Release OCD’s Grip with TMS Therapy
If you are living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), you understand the exhausting toll it can take on your everyday life. For many living with OCD, it may seem to exert complete control over your mind and actions throughout the day. Through the support of available therapies, it is possible to release OCD’s grip and take back your life. Whether you are diagnosed with moderate or a more severe form of OCD, there is hope for a better life free from the weight of this disorder.
A variety of treatment options are available for people living with an OCD diagnosis. Most typically, these include a combination of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), particularly Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), as well as medications (most often selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs). Yet, when these first-line treatment methods fail to produce adequate relief of OCD symptoms, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy may help. This innovative treatment is FDA-approved for OCD and non-invasive. When you’re ready to explore a better treatment option for your obsessive-compulsive disorder, Oasis TMS is here to help.
What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a result of overactive areas of the brain, manifesting itself in recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas, sensations, or urges (obsessions) that drive a person to do something repetitively (compulsions). These repetitive behaviors, such as hand washing, checking on things or cleaning, can significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions.
While many people commonly have distressing thoughts or repetitive behaviors, most do not typically disrupt their lives. For people living with OCD, repetitive thoughts are persistent to the point of feeling beyond their control. Additionally, not performing certain rigid behaviors commonly causes great distress. Some people with OCD suspect their obsessions are not valid, while others think they actually may be true. Central to OCD is the tremendous difficulty a person may have disengaging from irrational, obsessive thoughts or compulsive routines and actions.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, an OCD diagnosis requires the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions that are time-consuming, cause significant distress, and impair work or social functioning. The Anxiety and Depression Association estimates that OCD affects 2.2 million adults every year. Disorder prevalence is typically higher in women, and the average age of onset is 19, with 25% of cases occurring by age 14.
Will TMS Therapy Help My OCD?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy uses magnetic fields to stimulate underactive or inhibit overactive nerve cells in the brain. Unlike with medications like SSRIs, TMS therapy is localized, more precisely targeting the brain’s medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex, which play an essential role in regulating OCD symptoms. This non-invasive treatment targets these specific areas of the brain so that the rest of the body is spared of adverse effects, which can happen with medication.
At Oasis TMS, our mission is offering an environment conducive to providing results-orientated relief from OCD and other mood disorders.
How Is TMS Therapy Administered For OCD?
Oasis TMS provides treatment in our two comfortable and convenient locations in suburban Louisville (St. Matthews) and Radcliff, Kentucky. Using the MagVenture system, TMS Therapy offers an industry-standard, 9 minute TMS protocol and a newer, three-minute protocol called Theta Burst. In 2018, MagVenture received FDA clearance for the three-minute protocol, with the trademarked name Express TMS®.
TMS therapy for depression is always a non-systemic process, meaning nothing enters the bloodstream at any time. Additional TMS therapy benefits include:
- No sedation – patient remains awake and alert during treatment
- No drugs – no side effects like weight gain, drowsiness, sleeplessness, stomach upset or sexual problems you may experience with medications.
With TMS therapy, no post-treatment recovery time is required and patients may return to daily routines immediately following a session. The amount of time required for a treatment is based on the frequency, intensity, and range of stimulation needed for a patient’s diagnosed condition.
If you and your doctor have tried front-line treatment options for your OCD and not experienced adequate relief, TMS therapy could be the answer for you. Oasis TMS offers a safe, welcoming environment where providing non-medicated, results-orientated relief from OCD and other mood disorders is our only priority. Start by taking the first step toward feeling better. Call us today at (502) 742-8182 – Oasis TMS is ready to help!
