According to statistics from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one out of five adults in the United States deals with some form of mental illness. Additionally, one in 20 adults deal with a severe mental illness, and half of all lifetime mental illnesses start as early as 14.
With the current treatment options available, is there a method that works to treat mental illness better than others? Antidepressants are a common method combined with behavioral therapy to manage mental illness, but the process doesn’t work for everyone.
Fortunately, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy is an alternative that offers relief without reliance on medication. But is one method better than the other? Let’s look at the challenges faced with treating mental illness, and the pros and cons of both antidepressants and TMS therapy.
Residents of the Washington DC, Metropolitan area looking for ways to treat various mental challenges can find help with the compassionate staff at Vital TMS Therapy.
The challenge of treating mental illness
There are many misconceptions about people dealing with mental health issues, including the idea that they have character flaws or that they can simply snap themselves out of it. Other myths are that they are violent and unpredictable, or that mental health conditions can impact children.
Unfortunately, the lack of support and funding is a major issue, creating problems in standards between different health care systems, funding to rural areas, and lack of proper support for many health care professionals.
For those with access to mental health care, antidepressant medication and TMS therapy are two choices for treatment. Here are the pros and cons:
Antidepressants
Pros
Antidepressants have been used for many years, and there are several options. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), tetracyclic antidepressants, and dopamine reuptake blockers are just some common types of drugs that can be used for treating mental illness. For many people, these medication options provide lasting relief.
Cons
However, many of these medications come with side effects that not everyone can tolerate. SSRIs, for example, can cause nausea, trouble sleeping, nervousness, tremors, and sexual side effects.
TMS therapy
Pros
TMS therapy is a treatment that places a device on your head that uses magnets to stimulate specific parts of the brain to alleviate symptoms. It doesn’t require medications or surgery, and the side effects are limited. It works for many mental health conditions and often provides relief when other options aren’t working.
Cons
A few patients may deal with a very temporary mild headache.
Not everyone can partake in TMS, including people with deep brain stimulators, electrodes, neck or brain stents, aneurysm clips or coils, metal plates, cochlear implants, or permanent piercings.
Between the two options, TMS therapy has less overall risk of side effects and can treat more conditions without relying on medications.
If you’re dealing with mental health issues and looking for better treatment options, call the staff at Vital TMS Therapy today or book a consultation online to get help.
