Ketamine Insights

Lynn is back(!) for a fun conversation about holistic ways to improve mental health. From exercise and energy healing to sobriety and sleep hygiene, we discuss practices that can complement ketamine therapy,A companion episode to S1 Ep3 ("Comparing Depression Treatment Options"), this episode can help you feel empowered to choose which of your many treatment options you want engage in, and how. Treat it like a buffet and take what you like :-)If you enjoy Ketamine Insights, please share it with a friend and rate and review it on your favorite podcast platform. That really helps us reach more people!Join our community at https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsights or at https://mollydunn.substack.com/ Email us at ketamineinsights@gmail.com (we love to hear from you!)Our Instagram is @ketamineinsightsYou can also find all of our episodes on YouTube and on our website ketamineinsights.com  In this episode we reference:Christopher Germer's book The Mindful Path to Self Compassion We Can Do Hard Things podcast Episode 215 with Andrea Gibson SmartRecovery.org for resources and meetings to help with substance overuse issues through a harm reduction modelQigong (we love https://www.youtube.com/c/QigongMeditation)If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, you can dial 988. You are never all alone.Support the Show.

Angel takes us with her on several profound psychedelic journeys, including one in which she finally realizes: "My God, I'm beautiful." Ketamine therapy brings new levels of peace in this episode - the second half of our conversation from last week. Angel and I discuss grief and forgiveness in the context of complicated loss. She describes how she knows when she needs another treatment, and the beauty of being able to communicate with her support network. We revel at the power of a good example.Angel gives some perspective on music and physical comfort during ketamine journeys. And we end with some practical advice for clinicians, allies, and people who are interested in ketamine therapy for their own stubborn depression.This conversation is the second of two parts, Part One was published January 15, 2024. Help us by subscribing via Patreon Patreon.com/ketamineinsights or Substack mollydunn.substack.comEmail us at ketamineinsights@gmail.comTranscripts are available at our website ketamineinsights.comOur Instagram is @ketamineinsightsYou can also find all of our episodes on YouTubeIf you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, you can dial 988. You are never all alone.Support the show

(TW: Suicide) Listener Angel describes working with ketamine after many devastating personal tragedies. For her, ketamine is a lifeline. After a lifetime of traumas, she describes feeling like "one of those people who couldn't be helped." Thankfully, ketamine - together with therapy, writing, and solid family support - has led her to feel lighter. Now, she says, she can coexist with her memories.Like many of us, Angel has had spiritual experiences with ketamine, leaving her feeling divinely protected and loved. As someone trying to heal from grief, trauma, and serious mental illness, I learned a lot from this conversation. Angel's story encompasses the gravity, joy, and profound meaning that some of us experience once we start working with ketamine.This conversation will come out in two parts. Part Two will drop next week. Subscribe to Ketamine Insights on any podcast platform to get the next episode (and future episodes) automatically. If you're new to podcasts, email us and we'll show you how. (Really!)If you're able, please subscribe via Patreon (Patreon.com/ketamineinsights) or Substack (mollydunn.substack.com) You can always reach us at ketamineinsights@gmail.comTranscripts are available at ketamineinsights.comOur Instagram is @ketamineinsightsYou can also find all of our episodes on YouTubeIf you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, reach out. Get help. You are never all alone. In the US, you can dial 988. Support the show

Amber, a trained autopsy technician and Ketamine Insights listener, generously shares her story of doing research, finding a therapist, and finding beauty in the mundane. She and Molly discuss how ketamine journeys feel, the experience of "coming back" from trips, and the work of doing SO much introspection in a short period of time.They also share practical tips about music, weighted blankets, mindfulness, support networks, and more.Thanks so much to Amber for sharing her story.If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, you can dial 988. And remember, you are never all alone.Please take a moment to share this podcast with a friend.A transcript of this episode is available at ketamineinsights.comEmail us at ketamineinsights@gmail.comOur Instagram is @ketamineinsightsAnd help us keep the lights on via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsightsor on Substack  https://mollydunn.substack.comRemember to advocate for yourself, and never ration your joy!Support the show

Molly and her partner Demond discuss his experience supporting someone with serious mental illness. Who can you look to for guidance? How should you treat someone who's coming down from a psychedelic  journey? We talk about the benefits of instructions, the dangers of advice, and what to do when your loved one is spiraling out.Help us by subscribing at https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsights or https://mollydunn.substack.comEmail us at ketamineinsights@gmail.comOur Instagram is @ketamineinsightsYou can also find all of our episodes on YouTubeIf you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, you can dial 988. You are never all alone.Support the show

Molly interviews a listener about his experiences with depression, bipolar, and therapeutic ketamine. We learn how George convinced his hesitant psychiatrist, found a therapist trained in psychedelics, and joined a ketamine support group. We discuss the spiritual element to psychedelic experiences, what a ketamine journey can actually feel like, and the wonderful insights he's gained along the way.This is a gem of a conversation. We hope you enjoy it. If you do, please take a moment to share this podcast with a friend.Help us keep the lights on at https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsightsSubscribe to our newsletter at https://mollydunn.substack.com Email us at ketamineinsights@gmail.comOur Instagram is @ketamineinsightsYou can also find all of our episodes on YouTubeIf you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, you can dial 988. You are never all alone.Support the show

