TMS Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

You may never have heard of TMS treatment before, but it can be an alternative to using medication for various mental health disorders. If you are suffering from anxiety, this might be an effective method. For some patients, this approach can help the person control and overcome anxiety symptoms. Your psychiatrist will explore whether this therapy makes sense for you and can supplement or replace counseling or prescription drugs.

Understanding anxiety

Most people feel some type of anxiety from time to time. Stress can cause a person to feel anxious or worried. But when these feelings are intense and interfere with daily life, the person may need treatment. Generalized anxiety disorder occurs when a person has uncontrollable worries about common, everyday situations. These feelings may be unfounded, such as when there is, in reality, nothing to worry about.

With generalized anxiety disorder, the person may know there is no need to worry but still have these feelings. Or, the individual may not be able to pinpoint what is causing the anxiety. Symptoms can include difficulty sleeping or concentrating. Some people may have nausea or stomach aches. These symptoms often will not subside without treatment.

How TMS works

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is an alternative method to treating mental health conditions. It is a non-invasive, drug-free approach to helping alleviate the symptoms of anxiety. The psychiatrist will place electromagnetic coils onto the person’s head. Then, magnetic pulses go into the brain in areas that control mood and behavior. This stimulates activity and can effectively treat anxiety.

What to expect during the treatment

This is not an overnight, inpatient therapy. Usually, the actual TMS therapy will last 30 to 40 minutes. There is some preparation work, however. First, a technician will provide earplugs for the patient and then measure the head. This allows the technician to know where to place the coils and what settings to use.

As the impulses release, there will be a clicking sound. There may also be a tapping or knocking feeling beneath the coils. However, the patient should not feel any pain or discomfort during the therapy. The person also will not need a general or local anesthetic.

What the results will be

The treatment must be a regular therapy, or it will not be effective. The patient will come into the office for treatment five times a week. This will take place for four to six weeks, depending on how severe the person’s anxiety is. Some people notice results within a couple of weeks. A decrease in feelings of anxiety and worry should be evident by the end of the TMS sessions. Specific results will vary from person to person.