Addiction of any kind is a terrible affliction that affects millions of people around the world. 1 out of 10 people has some form of substance addiction in America alone.

Ketamine addiction is not as big of an epidemic as other substances, but it still causes rifts in lives across the country. Treating ketamine addiction isn’t easy, but with the right kind of help, everyone can get the treatment they need.

If you’re uncertain where to start, keep reading. We’ll go through all of the steps you need to get started on your path to recovery.

1. Ask for Help

Admitting to addiction is one of the hardest steps for anyone to take. It’s a scary thing to put yourself out in the open like that.

That does not change the fact that the most important thing a person with an addiction can do is ask for help. There are free helplines available that will guide you to the next step in your journey to recovery. They’re free to everyone and the operators know how to give you a push in the right direction.

If calling strangers is a frightening thought, then turn to friends, family, doctors, or even trusted co-workers. Find someone in your life who can walk this path with you, so that you’ll never become overwhelmed by the process.

2. Sign Into an Inpatient Detox Center

Proper ketamine treatment is a great asset for a variety of conditions, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain. Prolonged addiction to ketamine tends to make those conditions worse. It also leads to kidney problems, ulcers, problems with memory, and higher risks for infectious diseases.  

Recovering from ketamine addiction comes riddled with a lot of problems as well, due to its disassociation properties. Detoxing takes over two weeks and throughout the process, you’re prone to psychotic withdrawal behaviors.

This is why it’s vital to find a professional and respected detoxing center as your next step to recovery. They’ll monitor you as you go through the withdrawal symptoms, ensuring that you’re not harming yourself or others throughout the process. 

Choosing an inpatient center is a better choice than other types because you’ll always be a few steps away from doctors and nurses who can help you every step of the way.

3. Find Alternative Medicines

Instead of relying only on ketamine for your medical conditions, try finding alternatives. Ketamine isn’t addictive when used in smaller doses, but prolonged usage makes the possibility of addiction much greater.

The good news is that there are hundreds of methods and medicines on the market that can help mental health issues without the dangers of ketamine. Ridding yourself of a ketamine addiction doesn’t mean that you stop treating your mental health problems. It means you find better solutions that won’t end up harming you in the long run.

Make sure to speak to your doctor to find out what kind of medicines are right for you and your conditions.

4. Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Due to ketamine often being prescribed for many difficult mental health issues, cognitive behavior therapy is a great alternative treatment. CBT tackles a lot of the reasons behind our poor choices and behavior patterns and helps build new ones.

Instead of relying on medication, this therapy treatment gives you new ways of thinking so that you can continue to improve your life. It’s a great way to learn more about yourself and the way you think, as well as giving you the tools to make better choices in the future.

5. Group Therapy

Doing anything with a group tends to make the experience more rewarding and even fun. It’s the same for treating ketamine addiction as well.

Continued group therapy sessions give you a community to talk to when things feel the most difficult. You’ll make new friends who know all of the ins and outs of what you’re going through.

What’s even better is that having a support group is a great way to keep yourself accountable. They’ll keep checking in on you to ensure you’re still on the right path to recovery.

6. Involve Friends and Family

Dealing with addiction recovery often leads to feelings of shame, which makes it difficult to be around loved ones. Instead of feeding into these feelings, try involving your friends and family even more into your life.

Sometimes this extra burst of love and support is all anyone needs to do well on the path to recovery.

If there’s a strained relationship between you and a loved one, start trying to make amends. Have a heart-to-heart conversation with that person and see how the two of you can move forward together. Don’t let your past addictions ruin the connections in your life.

7. Get Rid of Addiction Triggers

Sometimes small problems in our lives lead us back to past choices. We’ll go back to our addiction as a coping mechanism and spiral back out of control.

It’s important to distance yourself from anything and everything that causes you to fall back to ketamine. Go through your home, room by room, and throw away anything that reminds you of past choices.

This cleansing includes bad influences as well. If there’s a person in your life who encourages you to continue your ketamine addiction, it’s time to say goodbye to that person.

Ridding yourself of these things might be difficult now, but it’ll make continued recovery much easier.

Bring Clarity Back Into Your Life by Treating Ketamine Addiction

With the help of these steps, you’ll be on the right track to treating ketamine addiction. It’s not an easy journey, but with the guidance of professionals and loved ones, you’ll persevere through the ups and downs.

Remember to take everything one day at a time, and don’t forget to continue seeking out help if you need it. If you’re reading this because you know someone with an addiction, let that person know you’re here to help them every step of the way.

For more content regarding life and all of its aspects, check out the rest of the blog!