FAQ.

Ketamine has been shown to effectively treat various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, addiction. It is particularly successful in treating severe medication and treatment-resistant depression and those who have experienced adverse effects from antidepressants. It has a rapid onset of action and can be a life-saving option for those with suicidal thoughts. Studies have shown that even a single infusion of Ketamine is more effective than a placebo in reducing depression scores, with serial treatments increasing the response rate to treatment. The American Psychiatry Association as well as South African Society of Psychiatrists have released consensus statements endorsing the use of Ketamine for treatment-resistant depression. It can also work for chronic pain and a growing number of other physical conditions.

Research indicates that the majority of patients receiving ketamine treatment will experience a positive response. The length of effect can vary from a few weeks to months. You can read all about the benefits of Ketamine by condition. Click on each condition in the list on the Home page.

Ketamine has effects on the brain beyond its anaesthetic properties, stimulating the regrowth of neural connections in the conscious thinking part of the brain. The reaction caused by Ketamine triggers a state of neuroplasticity, allowing the brain to learn, change, and adapt, forming new connections and breaking old patterns of thinking that contribute to mental health symptoms. This temporary period of heightened neuroplasticity provides an opportunity to establish new habits, thought patterns, and perceptions, making Ketamine a potential treatment option for various mental health conditions.

Our program offers a personalized treatment plan for patients seeking Ketamine assisted therapy. We conduct a thorough intake process, with a first consultation, to ensure the best fit for each patient. If the fit is good then you are taken through six infusions over two to three weeks. Whilst taking the infusion patients often experience deep relaxation, wonder, and a newfound capacity to explore challenging emotions and experiences thereafter. Dosage is personalized based on each patient's comfort level, history, and tolerance to the medicine, and slowly increased to help reach deeper breakthroughs. Our team provides guidance and support throughout the treatment journey to create an optimal mindset and achieve goals. This is achieved with integration sessions at specific points over the two to three weeks.

Needles are always uncomfortable. However, intravenous administration of ketamine is the preferred method due to its high bioavailability, efficacy, precision, and safety. The bioavailability of ketamine with IV administration is 100%, meaning the full dose reaches the brain. Other routes, such as intranasal, sublingual, and oral, have lower bioavailability percentages. IV administration is the safest and most effective way to treat depression with ketamine, and healthcare providers can monitor for potential side effects. Despite concerns about needles, the IV route is the best way to deliver ketamine. Our doctor will be very gentle with the needle.

Detox from substances and activities that can affect your mood and mind. Practice meditation to help you relax and focus. Journal about your goals for the infusion and what you hope to learn or experience. Set an intention for the infusion.

It is best to avoid food 4 hours before and fluids 1 hour before a Ketamine infusion.

We will ensure that a loved one is with you in the first few minutes to help you settle down. Throughout the ketamine infusion process our doctor will be present to monitor you closely. Your vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels, will be continuously monitored. You can always raise your hand if you need help.

You will be given an eye-mask to cover your eyes and headphones with a soothing playlist of soft sounds. While receiving the treatment you should relax, and listen to the calming music. It's important to note that you will not fall asleep during the infusion.

Ketamine is a drug that, at low doses, can induce a dream-like, relaxed, and happy state in you as it produces an altered state of consciousness. You may feel disturbed if it is your first time but breath deeply and slowly to relax. You can touch the chair to reassure yourself of where you are. Don't worry! We are always next to you. But we advise you to let go of where you are, otherwise it can become unpleasant. During your psychedelic assisted therapy, focus on your internal experience and “go inside yourself”. Imagine you are a fish and swimming around in this dream. This can make it a very pleasant experience. It may feel like you are "dissolving". This "ego dissolution" is the path to healing. Don't worry! It ends in 40 minutes!

We give an infusion of 40 minutes. It affects you within minutes and stops within minutes of completing the infusion. You will wake up and may feel 'loopy' and drowsy for up to 2 hours. The ketamine leaves your body completely with 4 hours. The effects that benefit you are because of how it resets the brain and allows you to reshape your brain.

Whilst Ketamine can only be prescribed by a doctor, medical evidence regarding the issue of drug abuse and dependence suggests that ketamine does not cause tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. Hence it is not addictive. However, cravings have been reported by individuals with a history of heavy use of psychedelic drugs.

