Trauma is a psychological, physical, and emotional response triggered by a highly distressing event or series of events. Traumatic experiences can cause a person to go into shock and may manifest in symptoms including headaches, stomach aches, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and anger.
At Illuminate IV Therapy, our team of licensed and board-certified medical providers provide trauma-informed care based on cutting-edge research and treatments to help clients navigate the four stages of trauma recovery. We focus on using evidence-based, compassionate interventions tailored to meet the needs of each individual because we know everyone’s journey to recovery takes a different path.
Stage 1: Safety and Stabilization
The first step in trauma recovery focuses on creating a foundation of safety and stability.
A feeling of safety can be challenging to achieve, but if a person doesn’t feel safe, then effectively processing trauma becomes very challenging. That’s why the goal at this stage is to establish a level of safety and stabilization that allows people to trust the therapeutic process.
To build this sense of well-being, routines, trust, and empowerment are key initial elements of treatment. Routines can include exercise and mindfulness practices that help regulate emotions and reduce anxiety. Building trust is achieved by developing a support system, including friends, family, or a therapist. Empowerment involves individuals taking an active role in recovery by setting boundaries, saying no to potentially triggering situations, and self-advocating in relationships and treatment decisions.
At illuminate, the sense of felt safety is our highest priority, as that is the foundation for all integration and processing. Our clinicians are trained trauma-informed specialists. Our preparation sessions prior to each infusion are designed to facilitate the body, mind and spirit to have that sense of felt safety. Then, during the infusion, Ketamine IV significantly reduces the emotional response to the experiences encountered by blocking the excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate.
Stage 2: Processing the Trauma
In this stage, individuals begin to address traumatic memories they may have been avoiding and processing grief and losses associated with a traumatic event. This can be an extremely emotional stage of recovery. It elicits feelings of sadness, anger, and guilt but is a critical part of the healing process.
When we discuss traumatic memories or events with traditional therapy, it is very common for our nervous system to become “triggered” or dysregulated, which then shuts off the part of our brain responsible for processing – the hippocampus. With Ketamine IV therapy, the medication itself is a powerful tool to regulate the nervous system by blocking the excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, Glutamate. Followed by a psychedelic experience in a safe, calm setting, these memories are often encountered in an abstract manner and are processed at an increased rate in a regulated nervous system that has most likely never occurred before.
Stage 3: Reconnection and Integrating
Having a strong support network and building positive relationships is important for all of us, but for those dealing with trauma, renewing social connections is essential for recovery. During this stage, people strive to restore their sense of self, reconnect with others, and begin rebuilding their lives.
Those who have experienced traumatic events can lose their sense of identity, so rebuilding themselves as a person is a key benchmark for recovery. This stage also involves reconnecting with family, friends, and even simply being comfortable out in public. Reconnecting can help rebuild a support system and regain a sense of belonging. In addition to rebuilding a sense of self and reconnecting with others, the third stage also involves recognizing the trauma in a way that helps people glean meaning from the traumatic experience and move forward with a new perspective.
With Ketamine IV, our patients develop an entirely new perspective on their now processed trauma and see firsthand how it has been limiting their life. Our goal with integration is to bring this new perspective and belief system into their day-to-day lives and develop that new sense of self that is required for trauma recovery. The 3.5-week period of Neuroplasticity significantly facilitates this by solidifying that new perspective and re-wiring the brain with permanent, safe beliefs about oneself, leading us directly into stage 4.
Stage 4: Consolidation and Resolution
The last stage of trauma recovery focuses on integrating experiences and emotions through consolidation and resolution. Consolidation can help individuals develop a new sense of self and a fresh understanding of the world around them. They may also experience relief as they let go of the intense emotions tied to the traumatic event.
Resolution is the process of closure and moving past the trauma. It may include forgiveness, acceptance, and eliminating guilt or shame associated with the event. One key aspect of resolution to keep in mind is that it doesn’t mean a person forgets the traumatic event. This step helps them find a healthy way to coexist with the trauma as they carry on with their lives in a happier, healthier manner.
Processing trauma in a regulated, safe manner is required for consolidation and resolution. Ketamine IV Therapy with NeuroSomatic bliss is the perfect way to do this. The work is done by you, but the process is greatly facilitated with some incredibly powerful tools.
Illuminate IV Therapy Can Guide You on the Path to Recovery
At Illuminate IV Therapy, we believe that all mental health conditions stem from the same source – trauma. Our ketamine infusion therapy approach can be tailored to effectively treat people suffering from trauma and provide relief without the risks associated with opioid drugs. We also offer an innovative treatment called NeuroSomatic Bliss™. NSB focuses on restoring the brain-body connection through the principles of Nervous System Coherence Recovery and Ketamine Assisted Therapy. Contact us today to learn more about our trauma recovery services and take the first step towards a brighter future.
