The Ketamine Experience: What Does Ketamine Feel Like?
It is normal and expected to have some apprehension when starting something new and life changing. Some of the most common things people report during a ketamine experience is the pleasant sensation of being in water, floating, or soaring in the air.
The Ketamine Experience: What Does Ketamine Feel Like?
Much like traveling to an unfamiliar destination or starting a new job, the process of undergoing a ketamine experience may be filled with mixed emotions. How am I going to feel? Where will I go? Will I be safe? These are just some of the few questions we are asked when someone is considering ketamine therapy as an option for treatment. It is normal and expected to have some apprehension when starting something new and life changing.
The ketamine experience is somewhat challenging to explain in words, although we hope to shed some light on what the ketamine experience may feel like for you. We will discuss some common themes that we have witnessed during treatment of countless patients. Let this serve as a guide to prepare you for your healing journey and hopefully ease any nervousness about embarking into the unknown.
Onset, duration, and aftereffects of ketamine
At Innerbloom Ketamine Therapy, we primarily use intravenous ketamine (IV). The onset of IV ketamine is approximately 3-4 minutes, and our treatment protocol involves a 45-minute infusion. Once the infusion ends, the effects do not wear off right away. Patients typically require an additional 5-10 minutes before they are ready to talk with us and begin the integration phase of our therapy process. Patients will often state that although they have a lot to say and are excited to share, finding the right words or articulating can be challenging immediately after an infusion. This is normal and it wears off quickly! The half-life of ketamine is approximately 3 hours, meaning 50% of the medicine is out of the body at that time.
Dissociation: the out-of-body experience
Ketamine is a dissociate anesthetic, although at low doses it is effectively used for the treatment of mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and PTSD. At these low doses, patients often report dissociation, with the sensation of separation from body and mind. Dissociation refers to an altered state of consciousness where a person may disconnect from their thoughts, feelings, memories, or even sense of identity/ego. What does dissociation feel like? Dissociation can be described much like the sensation of deep meditation, where one is able to be present in the moment and simply observe rather than analyze, criticize, or attempt to control. Dissociation often is described as a relaxing or freeing sensation.
What is a k-hole?
Let’s start off with a quick history lesson about the term “k-hole.” Ketamine has long been considered an instrumental, safe, and widely used medication in the field of medicine and anesthesia. Since 1985, Ketamine has been on The World Health Organization list of essential medications and is often used on the battlefield to help save countless lives of our beloved soldiers. Wounded soldiers during the Vietnam war were often given ketamine while waiting for medical relief, which was used to control pain and distress from traumatic injuries.
The benefit of ketamine is that is very rapid and does not cause respiratory depression or changes in other vital signs such as blood pressure. In efforts to protect wounded soldiers from enemy, they were hidden in holes dug in the ground, hence the term k-hole. K-hole refers to dissociation, which we have explained is a normal response to ketamine and is not something to fear or think of in a negative way.
What do people see and say about their ketamine experiences?
Some of the most common things people report during a ketamine experience is the pleasant sensation of being in water, floating, or soaring in the air. Imagery of nature including the forest, ocean, sky is typical. Some see color, while others see different shades of gray, white, and black. Familiar faces or loved ones also may appear during these experiences. Feelings that include love, compassion, gratitude, hope, and forgiveness are often shared among our patients.
One of our patients said it best: What has changed? More patience with my family, putting the phone down and being present. Less emotional attachment to uncertainty and work stress.
What do I do before, during, and after a ketamine experience?
Our protocol involves you sitting in a comfortable chair while wearing eye shades and a noise canceling headset with a special curated playlist that pairs well with the ketamine experience. Everybody’s ketamine experience is special and unique, although we have a few pointers before, during and after your therapy
Before
During
After
Final thoughts
We understand, anticipate, and welcome all the feelings and emotions that may arise from ketamine therapy. Innerbloom Ketamine Therapy offers a unique, safe, and comfortable healing experience. We hope this guide helps answer many of your questions and ease any apprehension about this transformative therapy.
While some infusions may feel meaningful and perhaps filled with insights, others may feel random. It’s important to understand that healing begins and continues after your infusions when neuroplasticity and neurogenesis takes place.
At Innerbloom Ketamine Therapy, our goal is to make each ketamine experience special and offer support while you become the best version of yourself.