At our psychiatric clinic, we are privileged to witness transformative stories of healing and hope. Today, we’re sharing a special interview with one of our patients who has experienced significant improvements through ketamine therapy. We hope that his story will inspire and inform others who may be considering this treatment option.

Meet Spencer, a patient who has graciously agreed to share his journey with us. Spencer came to our clinic seeking relief from severe depression and has experienced remarkable changes through ketamine therapy.

Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to seek treatment at our clinic?

Spencer: I’d struggled with depression, anxiety, and the symptoms that come with both for about 15 years before finding Ballen Medical. The symptoms were all consuming. It was when I had my daughter 4 years ago that I decided it was time to take charge of my life. I was done just managing through life feeling the way I was and became ready to figure out how to actually live a happier life that would lead as an example for my daughter.

I’d tried a lot of different therapists and psychiatrists. I tried different medications but nothing seemed to be working. I gave Ketamine a try at another clinic about 5 years ago and it helped some, especially with the suicidal ideation, but I was still struggling. I found Ballen Medical and Wellness after going through three different psychiatrists in one year. Ballen Medical seemed like a good fit because they specialized in Ketamine Therapy which was in line with what I was already trying.
When I had my first appointment, Dr. Ballen suggested that my dosage was potentially too low and that my previous treatments weren’t aggressive enough to truly combat my problem. My other doctors never presented the possibility to me that an increased dosage could improve my results further, I thought I was as improved as I would ever be. I trusted her opinion and got my dosage increased. And, as a result it’s been extremely helpful. For the first time in a very long time, I felt good again. I felt like my depression wasn’t something I had to hold at bay anymore. Although I have some integrated patterns from dealing with depression for so long, I feel like the root cause has finally been dealt with. I can feel again and truly experience more joy in life. And, I feel more equipped to handle and deal with general life problems.

Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to seek treatment at our clinic?

Spencer: I come from a very conservative family. Anything having to deal with drugs set off alarm bells for me. When I first learned about Ketamine Therapy I was really skeptical and immediately thought it sounded sketchy. I wrote it off as some kind of excuse to do drugs. The results I read about seemed way too good to be true, but I was also pretty desperate to find something that would work for me. I tried a dozen meds, a half dozen psychiatrists and a number of therapists and none of it was working.

The more I looked into it the more promising outcomes I saw. The idea of actual and lasting change was enough for me to give it a try. And as soon as I did I realized that there was a lot of truth to the research I found and that it’s much more safe and regulated than I originally suspected.

Q: How was your experience during the ketamine therapy sessions? Can you describe what the process was like for you?

Spencer: My experience with Ketamine Therapy at Ballen Medical is honestly really nice. They provide comfortable reclining chairs to sit in as well as a blanket, pillow and eye masks. Then they turn on relaxing music to allow you to get the most of your treatments. Once your session starts, they check in on you every 15 minutes or so to ensure your safety. But you’re pretty out of it to really notice the interruptions. The session itself is really relaxing. I’d describe it as a wholesome and spiritual experience.

One of my favorite things about the sessions is the musical playlists that they have me listen to. They really help make the experience cohesive and healing. Ever since my first session I have had a positively altered perspective of the world.

I also have aphantasia which is the inability to imagine or picture things in my mind. One of the coolest things I’ve gotten to experience since trying ketamine is that I get to actually see pictures in my mind which is something I’ve never been able to do before.

Q: How soon did you begin to notice changes in your symptoms after starting therapy?

Spencer: As I previously mentioned, the most immediate improvement I saw after just the first ketamine treatment was the removal of suicidal ideations. I felt a slight decline in my depression and anxiety immediately as well. It took a long time from the first treatment I had to the point where I felt like it was working even further but I believe that was due to the improper dosage I was receiving for so long. As soon as I started going to Ballen Medical and Wellness and got more aggressive with the dosages it took about 2-3 months to where I felt like I wasn’t struggling with my depression or anxiety anymore. I believe that if I started my ketamine journey with Dr. Ballen it might have only taken me about 4 months total to heal.

Q: In what ways has ketamine therapy impacted your daily life?

Spencer: I feel like when I was at my worst, I wasn’t able to do much in terms of living. I couldn’t enjoy anything or get motivation to even attempt to. I would spend days just laying on the couch staring at the ceiling. Some days I couldn’t even get out of bed. I wasn’t able to play games or watch TV, everything just felt like too much.

Since my Ketamine Therapy journey with Ballen Medical, I feel like I can finally live again. I’ve started redeveloping hobbies that I’d lost in my struggle with my depression. I’m able to do more things with my family and start working again. I feel like I was in this state so long where I was in idle mode just trying to get through each day. Now I feel like I’m restarted and am a functional human again.

Q: What would you say to someone considering ketamine therapy but unsure about it?

Spencer: I would say that at least from my experience and others I know that have tried, anyone can benefit from Ketamine Therapy. Even if you feel like you don’t match the typical profile of someone it would be recommended for, everyone can get benefits from Ketamine Therapy. You have to be sure to put thought and intention into making sure it’s right for you. You have to go somewhere that really knows what they are doing and it can be life-changing in so many ways. It helps with depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, PTSD to even smaller things like helping you be more empathetic. I feel like I’m more connected to people in general now and understand that everyone has their own stories. Things like that now resonate with me more since I’ve started doing Ketamine Therapy.

For me, before Ketamine Therapy, it felt like I was living in a really dark room with the lights off and no windows. Ketamine Therapy gave me the ability to see color and light for the first time. It was like getting to experience this whole new dimension of living that I hadn’t gotten to before. It made me able to participate in a normal life and opened my eyes to a new way of seeing things.

Q: How do you feel about the support and care you’ve received from the clinic staff?

Spencer: I feel like the Ballen Medical and Wellness staff is really good at what they do. They are extremely supportive and helpful. They pay attention to the small details about their patients and use those details to make us feel safe. Most people don’t look at you so closely. But they notice things like how I take my shoes off at every treatment and then before I knew it, they were taking my shoes off for me. I’ve tried several clinics and they are by far the most attentive and caring mental health care facility I’ve experienced.

They go above and beyond for me. For example, due to my personalized treatment plan, my sessions are a lot longer than a lot of other patients. They didn’t initially have a playlist that was long enough for my sessions so they made a special one for me. Dr. Ballen will even come in on days she’s off just to ensure that patients get the treatments they need when they need them. Everyone there is so passionate about making sure you can heal and are willing to do whatever they can to make that happen for you.

—-

Spencer’s story highlights the potential of Ketamine Therapy to bring about significant improvements in individuals with treatment-resistant depression. At Ballen Medical and Wellness clinic, we are committed to delivering compassionate care and innovative treatments tailored to our patients’ needs.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression and seeking alternatives, we encourage you to reach out and explore the options available. Your mental health matters, and there is hope for a brighter future.

‍

‍

‍