My name is Dr. Jeffrey Fox, and I am a tenured Professor of Mathematics at CU Boulder. Like millions of people, I have suffered from depression and PTSD most of my life. I have sampled the smorgasbord of medications, often going back for seconds. I have been treated by therapists all over the United States, and each one has provided me with useful tools and insights to help manage my depression. PTSD has a been harder – the only techniques I’ve learned so far were 1) avoid the triggers and 2) hope for the best. These techniques were all I had until now, and they have not been very successful.
Then last year I discovered Ketamine Infusion Therapy, and it has been a game changer.
Dr Wade Grindle and Sarah Grindle are the founders of Boulder Mind Care, the first Ketamine Infusion Therapy clinic in Boulder. They have literally given me my life back. The Grindles are truly exceptional, caring, kind, and compassionate people. From the first moment I spoke with Sarah, I felt a renewed hope, because she really listened to my story. It was the first time in a LONG time that I felt like someone (other than my exceptional therapist) cared enough to truly listen to me.
I have had rare periods of remission from depression. More often, I’ve only been able to get to what I call “good enough”. “Good enough” is where I survive my day, doing what I have to do, and at the end of the day breathing a sigh of relief that I got through it, knowing tomorrow will be the same. “Good enough” is the state that many people like me strive for; “good enough” is what we settle for. The fantasy of sustained remission long ago fled my mind.
The trouble with “good enough” is, it’s not. Not only is “good enough” not good enough, in actuality, it is horrible. “Good enough” steals one’s life, one’s very humanity. The very things that make us human are just stamped down, if not completely erased. In the “good enough” state I become more like a robot than a human being.
Last year, I started to hear about ketamine, and how it was being used successfully to treat depression, PTSD, and chronic pain. One of the practical barriers I had in doing ketamine therapy was accessibility. I cannot drive after an infusion, so I had to have some way of getting from one of the Denver clinics back home. I’m single, with family far away, and I did not want to impose on my friends. Then I discovered that there was a Ketamine Infusion clinic in downtown Boulder (on Broadway between Pearl and Spruce), called Boulder Mind Care. The accessibility problem for me was now solved – getting from my house to the clinic is a 15 minute bus ride there and a 15 minute bus ride home. This was the final barrier I had to get over to try the therapy.
After that first conversation with Sarah Grindle, I sent them my history with their quick and easy online form. Dr. Grindle spoke with my therapist & reviewed my medical history, and I was able to quickly get in for my first appointment. The Grindles, as well as their nurse Stacie, are very compassionate, caring people, and I knew I was in good hands from the start.
After my initial consultation with Dr Grindle, I had my first ketamine infusion, and I had a dramatic improvement in my depression and anxiety. Later, at Dr Grindle’s recommendation, I tried “Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy” wherein I did therapy with my therapist while receiving ketamine at the same time. Ketamine by itself was incredible; ketamine and therapy simultaneously was miraculous. The ketamine enabled my therapist to walk with me through and process traumatic memories; in a way that was not painful or difficult. As a result, I had my most productive sessions ever!
My experience has been more than good, it has been unbelievable. While I have an exceptionally gifted therapist, since I started my ketamine infusions I’ve had more progress in dealing with PTSD in one year than I have in my entire life.
The ketamine therapy has not caused the depression symptoms to go into remission forever. Stress has always been one of the triggers for my depression. I still have stress in my life, but now, the ketamine therapy has given me resilience. My reaction to stress has changed; and that is everything. This is what I mean by resilience.
I am so grateful to Boulder Mind Care. The Grindles have been incredibly supportive, and have helped make this journey so much easier. I have no doubt they are supportive of everyone that they treat at that clinic. I can only feel grateful that they decided to open a clinic in Boulder that was readily accessible for me. Because of Boulder Mind Care, I have changed so much. I now have an effective tool for overcoming my depression and PTSD. I am so encouraged that I now have hope, and enthusiastic that I am finally moving on from “Good Enough” to “I Love My Life”!
This is my story, you will have to find your own.
