Qualifying for ketamine and choosing someone to watch over me

Read Sober Psychonaut disclaimer for people in sobriety exploring psychedelic medicine

​Now I’m wondering if I will qualify for ketamine sessions. What if I’m too “well” already?

I had to take a questionnaire first and answer a bunch of questions ranging from mental health history to dependence on opioids, suicidal ideation, and what my expectations were for ketamine sessions. In the part where they asked about coordinating with my current provider, I chose no.

Photo: Hnapel, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The reason being, my current line of treatment is traditional medicine and I’m not confident of how the conversation would go with my psych nurse, the person who prescribes me Wellbutrin and Prozac. I wrote in the questionnaire that I’d like to get off of those drugs permanently and I’m not interested in having psychedelic medicine conversations with people who aren’t open to it.

Admittedly, I don’t know if she’s open to it or not. I just don’t want my groove disturbed if she isn’t.
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I also trust the pscyh nurse I’ll be consulting with before ketamine therapy to take into consideration any medications I’m currently taking.

Peer monitor for ketamine session

Did I mention I asked my friend Tuey to be my Peer Treatment Monitor? As part of the ketamine therapy agreement, I have to have a partner, family member, close friend or trusted adult who can create a safe, comfortable and distraction-free environment while I am in my session. The person can be a passive observer or just remain in a nearby room to check in occasionally.

Tuey is my best friend from New York, someone well-versed in ketamine therapy of the dance floor variety.

“What do I have to do?” he asked.

“I have no idea, but the guide will walk us through it when the time comes.” 

I’ve scheduled my first ketamine session—presuming I qualify for the therapy—the first weekend of December.

I chose Tuey for obvious reasons:

• I'm pretty sure he gave me my first bump of Special K on the dance floor back in 1989.
  
• He had an out-of-body experience with the stuff.
  
• He’s safe for me. Non-judgey. A believer.
  
• He’s been to Burning Man three times for Chrissake.
  
• A walking mutherfucking Thai Buddha.
  

​He’s also seen me in despair.

So yeah. 

God I miss him right now like the earth needs the sun.

I hope they see me as a good candidate.

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