4 Things to Let Your Ketamine Patients Know To Expect During An Infusion
During your patient’s first ketamine infusion, there are many things that he/she should be aware about. They may experience some level of nervousness and may want more information about what’s going to happen during the infusion. It’s your duty as their doctor to ease their worries and anxiety by setting the right expectations for them.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about the 4 things that you should share with your ketamine patients so that they can properly prepare for their first infusion.
Expectation #1: Feeling nervous before and during the infusion is normal
When doing anything that is novel and unfamiliar to us, most of the time we feel nervous about it. Ketamine infusions are no different. Your patients are about to undergo something that they have never done before. Maybe they’ve never tried experiencing a non-ordinary state of consciousness so they don’t know how it’s going to go. Or the fact that they’re going through a treatment that is so cutting-edge is what’s making them nervous.
Let your patients know that feeling nervous is completely normal. Regardless of whatever the outcome, reassure them that everything is going to be okay. Establishing a relaxing set and setting in your clinic will also help them ease their worries.
Expectation #2: They may receive deep insights and “see” things
During the infusion, your patients may finally gain insight and understand a past experience or find a new empowering meaning for a past unpleasant event. They may also have dream-like imagery where they see lights. For higher doses, they may even have mystical experiences. To decrease the likelihood of these types of experiences, give your patients a lower dose, aka a subdissociative dose.
Your patients need to be aware of these experiences so that they don’t get taken aback or scared if ever these do happen to them.
Expectation #3: They may experience lightheadedness or nausea
Each of your patients will react differently to ketamine infusions. Depending on their metabolism and size, the same dose in one person can be significantly stronger in another. During and after the infusion, your patients might feel dizzy, and even a little nauseous. Reassure your patients that if ever this happens, you can give them medicines at the beginning or end of their infusion.
Expectation #4: There may be unexpected emotions, maybe even tears
With ketamine’s dissociative properties, your patients may experience feelings that have been blocked for years. Let them know that feeling these emotions are okay. Actually, even more than okay. They may even tear up a little from sadness or joy. Encourage them to fully feel their emotions so that they can process them.
Don’t forget to also let them know that you are there for them if they are not sure what they are feeling.
Be Their Safe Space
You will constantly be dealing with nervous and anxious patients. As a ketamine clinic owner, we encourage that you set the tone. Create an atmosphere that is relaxing and calming, so that they feel safe to feel whatever they need to feel.
Learn the four critical techniques to ensure patients are both mentally and physically prepared for their sessions, contributing to the success of their care and your ketamine clinic.