What is the Ketamine Experience?

What is Ketamine Dissociation?

Ketamine dissociation is a unique state characterized by a profound detachment from one’s surroundings, body, and even self.  It typically begins shortly after ketamine administration and can last from a few minutes to a couple of hours, depending on the dose. 

People often describe ketamine dissociation as feeling like they are floating outside their body or observing themselves from a distance. This altered consciousness can offer a break from habitual thought patterns and contracted emotional responses.

Ketamine dissociation manifests in various ways, including visual and auditory distortions, a loss of sense of time, and altered perceptions of space. Some people report a sensation of melting into their environment or becoming one with the universe, which can evoke deep introspection and emotional release. 

Physically, ketamine dissociation may cause numbness, a sense of heaviness, or the feeling that one’s limbs are not connected to their body. These sensations, while unusual, are generally not painful or distressing when experienced in a controlled, therapeutic setting.

Most people describe ketamine dissociation as an out-of-body experience characterized by altered body awareness, profound introspection, and euphoria.