Depression and anxiety are two distinct mental disorders, but they often travel together. In fact, if you have depression and anxiety together, you’re actually in the majority. Around 60 percent of people with depression also have anxiety disorder, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
Unfortunately, depression makes anxiety worse and vice versa. Because the two conditions feed off each other, it can be difficult to treat them using standard depression treatments.
Fortunately, there’s another option: ketamine therapy.
At KetaKlarity in Greencastle, Indiana, we see patients with both depression and anxiety. It’s probably more common than you might think. For these patients, we prescribe ketamine infusion therapy. It’s proven to be an effective treatment for both conditions – even when they are co-existing at the same time.
In this post, we’ll take a look at patients who have depression and anxiety together, explain how ketamine works differently from conventional antidepressants, and why it can be successful at treating both conditions at once.
The Problem with Traditional Depression Treatments
Most traditional medications, like SSRIs and SNRIs, were designed primarily to treat depression. Some may help with anxiety as a secondary benefit, but the success rate is inconsistent and often unpredictable.
If you have both conditions at the same time, it usually means you end up cycling through a frustrating cycle of trying different medications, increasing doses while trying to mitigate side effects, and then waiting several weeks or months to see if you notice any improvement in your depression or anxiety symptoms.
This is a long and frustrating experience for most patients. And it’s not necessary. Research shows that more than one-third of people with depression don’t respond to standard antidepressants. When anxiety is also present, treatment becomes even more complicated. We know this in advance.
Why Ketamine Works When Antidepressants Don’t
Ketamine works using a completely different mechanism than conventional antidepressants. Instead of altering serotonin or norepinephrine levels, it targets the glutamate system, a key neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation, learning, and memory. By acting on NMDA receptors, ketamine helps the brain form new neural connections—a process often impaired in both depression and anxiety.
This rapid rewiring effect is what gives ketamine its fast-acting antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties. Unlike traditional medications, which can take 6–8 weeks to show benefits, many patients feel relief within hours or days of their first ketamine infusion.
And here’s the key: ketamine doesn’t just mask symptoms. It helps break the feedback loops that keep depression and anxiety locked in place. This allows the body to actually adapt and overcome depression and anxiety. For people struggling with both conditions, ketamine therapy can be life-changing.
Treating Depression and Anxiety Together—Effectively
Given how often depression and anxiety occur together, and how poorly traditional treatment options address both conditions simultaneously, ketamine therapy should be a leading option for patients who have a choice in treatment.
In clinical studies, ketamine has shown significant reductions in symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, and panic disorder, even in patients who were also diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). A study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry found that up to 70% of treatment-resistant patients experienced improvements in both depression and anxiety symptoms within 24 hours of a single dose of ketamine.
Real Results, Real Relief
Here at KetaKlarity in Greencastle, Indiana, Dr. Sheffler has firsthand experience with helping patients through ketamine. Patients often come to us after years of trying therapy, multiple medications, and even inpatient stays. They tell us they don’t have much hope since the other treatments didn’t work, but they’re willing to try anything to get rid of the depression and anxiety weighing them down.
Although skeptical, after just a few treatments that skepticism turns to hope. They describe feeling like “a fog has lifted” or that their minds are finally calm for the first time in years. They feel like themselves again. They sleep better. They feel less on edge. Their energy comes back. And their lives completely change for the better.
How to Start with Ketamine Therapy
If you’re ready to try the depression and anxiety therapy backed by solid research and clinical results, simply schedule a new patient appointment at KetaKlarity. You will meet with Dr. Sheffler for an initial consultation, where you can get your questions answered about ketamine therapy for your specific condition.
If you are a good candidate for ketamine therapy, you will be scheduled for treatment at our office in Greencastle. A typical course of ketamine infusions involves several sessions over a couple of weeks. This gives your body and mind time to adjust and begin to heal between sessions. Most patients complete the full course of treatment within two weeks.
Find Help Today
If you’ve been battling depression, anxiety, or both, it’s time to find a solution that works. Ketamine therapy is a fundamentally different approach that can bring fast, meaningful relief.
We’re here to help you find out if it’s the right treatment for you. Reach out to schedule your consultation at KetaKlarity today. We are located in Greencastle, Indiana and serve the surrounding communities of Indiana, including Terre Haute, Bloomington, Cloverdale, and Lafayette.
Call us today at 765-630-8315 or request an appointment online to get started.
Sources:
· Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
· The American Journal of Psychiatry, 2013.
· National Institute of Mental Health.
· Yale University School of Medicine – Ketamine Research.