Let's Talk Depression

Below is the story of Michael, a NeuroMend patient, whose life was changed drastically after he began ketamine infusions to treat his treatment-resistant depression. Below is his powerful testimonial; a story worth retelling for depression sufferers everywhere−to let you know that there is hope. 

“Last week I completed my sixth ketamine infusion at Neuromend Infusion Therapy in Lafayette, La.  I have been struggling with depression off and on my entire life.  The 7th grade was the first time I remember feeling uncomfortable, on the outside and not a "part of".  I also experienced horrible stomach aches almost daily.  The doctors never found anything wrong with me physically so they chalked it up as stress. I was athletic, had plenty friends, and lacked nothing as a child.  There was no cause that I could see. It would get better for a couple years then I would relapse into another depression.  This happened in 7th grade, 10th grade, then again as a freshman in college and would continue for my entire life. In high school I started self-medicating with alcohol and other drugs.  Until that in itself became problematic.

Table of Contents:

What is your habenula?

Why is it so important?

How do they know it is important?

How does this affect us in our daily life?

How can ketamine help?

What is your habenula?

Your habenula, sometimes referred to as the “Anti-reward System”, is a tiny area in the middle of your brain positioned between the thalamus and the stalk of the pineal gland.

The habenula regulates nearby reward areas and helps us to learn from actions made throughout our lives.

New year. New me.

Every January, motivation hits and we become determined that this is the year we will make major improvements in our lives. We sit down with a pen and paper and list all the things that we plan to change in the upcoming year. For those struggling with depression, finding the motivation to make improvements for the new year can seem daunting. When each day is a struggle to get out of bed, how can one even begin to contemplate gathering the motivation to make life-altering changes.

The research suggests otherwise.

Article Summary:

1) Social Media

2) Work is Stressing You Out

3) The Pressures of Gift Giving

4) Something or Someone is Missing

Well, it's that time of year again.

The smell of pumpkin spice is in the air, sappy movies have us wondering why we can't find our lover to kiss under the mistletoe, and the family debate has begun on where everyone will be getting together to open presents.

The holidays have clearly crept up on us yet again. December is known to be a time for giving gifts, throwing parties, and visiting family.

It is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, right?

Then why do so many of us dread this season and the blues it brings with it?

These reasons may be a few of the culprits.

RA, the shortened name of rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia have proven to be difficult ailments to treat. Statistics show that roughly 1.5 million Americans suffer from RA, with nearly three-quarter of those suffering being women. RA also increases the risk of developing fibromyalgia.

When facing a situation that few have done before, there are usually more questions than answers. Ketamine as a treatment for depression, especially TRD, is still in its infancy. Many trials and errors occur in order to produce the desired results. Here at NeuroMend, we have put in over a thousand hours into the research and development of how we use ketamine as an anti-depressant. While opening our own clinic, we have learned a lot. As always, when undertaking a task that few have attempted, expectation often differs from reality. Listed below are a few of our experiences we would like to share with you.

Table of Contents

1) Medical Qualifications of Practitioner

2) Appropriate Physical and Psychological Screenings of Patients

3) Patient Follow Up

4) Procedures and Protocols Used

With the recent surge of ketamine clinics popping up around the country, it can be quite tricky to know which one to choose. Listed below are four criteria that you should be looking for when selecting a ketamine clinic to suit your needs. 

Recently there has been a significant surge in ketamine clinics popping up around the country. Ketamine, once known as the popular party drug "Special K," has recently entered the spotlight for its extreme efficacy in treating depression. Contrary to popular belief that these businesses are looking to make a quick dollar, patients dissatisfied with their current anti-depression treatments who are looking for alternative methods are the ones fueling the demand.

Dr. Susannah Tye, a researcher within the Mayo Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, discusses research on optimizing depression treatment with ketamine intervention for patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Young people suffering from treatment-resistant depression (TRD) showed a significant reduction of their symptoms after being administered ketamine infusions, according to a study published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.