How Ketamine Works on the Brain

At its core, ketamine acts on key pathways in the brain to bring about positive changes in mood and behavior. Unlike traditional antidepressants, which may take weeks to show effects, ketamine works rapidly, often providing relief within hours.

Ketamine makes it easier for your brain to learn. It does this by softening the rigid pathways that your adult brain has relied on for years. This way, you can create new pathways based on beliefs you want to hold and behaviors you choose to have.

In a simplified explanation, ketamine interacts with the brain's neurotransmitter systems, particularly the glutamate system. By influencing receptors associated with learning and memory, ketamine helps create new connections and pathways. This process, generally known as neuroplasticity, makes it easier to learn.  It contributes to an increased sense of resilience and a positive shift in emotional well-being.

The neurological effects of ketamine have been linked to sustained improvements in emotional and behavioral states. This is attributed to the drug's ability to activate the neuronal pathway (the mTOR) that plays a role in synthesizing proteins crucial for optimal brain function.

Individuals undergoing ketamine therapy often report a lasting reduction in symptoms related to conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. This extended relief is a significant advantage, as it allows individuals to experience a meaningful and lasting improvement in their overall quality of life.

I have not forgotten than I have committed to sharing my own personal experience with ketamine as I learn. As I write, I have had two dosing sessions. During both, I experienced a sense of oneness, and assurance that all is ok. That even includes the fact that I sometimes experience an overwhelming belief that all is definitely not ok. It’s ok to not be ok.

Since completing my sessions, my outlook on life has shifted. I’m much more open hearted, willing to take risks, and accepting of who I am. I couldn’t as for a better gift, and that’s why I want you to have access to it too.

Now, can I say with certainty that this is because of ketamine? Of course not. Determining cause and effect with certainty requires carefully structured scientific experiments. My experience is simply a human experience, a story that might interest you. I hope that it helps you decide if this is a route you want to explore.

If you want more information on how you can get started in using ketamine with me, click here.

If you’re interested in learning more about the science-y stuff, here are a few resources:

Yale Scientists Explain Ketamine (from Yale News)
Review of The Ketamine Papers: Science, Therapy, and Transformation (from MAPS)
Ketamine—50 years in use: from anesthesia to rapid antidepressant effects and neurobiological mechanisms (from Pharmacological Reports)