Ketamine and esketamine (Spravato) are becoming a popular topic of discussion among mental health providers and patients suffering from depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) was developed in 1985, and has been FDA-approved since 2008 as an alternative treatment for depression. TMS is covered by most health insurance plans for those with treatment resistant depression (TRD) which is defined as a patient who has tried 4 or more antidepressant medications and therapy without relief. It can also help people with symptoms of PTSD, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, social anxiety disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and other mental illnesses.
We are so grateful to have Nurse Practitioner Amanda VanConant as part of our team at Manlove Brain and Body Health!
In a recent blog, Ketamine Misconceptions: How One Patient’s ‘Weird’ Experience Could Have Been Life-Changing, I address some common misconceptions about ketamine that may be turning people away from this life-saving treatment. In addition to the details shared in this piece, it’s important to know that there is a wide range of patient experiences when ketamine is used in treating psychiatric conditions. This is due to a variety of factors: the treatment setting, the dosage given, how quickly the dosage is given, the patient’s mindset before and during the infusion, the support staff during the treatment process, and more.
The New York Times recently printed an opinion piece titled “I took ketamine for depression. Things got pretty weird.” In this piece, writer Vanessa Barbara describes her experience in Juiz de Fora, Brazil using intravenous ketamine treatment for her depression. The essay made me reflect on how ketamine therapy is administered nationwide.
Led by Certified Health Coach, Jodi Thom, MB+BH patients can now receive coaching to improve their brain health. “When people hear that our patients have only a 10% relapse rate compared to the average depression relapse rate of 40-50%, they want to know what we’re doing differently,” says Ms. Thom. “Focusing on customized lifestyle improvements that will facilitate brain health is one of the main factors that helps our patients get sustaining relief for their unique mental health condition. I’m so excited to take our focus on overall health to the next level by providing patients with personalized plans to improve their habits for activity, diet, sleep, and relationships.”
As a friend or family member of someone with a mental illness, it can be hard to know the best ways to be supportive. With the holidays just around the corner, it’s important to know that while the holidays are a time that many people look forward to, this can be a very hard time of year for those with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Family gatherings can be overwhelming and conversations, at times, can feel more like interrogations. With this in mind, our team of mental health professionals have put together a list of dos and don’ts to help you better support your loved ones with mental illness this holiday season and beyond.
Once someone decides that it’s time to take control of their mental health, it can be hard to know where to start. Do I see a therapist or a psychiatrist? Do I need medication like ketamine? This blog will walk you through the best approach to start on your mental healthcare journey and provide an overview of the different resources available to help you get started. While these steps are intended for those who have not yet addressed their mental health concerns with a provider, this may also be a useful guide for those who have already started to seek help by seeing where they are in the process and understanding their options for possible next steps.
Advanced Brain + Body Clinic (AB+BC) is a new interventional psychiatric clinic offering ketamine and esketamine (Spravato) therapy, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and integrative medicine. After opening just four months ago in Minnetonka, MN, Advanced Brain + Body Clinic is already set to double in size, expanding to a second office this month to accommodate the high demand for their holistic psychiatric care and hard to find treatment options.
One of the most amazing things about summer is that there are natural remedies everywhere to help improve your mood. The trick is to make sure that you take advantage of them while you can. The fresh air and sunlight are free resources that will help improve your mood, reduce stress, and improve your overall health. This is particularly important for anyone battling depression and especially treatment-resistant depression.