Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you or someone you know is struggling with ketamine or substance use, please consult a licensed medical professional.
Earlier this year I wrote about my experience at a ketamine retreat: guided journeys, meditation, waterfall hikes, and yoga. Ketamine opened something in me. It softened pain I hadn’t realized I was still carrying and created space for grief, clarity, and relief I’d been seeking for years. But that was not the end of the story.
A few weeks later I noticed I was using ketamine more often—first to maintain the afterglow, then to manage stress, and eventually just to feel normal. Gradually and quietly, I crossed a line.
When the Red Flags Start to Feel Familiar
The first warning sign was brain fog. Soon I felt unfocused more often than not and noticed life taking on duller colors. I blamed age, stress, and menopause at first. Then I began needing to urinate more frequently—a known indicator of bladder dysfunction linked to increased ketamine use.
Deep down I knew what was happening. As a former alcohol addict of nearly 30 years, my body was sounding an alarm. I had two choices: confront the truth or risk causing real and possibly permanent damage.
If we want honest conversations about healing, we must drop stigma and acknowledge that powerful medicines can also create dangerous patterns.
Ketamine Addiction Doesn’t Always Look Like Addiction
Addiction to ketamine can be stealthy. It sometimes presents as therapeutic work, wrapped in clinical or wellness language, so people don’t see themselves as addicted but as “doing the work.”
You might tell yourself:
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“I’m doing inner child healing.”
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“This helps me cope with anxiety and depression.”
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“I need this to access my emotions.”
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“Ketamine is doctor-prescribed, so it’s safe.”
If you’re using ketamine to escape rather than to engage with life, the medicine has become the master and you may be giving your power away.
The Physical Damage Is Real, and Often Irreversible
Licensed ketamine providers typically recommend dosing one to two times per week, but some people use it daily. At high frequency, ketamine can cause lasting harm—especially when warning signs are ignored.
Documented risks include:
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Ketamine-induced cystitis: constant urinary urgency, pelvic pain, and in severe cases irreversible bladder shrinkage that can require surgery or lead to bladder removal.
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Cognitive impairment: memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and emotional blunting, sometimes mistaken for aging, burnout, or menopause.
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Cardiovascular strain: elevated blood pressure and heart rate, increasing the risk of stroke or cardiac events.
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Organ stress: burden on the liver and kidneys, especially when use is frequent or combined with alcohol or medications.
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Psychological dependence: beyond craving a high, a gradual loss of coping skills without the drug.
Signs that ketamine may be causing harm include:
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Someone who was calm and grounded becomes irritable or foggy.
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Frequent bathroom trips and disrupted sleep.
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Increasing doses paired with denial that anything is wrong.
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Combining substances to chase or enhance the effect.
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A subtle disconnection from life, relationships, and joy.
In the wellness space these signs are easy to miss because the behavior is often framed as intentional, therapeutic, or spiritual. I’m speaking from personal experience.
This Medicine Requires Honesty
Ketamine therapy can be transformative when delivered under medical supervision and integrated with genuine therapeutic support. It has helped many people with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and chronic anxiety—sometimes after years of ineffective treatments. That is real and life-changing for some.
But this treatment demands honesty with yourself, your therapist, and the prescribing physician. This is not about shame; it’s about staying grounded and aware. If you have a history of addiction, dissociation, or compulsive behaviors, disclose that up front. If you find yourself needing a session just to get through the week, speak up.
What I Did Next
When I recognized dependency signs, I contacted my primary care provider and shared everything: symptoms, concerns, and dosage. We ran a full panel of blood work. Results showed a dangerously abnormal marker that could be related to ketamine use. While causation wasn’t certain, that warning was enough to shake me awake.
That lab report forced honesty and immediate action. I chose to change direction. The truth cleared the fog—not instantly, but enough to take the next steps: not just stopping, but replacing the harmful pattern with healthier habits. Healing is not only about what you leave behind, but what you build in its place.
Replace & Redirect
Cravings don’t vanish on their own; they need a new destination. As a long-term recovery survivor, I knew quitting without replacing ketamine would create a void that could quickly be filled by another unhealthy pattern.
I didn’t just stop—I redirected my energy into two constructive pursuits: weightlifting to serve my body, and real estate investing to serve my financial future. Obsessively learning new skills is the strategy I’ve used to leave sugar, alcohol, and self-sabotage behind.
What worked for me might work for you: instead of white-knuckling temptation, retrain your nervous system to find safety, reward, and regulation in healthy, productive activities. Replace the old loop with something stronger that serves you.
Ketamine-assisted healing is possible, but it must be grounded in clarity rather than self-deception. Regular self-checks and transparent communication with providers help ensure you are choosing the medicine, not the other way around.
Helpful Resources:
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SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – 24/7, free and confidential
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Psychology Today: search for clinicians and resources related to substance use and ketamine experience
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Urology Care Foundation: resources on bladder health and urinary symptoms
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Fireside Project: peer support for people navigating psychedelic experiences
Originally published in the print edition of Vegas Wellness Magazine.