Stuck In The Same Mental Loops? Here’s How Ketamine Therapy Helps You Shift

By Dr. Haviva Malina

When emotional heaviness lingers for too long, it starts to affect how you see the world, and yourself. You may feel trapped in patterns you didn’t choose, reacting in ways you don’t recognize, and wondering why change feels just out of reach. For those living with depression or burnout, this experience is not a lack of willpower. It’s the brain doing what it has been trained to do, often after years of survival mode.

Ketamine therapy offers something many people don’t realize they’re missing: a chance to think and feel differently—quickly and with clarity.

At Keta Medical Center, we offer both IV ketamine and Spravato, a prescription nasal spray covered by most insurance plans. Unlike traditional antidepressants, ketamine works on the glutamate system, encouraging rapid neural growth and helping the brain form new connections, a process known as neuroplasticity.

One of the most profound effects of ketamine is the ability to interrupt automatic mental loops. The internal dialogue that used to run on repeat—self-criticism, anxiety, hopelessness—begins to quiet. Instead, patients often report a spaciousness in their thoughts, the ability to pause and reflect on what’s happening without being swept away by it.

That pause might seem small, but it’s powerful. It’s where self-awareness begins and change becomes possible.

Here’s one way to understand what ketamine does: Imagine your mind like a snow-covered trail that’s been used over and over. The grooves are deep, and it’s easier to keep following them than to carve a new path.

Ketamine acts like fresh snow—softening the edges and filling in the tracks. It doesn’t erase your story, but it gives you the freedom to choose a new direction. With this mental reset, many people find it easier to adopt healthier thoughts, behaviors, and patterns they previously struggled to attain.

{Reinforcing the Shift

Ketamine therapy opens a door—but what you do next matters. That’s why we offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) to help patients integrate what they experience during treatment. KAP provides the structure and support to turn emotional breakthroughs into long-term growth.

If you’re curious about whether ketamine therapy could be the right step for you, Keta Medical Center offers complimentary consultations. You don’t have to keep looping through the same pain. There are new ways forward, and we’re here to help you find them. Contact us today to see how we can help you. 

Dr. Haviva Malina is a licensed Emergency Medicine physician with over 15 years of experience. She is a graduate of Barnard College and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She is the co-founder of Keta Medical Center. She can be reached at 212-548-6182 or via email at [email protected].