Ketamine Preparation
The experience doesn't end when the medicine wears off. How you spend the rest of the day matters. Go slow, be gentle with yourself, and let things settle.
Take it easy. For the rest of the day, go slow. Nourish yourself. Make time and space to re-ground.
Some people really crave alone time after a session. Some want to be with others. Some want a balance of both. There's no right answer. Let your ride or your person know beforehand that you'll let them know what you need when the time comes.
We're not rushing to make sense of the experience. The goals for the rest of the day are simple: re-grounding, nourishing, and preparing for a good night's rest.
If a few details or insights stuck out to you, you might want to capture them while they're fresh: a quick note, a voice memo, a sketch. But there's no obligation. Some people prefer to just sit with it quietly, and that's perfect too.
Some ideas for the rest of the day:
Eat something nourishing when you feel ready. Some people are hungry right away, some not until much later. Listen to your body.
Hold off on big life decisions.
There's an adage in this world: "don't divorce your parrot." Ketamine sessions can open doors, shift perspectives, and bring powerful clarity. That's a good thing. But in the days and weeks after, you may still be processing in ways that aren't fully conscious yet.
Even if something feels crystal clear right away, give it time. If it's the right decision now, it will also be the right decision once things have settled. We generally recommend at least a week, and sometimes up to a month, before making significant changes to relationships, career, finances, or other major life areas. This kind of change is best facilitated with a therapist who understands you, can help weigh out options, and can orient you when things feel uncertain.
The next day: If you can, take the day off work, or arrange for a lighter day. Defer or offload what you can. It's highly recommended to leave room and space for yourself. You might not need it, but you'll be glad you have it if you do.
Remember: you won't be driving for the rest of the calendar day. Your ride home should already be arranged. Let your person know what you need when you're ready.
The session itself is just the beginning. Integration is where the real transformation happens.
Integration means taking what came up during your experience and weaving it into your life: through reflection, conversation, and the choices you make in the days and weeks that follow.
But before diving into analysis and meaning-making, you might want to just focus on re-grounding and nourishing first, even for an extended time, and that's completely okay. In fact, re-grounding IS part of integration. Coming back to your body, to your senses, to the simple rhythm of eating, sleeping, walking, being present. That's not avoiding the work. That's the foundation the work rests on.
If you're someone who tends to be analytical, who wants to "figure it out" right away, this might feel counterintuitive. You might wonder: "What does 'grounding' even mean? What am I supposed to be doing?" The honest answer is: less than you think. Feel your feet on the floor. Notice the temperature of the air. Eat something warm. Take a walk without your phone. It's not a technique. It's just coming back to the simplest version of being here.
The next day, feel into the balance between taking it easy and leaving room for whatever wants to emerge. Both re-grounding and reflection can coexist. Some days will lean one way, some the other. Trust that rhythm.
We encourage you to attend the group integration session. If that's not possible, plan to discuss your experience with your therapist within the first week or two. There's no rush, and you don't need to have it all figured out before you talk to someone. Sometimes the conversation itself is how you start to make sense of it.
You may notice connections or meaningful occurrences in the days after your session. Pay attention. Note them. They're part of the process, even if they seem small or unrelated at first.
We can also share resources for integration coaches and integration groups you can join. Integration doesn't have to be solitary. Sometimes hearing how others processed their experience can illuminate your own.
If you're interested, just ask.
You know how to take care of yourself after this. Be gentle.
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