Give yourself time to reflect on your experience. It's okay if you don't remember everything from your infusion. It's okay if you don't feel motivated to make changes right away. Be patient with yourself and give yourself time to integrate your experience. Express what you experienced through journaling, art, or music. Meditate to help you integrate your experience. Pay attention to your intuition. Talk to supportive friends and family about your experience. Start a new routine or make changes to your existing routine. See doctor to help you integrate your experience. Don't take what you saw and experienced literally. Don't make dramatic life changes immediately! Don't tell everyone they have to take ketamine.

Ketamine rapidly reduces depressive symptoms, with relief occurring soon after the first treatment and lasting up to two weeks after a single dose. The response time to ketamine treatment can vary among patients. Some patients may experience improvement within a few hours of the first infusion, while others may need multiple infusions before noticing a significant difference. Patients with suicidal thoughts may notice a reduction in those thoughts sooner than other symptoms. The relief from feelings of hopelessness and despair can be remarkable.

Ketamine is administered in low doses to treat depression, and as a result, mild sedation is a common side effect. Some patients may also experience mild nausea, which can be alleviated with anti-anxiety medication. Occasionally, there may be minor fluctuations in blood pressure.

It has can affect blood pressure and heart rate, which are monitored during treatment. Long-term risks associated with high-dose ketamine abuse (outside the clinical enviroment) include urinary symptoms, substance use disorders, and cognitive impairment.

It is advisable to have someone drive you, such as a friend, relative, or caretaker, if possible. Additionally, we advise refraining from driving until the next day.

The standard treatment plan usually consists of six ketamine infusions administered 2-3 times a week for a duration of 2-3 weeks. Depending on your response, additional infusions may be given during this initial course of treatment.

Once you complete the initial course of 6 or more infusions, you and the doctor will collaborate on developing a plan for ongoing care. Depending on your specific needs and severity of symptoms, some patients may require a regular maintenance treatment schedule of monthly infusions, while other patients may return for occasional infusions as needed, often several months after the initial course.

Ketamine is not affected by antidepressant medications (such as SSRIs), so you do not need to stop taking them. However, if you take large doses of benzodiazepines (such as Ativan) you may have a reduced response to ketamine. Lamotragine is not now thought to blunt the effects of ketamine. It is important to consult your prescribing physician before making any changes to your medication regimen.

Overall, ketamine is considered safe for patients with various health conditions. However, in cases where there are concerns about your cardiovascular health, we may conduct a check-up to ensure that you are a suitable candidate for ketamine treatments.

Medical aids do not currently cover ketamine therapy for mood and anxiety disorders, as it is still considered a relatively new treatment option. There are discussions with Discovery to start covering it. We will keep you posted.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behavioural therapy that helps individuals learn to manage difficult emotions and decrease conflict in relationships. It focuses on developing skills such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT is often used to treat disorders such as depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder.

At AYZA Health, we specialize in the treatment of a wide range of mental health issues utilizing Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). DBT is an evidence-based form of therapy that is effective in treating a variety of issues, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. DBT can also help people with relationship difficulties, anger issues, and difficulty managing emotions.

We help you take care of yourself with fun and interactive online groups that teach Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). DBT is all about learning useful skills to handle your emotions and improve your relationships with others. We do this through videos, readings, and worksheets that you can do as homework. Then, we come together for weekly online meetings over 8 weeks to talk about what we've learned and share our experiences. If you're a patient, you can join these groups to get the support you need. And if you're a patient's family member, we have special online meetings just for you too! We want to help families understand the skills being learned and support the healing process. Our approach works well alongside individual therapy and medication. Whether you're in talk therapy or taking medication, these skills can be a great addition to your care plan. We believe that by learning these skills together, we can make positive changes in our lives and relationships.

The main aim of DBT is to help you lead a life that makes you happy and fulfilled. Everyone's idea of a meaningful life is different, so therapists assist individuals in discovering what matters most to them. Another crucial goal of DBT is to address behaviors that could be dangerous, like having thoughts of suicide, attempting suicide, or self-harming. DBT also focuses on dealing with behaviors that might get in the way of your progress in therapy. These can be things like missing appointments, being late, or not doing assigned tasks. Together with your therapist, you'll identify behaviors you want to reduce and those you want to increase. For instance, DBT can be used to work on behaviors related to alcohol use or binge eating disorder. By working as a team, you can make positive changes in your life with the help of DBT.

You can join our skills groups at any time because we have openings available regularly, approximately every 8 weeks. Both patients and families can participate in these groups together. However, please note that some of our groups may have waiting lists. If you're interested in a specific group, feel free to reach out to us at AYZA Health to inquire about the wait time. We'll be happy to assist you!

