40 million adults in the United States suffer from an anxiety disorder, and nearly 16 million experience depression. There’s no doubt that mental health disorders are common. And with an abundance of medications on the market, a drug-free, noninvasive solution might sound too good to be true.
But it’s not. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate brain activity and improve your symptoms without the need for medication.
Up to 60% of patients with treatment-resistant depression notice symptom improvement with TMS, and its benefits extend beyond depression. At Vital TMS Therapy, we treat patients with depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), among other conditions.
If you’re struggling with one of these common disorders, you don’t have to suffer any longer. Learn more about TMS — our groundbreaking solution for depression, anxiety, OCD, and more.
A drug-free and noninvasive solution
Many types of mental health disorders can be treated with a combination of medication and therapy. When you’re diagnosed with a condition like depression or anxiety, your health care provider might recommend these treatment options first.
But, up to a third of adults with depression find that medication and talk therapy aren’t enough. Whether you have a treatment-resistant disorder or you simply don’t want the side effects that come along with medication, you have another option.
The TMS treatment process
TMS is a noninvasive, drug-free solution for depression, anxiety, OCD, and more. Treatment involves placing an electromagnetic coil against your head. The coil painlessly delivers magnetic pulses into your brain, improving mood and brain function to help you manage your symptoms.
Treatment is comfortable, and you don’t need to take any sedative or medication to prepare. Each session takes about 30 minutes, and there’s no recovery time required after your session ends. Common side effects may include mild scalp irritation or headache.
Most people find that a series of give sessions over a period of six weeks delivers noticeable results, and a team member monitors each session using CloudTMS® technology to ensure the best possible results.
How TMS treats depression, anxiety, and OCD
TMS is FDA-approved to treat a range of common mental health issues, including depression and OCD. At Vital TMS Therapy, Dr. Anca G. Zinnes and Dr. Alvaro Guzman customize each of our patients’ treatment plans according to the individual’s needs.
For people with major depression, TMS stimulates neurotransmitters in your brain to produce more of the chemicals that boost your mood. Higher serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels can improve symptoms of depression, even in patients who haven’t found success with medication.
Anxiety can be managed with medication and talk therapy, but TMS offers an alternative if you’re still affected by anxiety symptoms. The neurotransmitter stimulation that’s effective for treating depression also has proven benefits for anxiety, namely reducing stress and worry in the mind.
TMS for OCD works by quieting overactive regions of the brain that cause compulsive thoughts and actions. The magnetic fields change the way your brain works, successfully reducing compulsions and the anxiety that often comes along with them.
Talk to our Washington D.C. team to learn more about TMS for depression, anxiety, and OCD. Call us today at 202-800-8455 or request an appointment online.
