Help!

[Downinil]

Hi, I’ve been living with clinical depression, OCD, and anxiety since about age 9. Recently I’ve been diagnosed with agoraphobia and PTSD as well. I’m managing Chronic pain and chronic kidney disease as well. I’m reaching out to people who may understand my situation and be able to provide some emotional support as well as possibly develop a friendship. Thanks for reading.

[LoveforAll41]

Hey Downinil, I am sorry that you have had these things to struggle with for such a long time. That is a lot to handle and I think that anyone would struggle. I would imagine you are well past 9 by now, what have you found helps you with your struggles?

I think that you will find some good fellowship and support here. I mostly struggle with anxiety and depression and have for the past 14 or so years now. I currently am doing ketamine assisted psychotherapy and taking an NSRI. I like the "Feeling Good" podcast based on Dr David Burn's work.

I wish you peace, hope, and strength

[Downinil in reply to LoveforAll41]

Thank-you for responding to my post. You have helped by acknowledging my issues. If you have time I’m interested in knowing about the results you’re seeing from the ketamine guided psychotherapy.

[LoveforAll41 in reply to Downinil]

I first did six sessions of just ketamine before I found a therapist after getting out of an inpatient recovery center. They recommend doing six then using boosters as needed. I think that they shoot for at least one every few months, but at $250 a pop I wanted to shoot for once a year or so. I got insurance that covered some of it after a deductible so now it is like $72.

Anyway, I liken it to being sick or something then you feel better and you have a better sense of perspective of what is important in life and a good appreciation for things. I think that you could probably get a lot out of it doing it without a therapist if you were actively using workbooks or good at working on yourself. They say that the ketamine is supposed to help accelerate neuroplasticity so that our old thinking pathways can be overriden with something better. I need to work on what gives me feelings of worth, and my anxiety around work has lessened a lot with the sessions.

I have only done two sessions now with a therapist present and I think that it will be really good. A lot can depend on the therapist of course, and I switched after the first one and had some breakthroughs in my first session with the new therapist.

So like all things, there are pros and cons. Mostly I am down to try anything new these days. It does leave me feeling very nauseous and I have thrown up after two of the 9 sessions now I think. I usually go to sleep after so I like to have the sessions as late in the day as possible.

I think a lot of people see a lot of lights and have some deep experiences.

[gajh]

Hello. I am new here. I am diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD. I am not diagnosed with agoraphobia, but I have a really hard time leaving the house. I am not really getting out these days. I would be happy to share with you. Please feel free to share more with me. What is your biggest struggle right now?