Dr. Jeffrey S. Fox, Professor of Mathematics at CU Boulder
There aren’t enough superlatives in the dictionary to adequately express all the ways I would passionately and enthusiastically I recommend Boulder Mind Care. Dr. Wade, Sarah, and Stacie were the most capable, compassionate, and loving people we have had the pleasure of meeting.
My daughter and I traveled from Maryland to be treated at Boulder Mind Care. Dr. Wade came so highly recommended that I was confident that our long journey was worth it. I can’t emphasize enough how complex our cases were. If I tried to explain, I would lose you in about 30 seconds. It was very important for my own peace of mind that I didn’t get my hopes up in regard to the outcome of our respective treatments. That being said, I never dreamed of the amazing results we have experienced. To see the freedom of spirit in my daughter’s being for the first time since she was a young child, is miraculous. For me not to have the searing wide spread pain at a solid 7 everyday, is something dreams are made of.
My daughter doesn’t trust. However, the immense understanding,empathy, and caring that Dr. Wade treated her with allowed her to “let go and let Ketamine,” do the work! 🙂 Our every question was answered and any and all anxieties were put to rest. You truly receive the highest and most individualized treatment here. It was awe inspiring as I was able to not only be a part of the process, but also had the opportunity to watch it, as well.
This experience has changed our lives. My daughter now sees life as being full of possibilities. I couldn’t have said that before we arrived there. We even memorialized our trip by getting little dragonfly tattoos on our hands. So now every time we look down at our hands we are reminded of this beautiful and trans-formative experience.
Thank you Dr. Wade, Sarah, and Stacie for providing us with such phenomenal care. We miss you already, and we have only been home a couple days. I am sure this isn’t the end for us, as we shall see you again. Please know that we couldn’t have done any of this without you all, both figuratively and literally.
Kelley Peyser-Small
My care there has helped me greatly. I trust Dr G with everything and I know in total confidence that Ms Sarah cares. I feel as if I have a team of caregivers who assist me to living my very full active and productive life. That they are on my team to help me bloom in all my potentiality. Thank you Boulder Mind Care!
You can trust them.
Jade Hunter-Kettner
I can say with absolute certainty that I am alive today as a result of meeting Dr Wade and Sarah. You see just over a year ago I went to the ER with a burst appendix and after an extensive surgery they were not able to control the severe pain that I was having. The previous 10 years of my life were wrought with multiple orthopedic surgeries and chronic pain stemming from a childhood accident. Having been a nurse I chose the route of medicine over alcoholism that my father battled. I had been on high doses of opioids for the majority of those 10 years. Also as a redhead I require twenty percent more pain medication and anesthesia (this has been studied and proven). I suffered too from the subsequent depression and anxiety related to the chronic pain. After this surgery I honestly felt and believed I was going to die, and I was ok with that. I was exhausted, fighting for medical care, constantly being treated like a junkie every month when I needed a refill of my medications. Thankfully, I had a Doctor at the hospital, my anesthesiologist, he was able to move me to the step-down ICU and create a plan that would both ease my pain and detox me off of all the opioids during my hospital stay of 8 days. I had never heard of Ketamine but the very first dose was a turning point in my recovery. The woman I once was started to return, the woman I hadn’t seen for at least 10 years. It gave back my fight, it gave back my desire to live. This doctor also connected me with Dr. Grindle for the 6 initial infusions. The tenderness and compassion I have received from Dr Wade and Sarah have truly changed my life in such a profound manner. It made such a difference to me that Dr Wade knew what it was like to struggle with chronic pain. His total understanding of this gave me the peace and confidence to stay on this path till I was well again. I currently go about every eight weeks for a booster infusion and it has kept me in less pain, with no depression and minimal anxiety. It was like starting over in life. I now can sleep at night, I enjoy my 6 adult children and 10 grandchildren. My creativity has returned and I have been living my best life as they say ever since. I tell everyone I can about this treatment I share this story to all who will listen because I know how many people need this as much as I do. I am blessed to have the option to receive Ketamine treatments and I am hopeful for the day when this becomes the standard of care for all struggling with chronic pain, opioid dependence and addiction, depression, anxiety and multiple other maladies. I am so thankful for Dr Wade and Sarah’s commitment to this process!
Trudy Moser
