Is Anxiety the New Fear in This Pandemic

The physical spread of coronavirus pandemic is continuing and how. While the entire world is almost shut, experts believe an emotional pandemic is here to follow. There's no harm accepting it's an awfully hard time for the human mind to not break into pieces. In times such as these, despair, worry and depression can affect them the most who are already in the suffering zone.

The U.S. was a clinically anxious place and this is not just because of the Covid-19 phase. Over 19% of all American adults are hit by at least one anxiety disorder over any 12-month period. A number of people with generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), acute stress disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder are apprehended to be most affected. Those who have already been in tms therapy for anxiety should not stop getting regular check-ups from their provider.

But anxiety is not limited to this time. All of us, at some point or the other have felt anxious and it is a completely normal emotion. For instance, when you feel nervous before a job interview, taking a test, or before finalizing an important decision.

But anxiety disorders are different.

Do not ignore visiting your health provider if the following symptoms persists for long -

• Panic, fear, and uneasiness
• Difficult to stay calm and concentrated
• Sleep problems
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Cold, numb, excessive sweating or tingling hands or feet
• Sudden palpitations
• Nausea
• Tense muscles
• Dry mouth

Corona can trigger anxiety
 
The above mentioned symptoms can be the general signs for those who may face severe anxiety for the first time as well. It’s too early in the coronavirus pandemic to recognize what would be the exact extent of rise of anxiety disorders. This is partially because psychological or mental cases are lost in the louder noise of this world wide panic. However, doctors are reporting both cases with new anxieties as well as relapsed cases. People prone to anxiety, depression or OCD are experiencing more symptoms. There is more rise in people searching for TMS therapy Near Me.

A patient in the middle of social anxiety disorder treatment can get disappointed from this scenario. Someone who was just getting out and meeting people can find this as a huge set back. Similarly, someone with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can find it difficult during these times to accept everyday challenges such as worries over finance, work deadlines, and parenting.

People living with post-traumatic-stress disorder (PTSD) have to generally live with a sort of chronic angst and with the pandemic, it can be a mortal threat. While social distancing is the only way out, this can be extremely difficult for PTSD patients whose only therapeutic strategy is good company. Detachment from family, friends, and other loved ones can be severely difficult to deal with for those suffering from forms of anxiety.

Self-help for generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)

For times such as this, not everyone can go out from their home or avail online therapies. They can try the following to help reduce your anxiety on your own -

• Read and try on a self-help course
• Exercise regularly
• Stop smoking
• Cut down on alcohol consumption

Saying safe mentally and physically is the need of the hour. When things tend to go severe, make sure to take professional help.

The Types of Depression and What They Are

According to the latest review in the mental health study, the benefits of non-invasive brain stimulation is seen as a valid alternative to existing treatments for treating depression.

More than 17 million adults in the United States is marked to have had an episode of major depression at some point in their lives. Late-life depression (LLD) is also a prevalent medical condition affecting up to 5% of community-dwelling elderly. With an expected increase in the life expectancy of the general mass, there is an increase of the number of individuals suffering from the consequences of progressive cerebrovascular disease. With some form of neurodegenerative changes and other chronic medical illness, depression aggravates resulting in cognitive impairment.

The non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, and a more recent trial of a form of brain stimulation showed that these techniques can have a longer impact on the results.

What exactly is Depression?

Major depressive disorder is a common and serious medical illness which constantly brings in a negatively affect on the regular, daily activities. It has a very strong impact on how you feel, how you act and what you think. Fortunately, if diagnosed properly, it can be treated. Depression brings in feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities which once seemed to be a very pleasant task. It depends a lot on the surrounding people how they behave to tackle the emotional and physical issues in the depressed person.

There are two major types-

Major depression— this shows symptoms of depression almost all along the day, and interferes with the ability to work, sleep, daily activities and even sleep. In short, this is a major hindrance in enjoying every part of life. However, this episode generally occurs only once in a person’s lifetime and can be diagnosed with medications and non-invasive treatment. You can lookout for the Brainsway TMS locations if you want someone to be treated effectively out of this condition.

Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)— this shows major symptoms of depression and can continue for more than two years. A person diagnosed with this form of depression might have a history of major depression episodes along with some other severe symptoms.

