Ketamine Depression Treatment Near Mountain View, CA

Depression is more complex than you might think, and researchers don’t know precisely what causes it. They believe, however, that there are a number of factors involved. For example, a person with depression might have had a life-changing event happen recently like a death in the family. Or perhaps a person has a family history of depression, so genetics may be a factor for them. Sometimes a patient has no idea what could be causing their depression. There may be one or more factors involved in a person’s case, like:

• A conflict with a family member, friend, coworker, etc.
• The loss of a loved one
• A history of being abused
• Social isolation
• Severe illnesses
• Substance abuse
• Some medications
• Genetics/biology
• And other factors

Since researchers aren’t entirely sure what causes depression, they don’t know whether it’s primarily genetic or not. Researchers believe depression is genetic in many cases, possibly even in 40% of cases. Also, research has shown that people with parents or siblings who have depression are up to three times more likely to have it too. It may be that your particular case of depression is genetic, but the only way to find out is to see a professional about it.

During bouts of depression, the body releases cortisol and sends it to the brain, and often an excessive amount of it. Sometimes this can affect the production and size of neurons in the brain, which can lead to memory problems. Excess cortisol can also cause the prefrontal cortex to shrink which may affect emotions, decision making, and memory formation. In some cases of depression, a patient’s amygdala becomes enlarged and more active which can also affect emotions as well as sleep and the release of hormones.

In ketamine infusion therapy, a board-certified anesthesiologist administers ketamine intravenously. Over several weeks, several infusions are done. The ketamine may work to repair damage to the brain that’s caused by cortisol and other stress hormones. In doing so, a patient’s symptoms may be relieved greatly. There are some risks involved with ketamine infusion therapy, but for many patients with depression, the possible benefits far outweigh any risks. It could be that the therapy is exactly the treatment you need for your particular case.

Yes, we do. Bay Area Ketamine Center offers ketamine therapy at 746 Altos Oaks Drive, Los Altos, CA 94024. We’re available to you Monday to Friday, 10 am to 6 pm, and you can call us during those hours at (415) 375-8035 if you’d like to learn more about depression and ketamine therapy, or if you’d like to book a consultation with us. If you’d prefer to, you can book your consultation online. We serve patients from Los Altos, CA, Sunnyvale CA, Palo Alto CA, Stanford CA, Atherton CA, Cupertino CA, and BEYOND.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today if you’re struggling with depression and treatment for it. There’s a good chance we’ll be able to help you and offer you a treatment that actually works in your case.