Treating Anxiety With TMS - A Natural Alternative

The considerable rise in the diagnosis of anxiety cases around the world has left various healthcare experts scampering to find an effective treatment for this condition. Here in the United States, studies by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America show that anxiety is the leading mental health condition in the country. With over 18% of all American adults affected, it’s a huge cause of concern for healthcare professionals and psychiatrists in the country. Given its prominence and probability of disrupting everyday tasks, nations across the globe are more than ever before focused on developing an effective treatment for anxiety. What used to be regarded as being overly sensitive, soft, or even highly emotional in different social circles has been shown to be possible results of a constantly anxious mind.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Meaning & Process

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a form of treatment approved for patients with major depressive disorders. Approved by the F.D.A, the treatment process is non-invasive and features the deployment of magnetic pulses to specific spots on the brain. Because depression and anxiety share similar symptoms, the disruption of mood, and lack of equilibrium in electrochemical signals, many healthcare specialists share the thought that TMS could be effective in treating anxiety. The treatment period varies from one patient to the other but is usually between 5 to 6 sessions each week, lasting less than 19 minutes. The beauty of TMS lies in its non-invasive approach and lack of medication. It also offers patients a chance to drop in for treatments and leave in time to continue with their daily activities. While some patients improve and get better with therapy and medication, TMS is designed to cater to the needs of patients with more severe cases by stimulating nerve centers. Harvard trained psychiatrist, Dr. David Penner, who’s also the founder of Olympia’s pioneer TMS clinic said “We decided to start offering TMS wanting to make this amazing treatment available here. Having been in practice since 2011, doing everything I possibly could to help people get better; ensuring they had proper supports, psychotherapy, it saddened me not watching the symptoms from my patients that I cared about not improve enough, or with side effects. I knew TMS was the next best treatment, or better than the one they had, but simply wasn’t a practical option for people to drive north.”

Can TMS Treat Anxiety?

Due to the interrelation between depression and anxiety as well as the similarity in their symptoms and causes, many have wondered whether TMS could be effective in treating anxiety. The decline in response and activity of certain parts of the brain in patients suffering from depression and anxiety can be stimulated by TMS, giving them instant relief. Anxiety is caused by an electrochemical imbalance in hyperactive and hypoactive areas of the brain, which may lead to rapid heartbeats, shortness of breath, and excessive degrees of fear and worry. The reasoning behind treating patients with anxiety stems from the knowledge that calming the hyperactive part of the brain could strike a balance between both the left and right sides, leaving the patient calmer. This theory has been proven by numerous studies around the world that point to the efficacy of TMS in treating anxiety and compulsive disorders. Thus, patients with severe cases of anxiety can rest assured that hope isn’t lost as TMS remains a viable alternative to traditional medication and therapy treatments. To get started, contact Dr. Penner at Pristine Mental Health or (360) 539-1736.

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