Using TMS and Ketamine for Treatment of Anxiety
Approximately 19% of the US population suffers from anxiety, making it the most common mental health condition in the country. While it’s common to feel stress, uneasiness or fear during some situations, constant worrying and fear can prevent you from living a happy and fulfilling life. Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions that lead to the feeling of dread, fear or uneasiness as a disproportionate response to an event or situation.
Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder
- A feeling of fear, panic and dread
- Feelings of irritability
- Inability to concentrate
- Restlessness
- Nausea
- Feeling of numbness
- Obsessive worrying
- Dizziness
What causes Anxiety?
While researchers are unable to confirm the exact cause of anxiety, it is estimated that anxiety is a mix of multiple factors below:
- Chemical Imbalances- an imbalance of key hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain can lead to anxiety.
- Genetics- Anxiety often runs in biological families. If someone in your immediate family is suffering from anxiety disorder you might be at an increased risk of developing it.
- Environmental factors- exposure to any kind of trauma in childhood or adult life, or abuse can be a factor leading to anxiety
- Stress- prolonged stress in personal or professional life can change the balance of the neurotransmitters in your brain causing anxiety
- Underlying medical condition- anxiety can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying health condition like heart disease, diabetes, or thyroid.
It is therefore important to reach out to a mental healthcare specialist who after an initial evaluation can understand the triggers of anxiety and can help you plan the most suitable treatment.
TMS for treating Anxiety
When the first line of treatment like psychotherapy or medication doesn’t help with alleviating the symptoms of anxiety the use of TMS or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation can offer relief. TMS is a non-invasive therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the area of your brain that controls the response to fears.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy has produced promising results for patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression. It is now being used as a successful alternative treatment for anxiety disorders and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) for patients who haven’t benefitted from medications and counselling.
Since TMS is a non-invasive procedure the risks and side-effects associated with medications are absent. A TMS session lasts for 20 minutes as an outpatient treatment, where you sit on a comfortable TMS chair and can watch TV or read a book undergoing the procedure. No lethargy or recuperation time is needed after the session, and the patient can drive themselves back comfortably after therapy.
Eskatamine Treatment for Anxiety
Another alternative treatment patients who haven’t seen results with the traditional line of treatment can explore is ketamine. Spravato™ or Esketamine a nasal spray formulation of ketamine was recently approved by the FDA for treatment-resistant depression. The efficacy of Esketamine in recusing symptoms of depression has been encouraging with 50% of patients reporting remission from symptoms of depression. The usage of Eskatamine has also yielded encouraging results in treatments for anxiety disorder and OCD.
Ohio Psychiatric Service centres at Lancaster or Hilliard, Ohio are well-equipped to create a customised treatment plan using novel FDA-approved therapies like TMS or Spravato™ that can help you combat anxiety and enjoy a worry-free life. Book your first consultation today.
Summary
Approximately 19% of the US population suffers from anxiety, making it the most common mental health condition in the country. It is important to reach out to a mental healthcare specialist who can understand the triggers of anxiety and can help you plan the most suitable treatment. FDA-approved therapies like TMS or Spravato™ can help you combat anxiety and enjoy a worry-free life.