Clients Describe What Ketamine Therapy Feels Like

Medically reviewed by

Chelsea Tersavich, PA-C

Published on

December 12, 2022

Updated on

‍Summary

Ketamine therapy provides a safe and often calming and opening experience
The felt experience can be described in a variety of ways and different people can have different experiences.
However, key themes emerge around the experience being pleasant, gentle, and perspective-shifting.

If you’d like to get a better sense of how real people describe their experience, here are a few quotes taken directly from Mindbloom clients:

Clients describe the experience of ketamine therapy as gentle and non-invasive:

“It is a gentle treatment, nothing too harsh or intense.”
“This is a truly wonderful experience. I think everyone should be able to heal in such a gentle and supported way.”
“I greatly enjoy the 45 minutes or so during the session where I can actually feel relaxed and not in the grip of [my] depression.”
“The medicine is the most gentle I’ve ever experienced. Doing it in the privacy of my home on my schedule is everything to me.”

While you can find a variety of stories and experiences online, the majority of ketamine experiences tend to be gentle and safe.

Clients also describe the experience of ketamine therapy as pleasant, relieving, and relaxing:

“It felt like a relief. I could see a glimpse of sunshine through the clouds.”
“Everything I have experienced thus far with Mindbloom has been pleasant, uplifting, and easy to self-administer.”
“I have had so much relief from depression and anxiety - it is great to be able to do my treatments at home in a comfortable place.”

Mindbloom’s ketamine therapy helps clients see life from a new perspective.

“Mindbloom treatments have shown me a better perspective on my anxiety, depression, and life itself.”
“Mindbloom has enhanced my ability to relate to others and appreciate their perspectives.”
“I have been struggling with severe depression most of my life, and I was shocked to see how easy it was to separate myself from that heavy burden during my sessions.”

It is important to note that each person will have their own unique experience, and each experience will be different. That is part of the power and potential of ketamine treatment.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the experience of ketamine treatment, be sure to reach out to our team or discuss this with your Guide.

Eric Brown

Eric Brown is a content writer and program creator at Mindbloom, and the Director of Apotheosis Retreats. As a facilitator, coach, guide, and creator, he combines cognitive science, psychedelic medicines, and healing modalities to create powerful spaces for personal growth and development.

Chelsea Tersavich, PA-C

Chelsea Tersavich, PA-C, is a psychiatric clinician who has conducted psychiatric evaluations and facilitated ketamine therapy sessions for over 250 Mindbloom clients. Chelsea obtained a master’s degree from the Interservice PA Program and has extensive mental health and primary care experience from her army career, where she treated thousands of Soldiers as a Battalion PA and a clinic Medical Director.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. If you are in a life-threatening situation, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at +1 (800) 273-8255, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.

Safety Information

Important FDA Safety Information

Ketamine is not FDA-approved for the treatment of depression or anxiety. Learn more about off-label uses here.

Side effects of ketamine treatment may include: altered sense of time, anxiety, blurred vision, diminished ability to see/hear/feel, dry mouth, elevated blood pressure or heart rate, elevated intraocular or intracranial pressure, excitability, loss of appetite, mental confusion, nausea/vomiting, nystagmus (rapid eye movements), restlessness, slurred speech, synesthesia (a mingling of the senses).

Do not proceed with ketamine treatment if any of the following apply to you:

Allergic to ketamine
Symptoms of psychosis or mania
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
CHF or other serious heart problem
Severe breathing problem
History of elevated intraocular or intracranial pressure
History of hyperthyroidism
Other serious medical illness
Pregnant, nursing, or trying to become pregnant

Ketamine has been reported to produce issues including, but not limited to, those listed below. However, lasting adverse side-effects are rare when medical protocols are carefully followed.

While ketamine has not been shown to be physically addictive, it has been shown to cause moderate psychological dependency in some recreational users.

In rare cases, frequent, heavy users have reported increased frequency of urination, urinary incontinence, pain urinating, passing blood in the urine, or reduced bladder size
Ketamine may worsen problems in people with schizophrenia, severe personality disorders, or other serious mental disorders.
Users with a personal or family history of psychosis should be cautious using any psychoactive substance, including ketamine, and discuss potential risks with your MindBloom^® clinician before proceeding with treatment.
The dissociative effects of ketamine may increase patient vulnerability and the risk of accidents.

To promote positive outcomes and ensure safety, follow these ketamine treatment guidelines:

Do not operate a vehicle (e.g., car, motorcycle, bicycle) or heavy machinery following treatment until you’ve had a full night of sleep
Refrain from taking benzodiazepines or stimulants for 24 hours prior to treatment
Continue to take antihypertensive medication as prescribed
Avoid hangovers or alcohol intake
Refrain from consuming solid foods within 3 hours prior to treatment and liquids within 1 hour prior to treatment
Ketamine treatment should never be conducted without a monitor present to ensure your safety