flexibility to reframe old narratives, the clarity to release negative thoughts patterns and the confidence to more easily embrace a healthier mindset. These breakthroughs translate to positive change- which is an opportunity for friends and family members to be supportive and celebrate the participant’s progress.

What’s the Bottom Line?

Ketamine treatments can significantly accelerate personal growth by stimulating shifts towards a healthier, more empowered mindset. The neuroplastic power of ketamine invokes profound insights with new thoughts, new feelings, and new behaviors that make deep transformation possible. Although the healing process may present challenges, it can ultimately lead to lasting emotional relief for the patient—and a ripple effect of positivity for those who love and support them.

Ready to Learn More about Ketamine?

Whether this guide was helpful for you or someone close to you, our caring medical team is happy to provide more information. You are welcome to contact us to answer any questions about the treatment process at Keta Medical Center.