How to Stop Taking Ketamine Safely
Quitting ketamine safely with the help of a medical professional will help you avoid uncomfortable ketamine withdrawal symptoms. Since ketamine is a dissociative drug, quitting safely means taking strides to support your mental, physical, and behavioral health. Qualified addiction centers can help you do this through drug tapering and a monitored detox process.
If you’re struggling with a substance use disorder, Zinnia Health can help. We offer medical detox centers specializing in helping people like yourself overcome drug abuse. To find an inpatient or outpatient treatment center near you, contact us today or call (855) 430-9439 for assistance.
What Are the Steps to Quit Ketamine?
Ketamine is a controlled substance, and using it can lead to legal consequences and social stigma. Quitting ketamine can help avoid these negative outcomes and improve relationships with family, friends, and the community, but it can feel impossible.
If you’re wondering how to quit, here are the key steps to follow.
Step 1: Understand Your Reasons for Wanting to Quit Ketamine
Quitting ketamine can be one of the most significant decisions you make. This anesthetic drug has a powerful effect on your body and mind, so it’s essential to have a clear understanding of the reasons you want to quit.
Both physical and psychological consequences are associated with long-term use, including organ damage, depression, and decreased cognitive function. Knowing these possible side effects can help you focus on success in stopping your ketamine usage.
Setting goals like enrolling in therapy, committing to quitting, and joining a support group are all types of treatment for your addiction and to help sustain lasting recovery.
Step 2: Talk To Your Doctor
Talking to a medical professional about how to quit ketamine can help you make more informed, confident choices. Your doctor can provide you with unbiased medical advice on the safety of stopping ketamine usage, as well as any potential benefit that quitting may have on your long-term health.
They can also discuss treatment options and treatment providers and provide support for a successful transition into abstinence and avoiding alternative substance use. Don’t hesitate to seek out your doctor’s expertise, as they are key in ensuring you make a fully-informed decision to quit ketamine.
Step 3: Build a Robust Support Network
Seeking support is a critical step on the road to recovery from ketamine addiction. To help you succeed, building a supportive network can play a crucial role in keeping you motivated and provide you with guidance and encouragement, as well as holding you accountable.
Therapists or counselors can provide therapy sessions that focus on your goal of sobriety and offer personalized strategies to overcome the challenges of avoiding ketamine use. These professionals can also connect you with other resources in the community, such as support groups or group therapy meetings where individuals help one another remain strong in their abstinence.
Informal support networks generally consist of drug-free family and friends who will create a nonjudgmental environment for discussing experiences that resurface during recovery, such as triggers, cravings, and problems.
Step 4: Avoid Triggers
Quitting ketamine can be difficult, especially if it has become a regular activity. Finding new activities that don’t involve using ketamine can provide meaningful relief from addiction and create healthier habits.
Taking up hobbies such as painting, drawing, gardening, or exercise creates space to relax while having fun and creating something meaningful.
Quitting ketamine is challenging but can be a little easier if you avoid places and people who may trigger your urge to use. Identifying activities or social situations that bring on cravings or feelings of wanting to use is essential.
Even if you’ve been doing well for a while, it only takes one situation or person to trip you up. Keeping your goals and commitments in mind and making good choices when it comes to other friends and acquaintances can make all the difference in remaining successful at quitting ketamine for good.
Step 5: Seek Professional Help
Professional help is essential to ensure success in attaining sobriety and staying on track for long-term success. Treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy can help those addicted to ketamine identify thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to their ketamine use and learn better mechanisms for managing cravings and stress.
If you or someone close to you is struggling with ketamine abuse, now is the time to seek professional help. A trained provider can provide evidence-based treatment tailored to an individual’s needs and support them in their journey of quitting for good.
Zinnia Health can help you or a loved one overcome ketamine addiction and get your life back on track. With our addiction treatment programs, you can overcome substance abuse and rebuild your life. For referral to a ketamine detox treatment facility, contact us today or call (855) 430-9439.
Can You Quit Ketamine Cold Turkey?
Abruptly stopping ketamine can lead to withdrawal symptoms, which can be uncomfortable and potentially dangerous.
If you’re considering quitting ketamine, it’s crucial to seek medical and psychological support to ensure a safe and successful process. Ketamine is a powerful anesthetic and psychoactive drug that can produce intense physical and psychological effects.
How Long Does It Take To Quit Ketamine?
The recovery timeline for ketamine addiction depends entirely on the individual. Co-occurring disorders, like anxiety and depression, can lengthen the recovery process. Polysubstance abuse can also make it more difficult.
The initial phase, known as the withdrawal period, is often the toughest and can last for 2-3 weeks. However, the recovery process is ongoing, with structured treatment lasting from 1-6 months.
The need for aftercare and support following your completion of structured programs shouldn’t be understated, as it’s essential for lasting recovery.
Is It Hard to Get Off Ketamine?
Ketamine users may decide they no longer want to use ketamine for personal reasons, such as improving their health and well-being or pursuing other goals. Whatever your motivation to quit, the recovery process is not without challenges.
The biggest roadblocks you may face during recovery include:
- Uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms
- Intense drug cravings
- Changes in your mood and behavioral health
- Strained relationships with friends and family
The good news? Pursuing a structured treatment pathway can ultimately help you overcome all of these things.
Can Someone Taper Off Ketamine?
In some cases, your recovery team might advise tapering off ketamine in order to minimize withdrawal symptoms. However, the detox process looks different for everyone.
What matters if that the healthcare professionals you’re working with are paying close attention to your mental and physical health needs and doing what they can to support you through the recovery process.
What Happens to Your Brain When You Stop Taking Ketamine?
Long-term use of ketamine can lead to physical and psychological dependence, making it difficult to stop using the drug without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Once your body has become dependent on a substance like ketamine, your brain has actually changed its chemical structure. Quitting means going through an uncomfortable process where your brain has to change back and re-adapt to not being on the drug.
During the withdrawal process, you might experience intense cravings for a dose of ketamine.
You might also deal with mental health effects, including:
- Anger
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Mood swings
Your physical health can also be impacted, especially if you don’t get the professional support you need to quit properly.
How to Get Help for a Ketamine Addiction Near Me
Quitting ketamine can be difficult, but it’s within your reach. If you’re ready to quit, talk to your doctor and build a support system of friends and family who will help you through the process. Find other activities to occupy your time, and avoid places and people who trigger your urge to use ketamine.
With dedication, effort, and professional support, you can overcome your ketamine addiction and lead a healthy life.
Ketamine is a powerful drug, and most need help to quit. Zinnia Health can help you overcome your ketamine addiction and regain control of your life. We will help you with a confidential, safe, and supportive recovery center where you can receive the treatment you need to get well. Contact us today or call (855) 430-9439.
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