Ketamine Therapy for Anxiety Serving Bay Area, Los Altos CA

There is no singular cause for anxiety, and psychiatrists do not yet fully understand what causes it. Instead, there are numerous triggers for anxiety disorders. Other medical issues cause some of these triggers; others are from past traumatic experiences, and others, still, are side effects of medication. Below are a few common triggers of anxiety disorders:

• Illnesses or conditions such as diabetes, chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, heart disease, thyroid problems, or respiratory disorders
• Substance abuse or withdrawal
• Childhood trauma, abuse, or neglect
• Stress build-up due to grief, marital or relationship issues, loss of employment, or illness
• Presence of other mental health disorders, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or depression
• Family history of anxiety
• Medications such as birth control pills or weight loss medications
• Social distress

While there are many branches and offshoots of anxiety disorders, there are six main types of anxiety disorders. They are as follows:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): characterized by chronic anxiety, with excessive worry about a variety of things, often with little or no provocation.

Panic disorder: characterizing by recurring panic attacks, with or without provocation. Agoraphobia is a subset of this anxiety disorder.

Social anxiety disorder: characterized by an overwhelming fear of social judgement, rejection, or negative evaluation by one’s peers. Anxiety disorders related to public speaking or crowds are examples of social anxiety disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): anxiety disorders that are brought on from witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, car accident, military duty, or sexual or physical assault.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): an anxiety disorder characterized by a pattern of undesired thoughts, emotions, or sensations that one obsesses over and feels driven to perform repetitive acts compulsively to deal with obsessive anxiety.

Separation anxiety disorder: characterized by excessive anxiety when separated from a caregiver or to whom someone feels an intense emotional attachment.

If you have anxiety, it can be incredibly daunting to try to manage on your own. If you have been unable to find relief from debilitating anxiety through more traditional means, such as the medications that your psychiatrist has prescribed, an alternative method, such as ketamine infusion therapy, might be more productive! Ketamine infusion therapy helps with anxiety disorders by repairing the damaged neurons and synapses that an overgrowth of hormones and proteins in the brain have caused. It does this by provoking a response in the brain that stimulates the regrowth of synaptic connections related to mood, stress response, and even how one responds to traumatic memories. This response occurs as a result of the ketamine normalizing and stimulating and normalizing glutamate receptor and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor levels in the brain. Patients who have tried ketamine infusion therapy to treat anxiety have noticed an improvement in their mood and stress within hours of treatment!

In addition to ketamine infusion therapy, there are some lifestyle habits to incorporate into your daily routine that can help manage the symptoms of anxiety, such as meditation, breathing exercises, staying active, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and getting enough sleep.

At Bay Area Ketamine Center serving the Bay Area, Los Altos, CA, board-certified Dr. Paul Wender, MD, provides personalized ketamine therapy for patients struggling with anxiety symptoms. Dr. Wender begins with a careful evaluation of each patient’s mental health concerns, medical history, previous treatments, current medications, and personal goals. This detailed approach helps him determine whether ketamine therapy may be an appropriate option and allows each treatment plan to be tailored to the patient’s unique needs.

Patients benefit from Dr. Wender’s doctor-led care, compassionate guidance, and close monitoring throughout the treatment process. He focuses on creating a calm, supportive setting where patients feel informed, safe, and respected before, during, and after each session. For individuals who have not found enough relief through traditional treatment options, ketamine therapy may help support emotional balance, reduce distress, and improve daily functioning. With Dr. Paul Wender, MD, patients receive expert care designed around comfort, safety, and long-term wellness.

For more information, contact us today or request an appointment online. Our clinic is conveniently located at 746 Altos Oaks Drive Suite B, Los Altos, CA 94024. We serve patients from Los Altos CA, Sunnyvale CA, Palo Alto CA, Stanford CA, Atherton CA, Cupertino CA, Santa Clara CA, Mountain View CA, Loyola CA, and surrounding areas.