October 16 2026
Donna’s Ketamine story of hope, survival and improvement
Discover how one Australian veteran is navigating life with complex PTSD and exploring new treatment options to support her mental health and wellbeing.
For self-described “straightie 180”, grandmother Donna Manton of Bungendore who had never taken drugs, she has become a strong advocate for Ketamine to treat her complex PTSD.
As a veteran with 32 years’ service in both the Army and Airforce, she had been left with a devastating legacy of anxiety and depression, Donna has sought to re-build her life through Ketamine treatment at the Zed3 Medical Practice at Calvary Bruce Private Hospital.
Living with complex PTSD, anxiety and depression after military service
Explaining how she came to has gradually turned her life around, Donna relates that she has the “veteran trifecta” of depression, anxiety and c-PTSD but was fortunate to commence treatment at Zed3 in March 2024.
“I’d joined Defence in 1988 and was medically discharged in 2021, but I just didn’t face up to the fact that I was completely burnt out and unable to – actually I couldn’t, work,” Donna said.
“I was very conscious that I was doing nothing – literally nothing, but my psychologist emphasised “you are not doing nothing, you are actively recovering.”
According to Donna, some of her trauma is deployment-related, and some is institutional including sexual violence.
“For me, personally, the hardest part is coming to terms with the fact that I can’t function the way I use to. I was on anti-depressants and was seeing a psychiatrist with very uneven moods. I will always need help,” she said.
“There were days I couldn’t even get out of bed, and the worst was I never knew each morning how I would be, which made it impossible to plan anything.
Exploring ketamine treatment at Calvary Bruce Private Hospital
Donna explained that she had received psychiatric supervision from when she left the army, but it wasn’t until she first met Dr Alexander Lim of Zed3 Medical Group that she actually had a chance to feel very different to how she had been feeling about herself for a long time.
“It was another veteran who introduced me to this program, and I have to say I honestly had no idea what ketamine was and was very dubious about putting anything – any drug into my system,” Donna said.
“I’d never taken drugs before, so, other than seeing how people react on TV and in movies had little to prepare myself for the experience. It was actually a bit scary and I was very apprehensive.
“But I was also at my wit’s end and just knew I had to give something knew a go – there had to be a different outcome.
Donna's experience with ketamine treatment
“My first experience was a revelation because I’d never done psychedelic drugs, but for me it was really a very pleasant feeling - despite the temporary ‘Mickey Mouse’ hands!
“Mind you, I was in a hospital bed, and it was very safely supervised,” she said.
For Donna, the treatment consisted of receiving treatment every second weekday for a two-week period, with the goal of ‘building up her system’.
“It felt a bit freaky going in every two days, but by the end of the second week I was feeling more centred, less anxious, with fewer mood fluctuations and I felt much calmer for the first time. For once I wasn’t so ‘up and down’,” she said.
Zed 3 Practice’s experience with veterans provided a safe, welcoming space for Donna, understanding how best to build up the treatment to a comfortable, but not over-bearing point.
“The treatment does build up over time, and I’ve found for me personally, by week four or five I can actually start to feel it wear off, so it is important I maintain my routine of a treatment every four weeks.
Managing PTSD symptoms and processing trauma
For Donna, one of the biggest eye-openers of the treatment is that it has allowed her to release emotions – some she had been holding onto for a very long time.
“Emotions do rise up, sometimes you are processing things, there is a vibe. For me it started in the last few months – and it was horrible. However, my body is allowing me to process it in a safe space,” Donna said.
“Emotions can penetrate to the surface and that is when I will talk them through with my psychologist. I’m fortunate in that I’m able to make an appointment within a day or two, if there are certain things coming up, or if I’ve been triggered by things, otherwise I will see her monthly.”
Looking ahead: Life after starting ketamine treatment
When asked what her long-term goal is, Donna, who is currently doing a part-time work trial in a financial administrative role replied, “I’m never going to go back to what or who I was before. My cognition has really been affected by stress, and it is hard to concentrate, but now at least I’m not wallowing in bed feeling sorry for myself and not being able to function,” she said.
“I do miss my other past self, but I’m also very realistic now - she is not coming back.
“On the positive side, I’m content, hopeful, life is pretty good, and I can’t complain.
“You focus on the things that you can control.
“I have been on this program for two years and it has made an amazing difference to my life,” Donna concluded.
Ketamine treatment for veterans at Calvary hospitals
Zed3 Medical Group works in partnership with Calvary Bruce Private Hospital and provides an extensive range of services, including ketamine to existing veterans requiring specialised treatments.
Ketamine is a prescribed medicine and was introduced by the Practice in 2017.
It is currently the only private operator in Australia providing ketamine treatment at two locations other than the ACT: Calvary North Adelaide Hospital in SA, and Calvary Riverina Hospital in NSW.
