College is supposed to be an exciting time. But with an unfamiliar environment, challenging course load, and distance from friends and family, college can also be the first time depression and anxiety appear, often wreaking havoc on a student’s plans.
At our ketamine and TMS clinic here in Delray Beach, we see students who are managing heavy course loads while managing new social pressures, money stress, sleep deprivation, and feelings of isolation. There’s a lot happening all at once.
Why depression often appears in college
Depression and anxiety can be caused by stress. Unfortunately, the college years compress multiple stressors into a short period of time:
- Transitions and identity shifts. Moving away from home, redefining routines, and figuring out “Who am I?” and “What do I want to be?” all at once.
- Academic and financial pressure. College is full of high stakes exams, competitive programs, and performance pressure, coupled with the financial strain of living on your own for the first time.
- Sleep loss and exhaustion. Most college students don’t get the sleep they need; the time-honored ritual of “pulling an all-nighter” can be severely detrimental to mental health and stability
- Loneliness and comparison. New, unfamiliar environments can feel isolating. Students often feel like they are lost in the shuffle or only a number. And carefully cultivated social feeds make it appear as if everyone else is thriving while you are struggling.
The adjustment from high school to college is a big one, and many students struggle to cope with the added stress. Fortunately, readily available treatment has been proven to help with depression and anxiety in college students.
Two modern options: Ketamine therapy and TMS
At NeuPath Mind Wellness, we use both ketamine therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to treat depression and anxiety. There are several important benefits of each that make them especially attractive to college students, such as not causing brain fog or emotional numbing. Students who didn’t like antidepressants because of negative side effects like weight gain or sexual dysfunction are often relieved to discover that ketamine therapy and TMS incur no such side effects.
Ketamine therapy: rapid relief for treatment-resistant depression
Ketamine is a fast-acting treatment for depression and anxiety that acts on the glutamate system. This has two unique benefits: 1- It acts faster than traditional treatments, such as antidepressants and 2- Patients who were not helped with antidepressants often can find relief through ketamine therapy because of its different method of treatment.
Many patients feel relief within hours to days rather than weeks—especially those who haven’t responded to traditional antidepressants.
At NeuPath Mind Wellness in Delray Beach we offer two different forms of ketamine therapy:
- IV ketamine infusions Ketamine infusions involve a precise, controlled delivery of ketamine through an IV. Patients are awake and alert throughout the procedure.
- Esketamine nasal spray A newer form of ketamine therapy, known by the brand name Spravato. Spravato is a nasal spray form of ketamine delivered during an in-office visit. As with ketamine infusions, patients remain awake and alert throughout the procedure.
Both forms of ketamine therapy have been proven to deliver fast-acting relief from depression and anxiety.
TMS: Targeting the Brain Directly
TMS is not a drug but a medical device. It uses focused magnetic pulses that target the brain to nudge underactive mood circuits into action. TMS uses a stimulus/response mechanism that prompts the brain to undergo a healing process that overcomes depression and anxiety.
TMS has been approved by the FDA since 2008 to treat major depression, with additional approvals granted since then to treat other conditions. TMS is backed by a large body of scientific research demonstrating its efficacy, and research continues to refine protocols and expand TMS treatment to other conditions.
A nice benefit for college students is that TMS is outpatient and schedule-friendly. Sessions are brief, typically lasting about 30 minutes each, and you can head to class or work immediately afterward.
How Ketamine Therapy Helped Jason in College
Jason (name changed at patient request), a 20-year-old sophomore at a South Florida campus, came to us after a semester of spiraling anxiety and heavy depression. He was struggling in his classes. He was having difficulty sleeping, which caused fatigue and burnout. He didn’t feel like engaging in social activities with his friends. Things were heading to a crisis situation.
Jason had tried therapy and two different antidepressants; one blunted his emotions and made him feel flat, the other caused panic. Jason needed help quickly to avoid losing all momentum in school.
We mapped out a plan: he would continue weekly therapy and work on improving his sleep. We prescribed ketamine infusions for fast-acting relief, while we worked to taper Jason off his antidepressant.
After the second ketamine treatment, Jason reported something new: “I woke up and didn’t dread the day.” It was a big step forward. Over the next two weeks, his motivation returned. He began attending labs again and even texted a friend to ask for help in studying together. Ketamine therapy gave Jason the window of opportunity he needed to regain his energy and enthusiasm.
Every person is different, and outcomes vary, but Jason’s story shows how combining the rapid relief of ketamine therapy with durable support can restore momentum and overcome depression.
What You Can Expect at our Delray Beach Ketamine Clinic
It can be difficult for patients to work up the courage to see a psychiatrist. This can be especially true for college students. It’s yet another unfamiliar experience. But it doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. At NeuPath Mind Wellness in Delray Beach, we exert every effort to ensure your comfort, from the beautiful clinic environment (often compared to an upscale spa) to the friendly, compassionate way you are greeted.
Our goal is to help our patients quickly overcome issues like depression and anxiety, enabling them to move on and enjoy life once again. While college can be a stressful time filled with deadlines and intense pressure, it can also be a time of growth, learning, and making new friends and acquaintances. Let’s make sure depression or anxiety don’t prevent that from happening.
Schedule an Evaluation Appointment
Ketamine therapy and TMS are powerful tools, but they’re not magic wands. They work best when combined with other supports, such as therapy, lifestyle changes, adequate sleep, and a support network. As a clinic focused on whole-person health, we’ll help you understand how to get the most out of your treatment and how to extend the benefit for the long-term. We’ll talk through all of it with you so you can make an informed decision.
If you’re a student in South Florida and depression or anxiety is getting in the way of school, please schedule an appointment for an evaluation. We are here to help you overcome these challenges and continue to succeed in your college journey.
To schedule an appointment, you can:
- Call us at 561-847-3662
- Use our online appointment request form
- Or text us at 561-279-3250 to request an appointment
