Alright, so folks been askin’ me about this ketamine stuff for freakin’ out – you know, anxiety. Honestly, I ain’t no doctor, just a dude who tried some things and kept notes. Figured I’d lay out exactly what happened when I gave this a shot.
The First Go – Skeptic Mode On
Saw some talk online and chatted with my doc. Place looked kinda… clinical? Clean chairs, weird art, smelled like hand sanitizer. Docs made me sign a buncha papers, feelin’ like buyin’ a car. First dose, they put that needle in my arm. Felt weird quick. Like, the room started breathin’ or some junk? Didn’t feel scary exactly, just… detached. Like watchin’ my worries on TV kinda far away.
Took maybe… 40 minutes? Dunno, time got slippery. Afterwards, just felt wiped. Slept like a dang log.
Did It Even Work? Checkin’ Notes
Honestly? Next day, things felt… quieter? Not like magic. More like somebody turned down the volume knob on that constant background buzzing in my head. My usual “OMG, did I lock the door?!” loop was shorter, easier to shove aside. Lasted maybe 3 days, that lighter feeling. Then the old static started creepin’ back.
- Treatment 1: Weird floaty head thing during. Next 3 days – noticeably less tight in the chest.
- Treatment 2 (a week later): Felt less weird during, kinda used to it. That quiet feelin’ lasted closer to 4 days. Felt like I could actually sit still without my brain yellin’.
- Treatment 3: Went in actually wantin it. Felt like a reset button got hit. That peace stuck around almost 5 days.
Kinda Sorta Figurin’ It Out
Look, this ain’t no magic pill. Point blank. By that third session though? The “how fast” part became clearer:
- Kicks in DURING the drip: Yep, felt different right there in the chair. That floaty, detached thing? Seems like part of the process. Weirdly calm weirdness.
- Real Relief Hits AFTER: The good part – that quiet brain – started peeking through maybe a few hours later for me. Solidly kicked in the next day.
- It Fades (At First): Yeah, that lighter feelin’ dipped after a few days. Docs said that was normal early on. Needed that repeat hit, kinda stackin’ the good stuff.
- Builds Up?: By session 3, it felt like the relief hung around longer. Docs yammered ’bout “cumulative effect.” Fancy talk for maybe your brain remembers to chill out a bit better each time?
Whole damn thing takes commitment. Driving there, sittin’ for hours, feelin’ loopy afterwards. Costs a damn fortune. Insurance folks? Laughed me right outta the room. Plus, had that stupid court case with my cousin blowin’ up stress level mid-way. Pissed me right off.
Bottom Line? Manage Yer Expectations
So, how fast for anxiety? My personal takeaway:
- Fast Part: You feel somethin’ during the infusion. Might feel kinda strange, kinda calming.
- Slower Part: The real “oh damn, my brain isn’t tryin’ to murder me today” feeling? For me, it settled in proper-like the next day. That’s when I’d wake up and notice the difference.
- Kinda Sneaky Part: It felt strongest day after, then slowly faded over maybe 3-5 days initially. Needed a few rounds to get that relief to stick longer.
Was it a miracle? Nah. But after session 3? Yeah, that constant background noise of worry? Got noticeably dimmer. Ain’t perfect, but gives ya a break. Hope this ramble helped somehow. Ask away if ya want.