TMS Therapy For Anxiety
Anxiety disorders can causing feelings of being trapped within one’s own mind, hindering daily functioning and causing overwhelming challenges.
Anxiety can manifest in various forms and has diverse risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events. Each person’s experience with anxiety is unique.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy is gaining recognition for its success in treating anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, and more. TMS revitalizes mood-controlling brain areas and improves central nervous system communication. TMS has proven especially effective for treatment-resistant cases, including major depressive and anxiety disorders.
Oasis TMS provides a safe and welcoming environment for non-medicated relief from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mood disorders. If traditional anxiety treatments have not been effective, TMS therapy may be the solution for you.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults, or approximately 18 percent of the population each year. Anxiety disorders are considered highly treatable, yet only 37 percent of those living with any number of these conditions receive necessary treatment.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is perhaps the most common anxiety diagnosis. GAD affects 6.8 million adults, or 3 percent of the U.S. population, yet approximately only 43 percent are receiving treatment. Women are twice as likely to be affected as men. It’s not uncommon for someone with an anxiety disorder to also suffer from depression or vice versa. Nearly half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
TMS therapy may be the answer for many living with anxiety
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and anti-anxiety medications are effective for many with anxiety, but not all. TMS therapy is FDA-approved for depression and is showing promise for treating anxiety disorders.
Studies show that TMS therapy has induced symptom remission in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). While TMS may not completely eliminate anxiety, it can effectively reduce symptoms.
In a National Institutes of Health study, GAD patients underwent six TMS therapy sessions over three weeks using low-frequency stimulation on the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). This resulted in significant and lasting improvements in anxiety symptoms. Follow-up assessments after six months confirmed the sustained benefits.
How does TMS therapy work?
Primary therapies for anxiety and depression typically involve medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. Finding the most effective treatment may require trying different approaches tailored to individual needs.
Unlike anti-anxiety medications, TMS therapy does not alter the brain chemically. At Oasis TMS, we use an FDA-approved device to stimulate underactive nerve cells in the brain’s prefrontal cortex, revitalizing areas of the brain responsible mood control and improving central nervous system communication.
TMS is a non-invasive, in-office procedure, and takes as little as three minutes, depending on the frequency, intensity, and range of stimulation needed. No post-treatment recovery time is required and patients may return to daily routines immediately following a session.
Trials have shown to produce lasting, positive effects on brain function in people who may have experienced a form of treatment-resistant anxiety disorder, PTSD, depression, schizophrenia, and more.
What can my anxiety improve with TMS therapy?
During a course of TMS treatment for anxiety, patients often observe a reduction in the intensity of anxiety symptoms and fewer anxiety-related thoughts and feelings within two weeks. Some individuals may experience immediate benefits, while others may require more time to fully benefit from TMS therapy.
TMS therapy may improve a large range of symptoms common with anxiety disorders:
- Sleep disturbances
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Shortness of breath
- Frequent urination
- Dizziness
- Muscle tension
- Blurred vision
- Concentration problems
- Excessive sweating
- Headaches
- Digestion problems
- Pounding heart
Other benefits of TMS therapy include:
- Non-systemic delivery – nothing enters the bloodstream
- No sedation – patient remains awake and alert during treatment
- Non-invasive – nothing is inserted or implanted into the body
- No medication – unlike with some drugs, there are no side effects such as weight gain, drowsiness, sleeplessness, stomach upset or sexual problems you may experience with medication.
Potential Side Effects of TMS
TMS therapy has minimal risks and side effects. There is no evidence TMS impacts long or short-term memory. The most common side effects of TMS are mild headaches and scalp discomfort, which usually improve with each session. There is potential for TMS to cause a seizure, but it is extremely rare. Oasis TMS is available to address any concerns and discuss risk factors beforehand.
Patients with a dual diagnosis of depression and anxiety may benefit from insurance coverage. Oasis TMS is ready to assist patients, regardless of their insurance status, in exploring TMS therapy as a potential anxiety treatment. We are here to help you feel better.
