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Nearly 6 million Americans report experiencing intrusive thoughts. And studies estimate that many more don’t disclose intrusive thoughts they may have to their doctors or therapists.
Put simply, intrusive thoughts are unwanted, recurring thoughts that you can’t seem to control. They might be violent or disturbing in nature, and they can pop into your head out of nowhere.
Intrusive thoughts can occur on their own, but they’re often linked to other mental health conditions. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders may be more likely to experience these persistent, unpleasant thoughts.
Annette Lusko, DO, and our team at Ketamine Integrative Medicine offer ketamine therapy for people who are struggling with intrusive thoughts and OCD. If you find yourself overcome with unwanted thoughts, and other treatments haven’t made a difference, it’s time to learn about what ketamine therapy can do.
Everyone has intrusive thoughts from time to time. But people with OCD and other mental health conditions are often more distressed by the thoughts, and they may experience them more frequently.
Intrusive thoughts can be about anything, but they often include one or more of the following topics:
The thing that makes them intrusive thoughts is that they’re unbidden and distressing. It’s important to remember that intrusive thoughts aren’t warning signs, and the nature of the thoughts doesn’t reflect on who you are as a person — the thoughts are just thoughts.
But for people with OCD and intrusive thoughts, it can often feel like the thoughts take over. Even if you recognize that you have no desire to act on them, these unwanted thoughts can begin affecting your quality of life and your sense of self.
Avoiding intrusive thoughts or actively trying not to think about specific things may not be effective. The more you push away the thoughts, the more they may enter your mind. Many people struggling with intrusive thoughts develop depression or turn to substance abuse, which can make the problem worse. However, many people have been helped through professional treatment.
Treatment for intrusive thoughts often includes a combination of medication and talk therapy. Medications for OCD, such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors, help regulate serotonin levels and can help reduce intrusive thoughts. However, these treatments don’t work for everyone.
If you’re diagnosed with intrusive thoughts and/or a related mental health condition, ketamine therapy may be able to help. At Ketamine Integrative Medicine, we offer infusions of this powerful and safe anesthetic for people struggling with intrusive thoughts, so that they can achieve clarity of mind and be better able to focus on therapy and recovery.
Ketamine therapy can look different for each patient depending on their needs. Often, patients get infusions several times a week for 3-4 weeks, with each infusion lasting about 45 minutes.
With ketamine therapy, you may be able to find relief from overwhelming intrusive thoughts. Treatment may allow you to focus your energy on therapy and other methods of dealing with unwanted thoughts, so you can improve your mental well-being.
To learn more about ketamine therapy and to see if it can help you, book an appointment online or over the phone with Ketamine Integrative Medicine today.
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