Anxiety disorders
Some of the most manageable mental health illnesses are anxiety disorders. Individual therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and meditation are a few examples of the types of therapies that help patients with anxiety problems. These therapies assist in balancing their brain chemistry and put into practice newly acquired abilities to help them deal with symptoms.
Prefrontal cortex abnormalities are typically present in the brains of individuals with anxiety disorders. This region of the brain is responsible for the symptoms of various anxiety disorders, including social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder.
Unfortunately, these conventional treatments do not always help those with anxiety disorders. Some patients with anxiety disorders, particularly those with anxiety that is resistant to treatment, as well as those with post-traumatic disorders, have benefited from TMS therapy.
TMS therapy for anxiety
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS as it is commonly known, is a non-invasive technique that helps to stimulate specific brain regions for the aim of treating diseases like anxiety.
Similar to TMS for depression, a qualified medical or mental health professional typically inserts a coil on the patient's skull in TMS treatment for anxiety. The coil delivers magnetic pulses to the targeted brain regions on a regular or irregular basis.
The concept behind TMS therapy for anxiety is that the magnetic pulses activate parts of the patient's brain that assist in easing anxiety-related symptoms. The procedure takes an hour or less, after which the patient can drive themselves to their destination or place of employment and carry on with their daily activities.
Effectiveness of TMS for anxiety
According to studies, people with anxiety disorders who receive TMS therapy report fewer symptoms like agitation, insomnia issues, frequent urination, irritability, shortness of breath, blurred vision, excessive sweating, focus issues, digestive issues, migraines, and high blood pressure.
People who have been diagnosed with anxious depression or depression with concomitant anxiety can benefit significantly, according to studies. In these situations, TMS has been demonstrated to lessen both depression and anxiety.
Types of TMS
There are two types of TMS for anxiety. The classification typically depends on the parts of the brain that the magnetic pulses are focused on. These are the categories:
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
Anesthesia is typically not required for this noninvasive technique. In order to deliver pulses to the brain through the skull during the process, a doctor may hold the electromagnetic coil against the forehead adjacent to a certain region of the brain. Small electrical currents are produced as a result, stimulating the nerve cells in the relevant part of the brain.
rTMS pulses typically penetrate the brain by up to two inches. A person receiving therapy can experience a slight tapping or knocking sensation on his or her head. A type of rTMS called theta burst stimulation uses brief bursts of high-frequency stimulation to imitate the regular rhythm of brain activity.
- Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS)
The deeper and larger brain regions are typically the targets of deep magnetic transcranial stimulation. Specialized coils, known as H colls, deliver pulses during dTMS operations that typically extend about four millimeters below the skull. Different parts of the brain are stimulated by the coils.
An individual uses a customized helmet that generates magnetic fields during dTMS sessions. A twenty-minute session may be held daily for a period of four to six weeks with each person.
Side effects of TMS for anxiety
TMS therapy for anxiety in certain patients can have negative side effects, including headaches, neck discomfort, scalp pain, tingling, drowsiness, facial twitching, and cognitive impairment.
In the TMS therapy room of a leading transcranial magnetic stimulation near me, there is a warning that most TMS therapy side effects are mild to moderate, but that seizures are possible.
Need more information and help with TMS therapy for anxiety?
For more information or help with TMS therapy for anxiety, call (562) 203-0567 or send your inquiry here and you will be assisted.