"I stopped into Forward Ketamine after first noticing the clinic in early 2023. After talking with Brian, I was intrigued but not convinced that ketamine therapy was for me. When I got home, I struggled to find good online resources about ketamine therapy. After finding some Reddit threads that seemed promising -- and talking with Brian more -- I decided to try ketamine therapy.

At the time, I had been taking an SSRI for depression and anxiety for eight years. I was also drinking problematically and smoking weed daily in an effort to self medicate. I noticed an uptick in mood after one infusion. After the fourth infusion, I surprised myself by turning down requests to go drinking. The effects overall were subtle but definitely noticeable. When I describe the experience to my friends, I say that it’s like my default settings were changed. I found it much easier to avoid drinking and smoking.

In the weeks after treatment, I started to feel much better overall. I also did my best to pair the ketamine therapy with other life changes like exercising more to maximize the positive effects. My friends and family noticed positive differences in my mood, but what surprised me the most is that casual connections noticed the changes, too. A few weeks after my last infusion, a waitress at a restaurant that I’m a regular at pulled me aside to ask what I was doing differently. The changes were that noticeable.

Six months after the first infusion, I still feel much better. Under the guidance of my doctor, I have stopped taking my antidepressants. I’ve been able to cut back my weed smoking and drinking to truly recreational usage. While I still experience some depression symptoms, I no longer struggle with anxiety."