None of the many psychedelic conferences in 2023 have slots for patients to speak. The disability rights movement declares, "Nothing about us without us!" but instead of valuing patients' lived experiences or practicing trauma-informed medicine, the field of psychedelic medicine is excluding us from the rooms (and zooms) where policies are debated and best practices established. In this episode, Molly gives an update on season two (coming soon!) and provides some perspective on the marginalization of patient voices. Spoiler: she argues that the field of psychedelic medicine is building structures of violence against the patients it hopes to serve. One swear word appears in this episode.Tell us what to cover in season two by visiting https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsightsEmail us something you're proud of at ketamineinsights@gmail.comOur Instagram is @ketamineinsightsYou can also find us on YouTube If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, you can dial 988. You are never all alone.Support the show

Molly is the guest storyteller for Tell Me What Happened's 50th episode. Host Jay Rehak listens as Molly remembers her Grandma making a shocking admission (proudly!) at a big family dinner. Jay and Molly discuss how we often think that we already understand the people closest to us, when there is actually great wisdom and insight to be gained from asking them to... Tell Me What Happened.Thanks to Mr. Rehak (my high school English teacher!) for having me on, and for letting me share this story and a poem titled Us, Together. Both are about my grandma, and I'm honored to share a tiny bit of her with you.Please check out Tell Me What Happened, and take a moment to share Ketamine Insights too.Help us keep the lights on at https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsightsEmail us at ketamineinsights@gmail.comOur Instagram is @ketamineinsightsYou can also find us on YouTubeIf you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, you can dial 988. You are never all alone.Support the show

An exploration of "All or Nothing Thinking" and other mental habits that hold us back. Google "cognitive distortions," and you're sure to recognize a few patterns from your own internal monologue. Maybe you catastrophize or you tend to disqualify the positive things in your life. Another common cognitive distortion is "all or nothing thinking," which can wreak havoc on our ability to manage our expectations as we try different treatments.Molly and Lynn discuss their own experiences with treatments that aren't cures, and Molly cautions against expecting therapeutic ketamine to end treatment resistant depression. They also share some thoughts on how distorting "all or nothing thinking" can be in the arenas of personal wellbeing and service to others. We take a moment of mourning for Dr. Paul Farmer, whose vision and moral clarity continue to instruct and inspire us. We reference a wonderful Ezra Klein Show episode in which he interviews the incomparable Robert Sapolsky. That episode (called "Robert Sapolsky on the Toxic Relationship of Poverty and Stress") is here https://pod.link/voxconversations/episode/34b7e4b6820f3877279f47e0b38224c1 If you enjoy Ketamine Insights, please take a moment to share it with a friend.Our hosts are Lynn Schneider and Molly Dunn. All of our music is by Solid State Symphony.Help us keep the lights on at https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsightsEmail us at ketamineinsights@gmail.com with suggestions for Season Two!Our Instagram is @ketamineinsightsYou can also find us on YouTubeIf you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, you can dial 988. You are never all alone.Support the show

Many people report feeling more creative and open during smaller doses of ketamine, making it an ideal time for a therapy session, journaling, or for bonding with a loved one. In this episode, Lynn and Molly discuss several ways to use ketamine lozenges (aka troches) to improve mental health. Within your prescriber's instructions, we encourage you to explore how lower-dose ketamine can be most helpful for you. Also, if you've been wondering how our hosts feel about Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, then this is the episode for you :)Please take a moment to share this podcast with a friend.Help us cover costs by visiting https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsightsEmail us at ketamineinsights@gmail.comOur Instagram is @ketamineinsights(Email or DM us with something you're proud of from the past week)You can also find us on YouTubeIf you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, you can dial 988. You are never all alone.Support the show

Ketamine makes our brains more elastic, so how do we make the most of that flexibility? From ice cream to journaling to roller skating, Lynn & Molly discuss visceral pleasures to help people form new, more joyful neural pathways.Of course, you don't need ketamine to plan a Day of Joy. Send this episode to a friend and make a date!If you're enjoying this podcast, please help us keep the lights on by visiting https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsightsEmail us at ketamineinsights@gmail.com (Tell us what you're proud of from this past week!) Our Instagram is @ketamineinsightsYou can also find us on YouTubeIf you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, you can dial 988. You are never all alone.Support the show

*No Medical Advice*   What is a ketamine infusion like? How do I dress? What do I bring? Should I be scared? Lynn and Molly explore common concerns and give some concrete tips (like how to pick and prune a ketamine playlist). Then Molly reads her poem "A Room in Chicago," which is a very personal description of the therapeutic ketamine experience. We also touch on why patient voices are so important, and the profound value of the disability justice movement.In this episode we reference: Reid My Mind podcast http://reidmymind.com/ Crip Camp movie https://cripcamp.com/ If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, you can dial 988. You are never all alone.Please take a moment to share this podcast with a friend.Help us keep the lights on at https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsightsEmail us at ketamineinsights@gmail.comOur Instagram is @ketamineinsightsYou can also find us on YouTubeSupport the show