Yes, we have a patient course over eight weeks, consisting of homework and meetings. We also have a family course to assist the family. They run over the same eight weeks but it consists of just four meetings.

We allow a maximum of 12 patients for the patient group as this is sharing group for individual patients. We also limit the family group to 12 but the whole family is allowed to attend as the purpose is to equip families to support the patient AND themselves.

Absolutely NOT! DBT is all about promoting recovery. Our primary goal is to help you build a life where you won't need ongoing DBT or any other treatment. We work together diligently to achieve this. Many of our clients, after completing our program, go on to lead fulfilling lives with significantly reduced suffering. When you join our DBT program, you commit to participating for 8 weeks at a time. After this period, depending on your progress, you can reapply for another 8 weeks if needed. Typically, clients stay in the DBT program for about 16 weeks to make substantial progress toward their recovery and well-being. We are here to support you every step of the way on your journey to a better life.

No, having hope is not a requirement to participate in DBT. Many individuals who join DBT often have very little or no hope that their suffering can improve. We understand that it takes time for experiences with DBT to gradually increase hope. In DBT, we encourage clients to "act opposite" to their limited hope by consistently attending sessions, diligently practicing their skills, and giving the treatment a chance to work. While hope may be scarce initially, the commitment to the process can lead to positive changes and a growing sense of hope as therapy progresses. We're here to support you along the way, regardless of your starting point, and to help you find hope and relief as you work through the DBT program.

Absolutely! DBT can be effective for individuals even if other therapies haven't worked for them. Many of our clients have experienced limited success with previous therapies because those approaches might not have adequately addressed the specific skill deficits underlying their challenges. In DBT, we focus on more than just gaining insight into the reasons behind difficulties or behaviors. While understanding the reasons can be helpful, it's not the sole solution. Instead, DBT emphasizes the importance of actively changing behaviors and developing new skills to cope with challenges. You don't necessarily need to have deep insights to make positive changes in your life through DBT. DBT is designed to be practical and applicable, teaching you skills to manage emotions, improve relationships, and handle difficult situations effectively. It's about providing you with the tools and support you need to create meaningful changes, even if other therapies haven't been successful in the past.

In DBT, you won't hear those negative judgments about yourself. We have certain beliefs and assumptions about our clients that shape our approach: • We believe that clients are doing their best given their current circumstances. • We understand that clients genuinely want to improve their lives and well-being. • We recognize that clients may need to work harder and be more motivated to make positive changes, but we offer support and understanding. • We acknowledge that some problems in life may not be caused by the clients themselves, but we empower them to find solutions. • We understand that individuals dealing with suicidal thoughts or borderline issues are going through incredibly tough times. • We recognize that learning new behaviors is essential for growth, and we provide guidance for applying these skills in various situations. • We believe that clients cannot fail in therapy; rather, therapy is a safe space to learn and progress. In DBT, we foster a compassionate and understanding environment, supporting you every step of the way on your journey to healing and improvement. Your challenges will be met with empathy, and we'll work together to find effective solutions for a better life.

Every week, we'll ask you to do watch a few videos, read some short worksheets and then do a homework assignment for the DBT skills group. It's usually about practicing a skill and filling out a brief worksheet. Additionally, you'll maintain a daily diary card, which you'll bring to the DBT skills group. The group work will consist mostly of discussions of your experience using these skills over the week. Your therapist may also give you additional homework if they think it will assist you in achieving your goals. Though it's not mandatory, clients who review the skills learned during the week tend to experience greater success in DBT. Taking some time to go over what you've learned can reinforce the skills and help you apply them effectively in your daily life. We're here to support you throughout this process, and your dedication to the homework will contribute to your progress in DBT.

DBT, or Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, is a type of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). While DBT incorporates all the strategies of CBT, it places a greater focus on emotions than traditional CBT. In DBT, you'll learn essential skills like recognizing emotions, dealing with them in healthy ways, managing them effectively, and enhancing positive emotions. Emotions play a significant role in DBT, and the therapy emphasises their understanding and management to help you lead a more balanced and fulfilling life. DBT is a form of CBT. DBT uses all of the strategies from CBT, withmuch more emphasis on emotion than is found in traditional CBT.Learning how to identify emotions, experience them effectively,regulate them, and increase pleasant emotions are all stronglyemphasized in DBT.