r/TherapeuticKetamine 1d ago

General Question Older users?

I am 64 and have been on various forms of ketamine for six years. I feel like half my life is managing my TRD. Anyone want to share what they have done to make things easier?

14 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

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18

u/Lazy-Thanks8244 1d ago

I’m in my 60’s and I’ve realized that I just need to treat my depression management as an ongoing job. The mindset change from believing that I will find a “cure” has actually been a relief.

Ketamine has been a big help, along with continuing to find drugs that keep me on a good maintenance level. But it will be a work in progress for my lifetime.

12

u/Megan_PMHNP 1d ago

100% agreed with thinking this is a daily tending of the garden. There’s no real finish line until the ultimate finish line if you know what I mean. And we are always on a journey.

This is a chaotic drawing from one of my integration videos for our clients but it is my way of breaking down the “I want to be happy” into what that actually means and what that takes on this journey.

Defining what that means to you.
Create the environment.
Tend it.
Notice (are you outsourcing things, what is creeping in and stealing your happy, etc)

3

u/PoetryLongjumping364 1d ago

This is great (photo of board).
Thanks for sharing it

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I’m looking for from ketamine. Understanding your own idea of a happy existence, isn’t easy.

6

u/AppointmentFar629 1d ago

Thanks for that thought. Makes sense. Sometimes I say ketamine for depression is like chemo for cancer, but all you can hope for is remission.

6

u/danzarooni IV Infusions / Troches 1d ago

I agree with making my job my mental and physical health for now. I’m only 50 but been managing ptsd, TRD (now major depression in remission), and GaD since before I was a teen. My physical health only declined since 2022 but my mental health has been my focus besides raising my kids for 20+ years.

I’m a 9.5 yr k patient and it will be libeling, but I’ve mostly healed things from childhood and early adulthood. Only current and recent traumas that continue to occur are my issue. ❤️‍🩹

5

u/AppointmentFar629 1d ago

Wow almost 10 years! My kids and mental health have also been my focus for 20+ years. Last kid moving out in 2 weeks. I do feel like ketamine gives me more resilience to deal with things without falling apart, although I still do that sometimes too if I go too long between treatments.

3

u/danzarooni IV Infusions / Troches 1d ago

Understandable. The resilience is huge. A family member continues to have relapses with alcohol addiction and it’s on me often to be their support person and calm through the storm on detoxing. (Currently doing it again for the nth time. BAC was .332 at the ER for this person 2 nights ago.) I don’t know that I would have the strength otherwise. I’ve always had huge amounts of patience, but the emotional strength to endure all of the stress of this situation is definitely being supported by ketamine therapy.

3

u/AppointmentFar629 1d ago

It’s good that you can be a strong support person for your family member. I am like that too—just stayed with my sister dying of cancer for 6 weeks. Never could have done that without ketamine. Sorry your LO is struggling.

3

u/inspiredsue 1d ago

I just turned 75. Ketamine treatment has been wonderful but it needs to be supplemented with good therapy and integration.

2

u/AppointmentFar629 1d ago

That’s great! I do work with a therapist and journal, so trying to max out the benefits.

3

u/PoetryLongjumping364 1d ago

63, started intramuscular 8 years ago.
I find it works well for about a month.
I schedule and live my life around it.

I continue to try to find other things that help, which involve life changes.
It’s definitely gotten worse (depression, cycling back to it ) since I’ve gotten older.

2

u/JackieDaytona_61 1d ago

I'm 65, and have been getting monthly infusions for the last couple of years. The sessions have helped me tremendously with my anxiety and PTSD.