Thoughts on setting intentions for psychedelic experiences and in our everyday lives. **No Medical Advice** Most experts in psychedelic medicine recommend setting an intention before each session. In this episode, Lynn and Molly discuss what makes a good intention and give some examples. We talk about questions that can point one toward a good intention, such as: "What inspires me right now?" or "What is hurting my heart?" Molly posits that our own internal contradictions can also be great fodder for intention setting. We describe ways to uncover those internal contradictions, and how to be kind and curious about them. Finally, what are the purposes of intention setting, whether for a therapeutic ketamine session, a yoga class, or for life in general?Other topics include conjuring up an inner wise & benevolent friend, and a letter writing exercise - to yourself.As always, please hold these suggestions loosely and make them your own as you like.Please share this podcast with someone fantastic. And make sure they read the show notes so they know how you feel =)Join our community at https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsightsEmail us at ketamineinsights@gmail.comOur Instagram (now unsuspended!) is @ketamineinsightsYou can also find us on YouTubeIn this episode we reference:Episode "How to Prepare for a Psychedelic Journey" from the podcast Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers, available here  https://www.psychedelictherapyfrontiers.com/episodes/how-to-prepare-for-a-psychedelic-journey If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, you can dial 988. You are never all alone.Support the show

*No Medical Advice* Hear about many treatment options, including medications (so many types!), talk therapy (it's all about the vibe!), transcranial magnetic stimulation (brain magnets!), and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). It can be surprisingly difficult to find a list of treatments. Figuring out which ones to try can be even more daunting, especially if you're already depressed. This episode is meant to help kickstart your research. We also discuss stigma, the war on drugs, cost, and the role of underlying beliefs in supporting or undermining mental health treatments. Please share this episode via text, social media, and word of mouth.Tell your doctor, tell your therapist, tell your friends' friends, and your friends' friends' moms!ketamineinsights@gmail.comhttps://ketamineinsights.com/ https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsights @ketamineinsights on InstagramIf you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, dial 988. You are never all alone.In this episode we reference:Back from the Abyss podcast, episode "When Meds Don't Work" https://396871.buzzsprout.com/396871/9361631 Back from the Abyss podcast, episode "Almost Everything About Psych Meds" https://396871.buzzsprout.com/396871/8405798 Psychology Today lets you search for therapists in your area https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapistsSupport the show

*We do not give medical advice* Explore the two major models of ketamine treatment for mental illness: 1) The strictly medical model, which treats ketamine as a chemical that can fix a patient's biological illness; and 2) the more holistic model, which emphasizes psychological growth and sees value in the altered mind-states that ketamine can cause. We discuss how best to think about a patient's role throughout their treatment. Is it most helpful to see a patient as a passive recipient of care? Or is it more accurate to see them as active participants? What would it mean to see a patient as their own primary healer? Co-hosts Lynn and Molly also discuss the role of shame, isolation, friendship, and community in the healing process.Please subscribe, rate us, and share Ketamine Insights with someone you love (and someone they love!).The Kriya Institute has many great resources, including this (unvetted) list of providers https://www.kriyainstitute.com/find-a-provider/ Email us at ketamineinsights@gmail.com Visit us at ketamineinsights.com Join our community and help shape the future of Ketamine Insights via Patreon at patreon.com/ketamineinsightsFollow us on Instagram @ketamineinsights Share clips from our YouTube channel If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, you can call 988. You are not alone.Support the show

From lozenges and spravato(R) to intravenous infusions and intramuscular injections, we discuss the currently available ways to take ketamine. **No medical advice** In our very first(!) episode, we introduce Ketamine Insights as a podcast by and for people with mental illness and the people who love us. Co-hosts Molly (patient) and Lynn (ally) are old friends who usually live on opposite sides of the world. Molly, a disabled writer from Chicago who has treatment resistant depression and other chronic illnesses, has been a ketamine patient for several. Lynn, our resident genius empath, is not a patient but she is a longtime friend, relative, and ally of people who struggle with mental health challenges. Together they discuss the five (currently available) ways to take ketamine for mental health: 1. Spravato(R) 2. Infusions (also called IV) 3. Intramuscular Injections (also called IM) 4. Oral Lozenges (also called Troches) and 5. Rectal Suppositories. We go from benefits and downsides to absorption rates, flavor, standard regimens, and back again.Tangents include a short description of tripping balls, complete with a total mispronunciation of dissociation.Please subscribe, rate us, and share Ketamine Insights with someone you love.Send stories, questions, and suggestions to ketamineinsights@gmail.com.Visit us at ketamineinsights.com. Find clips to share on our YouTube channel, and we're also on Instagram @ketamineinsightsIf you or someone you know is planning self harm or experiencing suicidal ideation in the US, call 988 for help. You are not alone.Support the show