Apart from these two, there are some other forms of depression that may develop under unique circumstances. They are-

•   Perinatal Depression - This is mostly in women where the women experience a full-blown major depression during pregnancy or after delivery (postpartum depression).
•    Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - SAD often comes and goes with the seasons. It generally starts in the late fall and early winter and continues during that season. It goes away mostly by the spring and summer.
•    Psychotic Depression - This occurs when a person has severe depression along with an associated history of psychosis. People who have disturbing false fixed beliefs (delusions) or hallucinations (where they keep hearing or seeing upsetting things that are not true and cannot be seen by others) often gets into psychotic depression.

Marking a new era in the brain stimulation and research, BrainsWay’s patented breakthrough treatment relies on the Deep TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). This non-invasive and effective treatment option for depression, which is one of the most serious mental health disorder, has brought in a new wave in mental health treatment procedure.

To find out more, visit https://tmscentercentennial.com/brainsway

Parameters for Choosing a TMS Device

TMS is considered a safe and effective alternative treatment for depression. However, there are many options available in TMS devices and understanding the factors will help in making the right choice.

Depression is a serious medical condition that can debilitate both the mind and body. An incessant feeling of gloom and despair permeates all aspects of the patients’ lives and can even drive them to suicide.

There is many a treatment for depression and doctors try everything from medications to counseling and therapy to alleviate the condition. However, these regular treatments often fail to deliver the desired results. This is when alternative therapies like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation enter the picture.

TMS operates on the principle of using an electromagnetic field to stimulate nerve cells in the brain that control the mood. This is a completely non-invasive procedure; it does not involve medications or even anesthesia. It is free of the systemic side effects of antidepressants as well. The patient can return to normal work and life immediately and even drive back after the TMS session which is performed as an out-patient procedure.

A TMS session typically lasts for 20 to 40 minutes. The treatment usually lasts for 6 weeks with a couple of sessions every week. Patients report significant improvement in the symptoms of depression and many even manage to achieve complete remission!

Choosing a TMS device

TMS is of two types – repetitive and direct. As the name goes, the magnetic pulses are delivered either repetitively or directly on a continuous basis. Now there are a range of TMS devices with varying features and effects. It follows that the efficacy of the devices will also vary.

Following are some of the parameters to keep in mind when selecting one of the many TMS devices:
 

• Risk and Safety – TMS is considered a safe procedure and is approved by the FDA for treatment of depression. However, the treatment parameters, programming, monitoring and other factors need to be evaluated in detail.
• Benefits – While all devices are effective, the individual efficacy levels, benefits for specific medical conditions and test reviews will be a decisive factor in choosing a suitable TMS device.
• Performance – The performance of every device is bound to vary. The required setting, adjustability, clearance and especially the functioning parameters should be taken into account.
• Other variables – Many other factors like patient data management, updates of the product, treatment cost and insurance coverage need to be considered as well. The physician training and center facilities will also play a role in the final decision.

By and large, BrainsWay dTMS emerges as the preferred device in depression treatment centers in several countries as it manages to penetrate deeper and boarder into the brain and delivers effective results. The duration of the treatment session is also significantly shorter. Apart from Major Depressive Disorder, BrainsWay dTMS therapy was FDA-cleared for treatment of OCD as well. It is currently under investigation for treating other conditions too.

Shorter Treatment Duration for dTMS

There’s a lot going in favor of dTMS over and above rTMS and other brain stimulation therapies. Apart from the efficacy of the results, dTMS also involves comparatively shorter treatment sessions.

There are various mental stimulation treatments and then there is TMS therapy for depression. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a non-invasive and non-medicative treatment that has been approved by the FDA for improving mental health in patients with depression, OCD, PTSD, anxiety and other major depressive disorders.

The latest Deep TMS or dTMS treatment is becoming a more popular and trusted option than Repetitive TMS or rTMS. Both the therapies use an electromagnetic field to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. This works to improve the mood and reduce depression by rebalancing the brain chemistry.

However, both have some marked differences in delivery of the treatment. While the rTMS involves repeatedly pulsing magnetic pulses into the brain with increasing strength, the dTMS pulses work on a continuous strength and remain steady throughout the treatment. It follows that dTMS treatment manages to penetrate deeper into the brain structure and can stimulate broader areas of the brain, thus increasing the probability of reaching the right target.

In real clinical settings (after six weeks - 30 sessions), it is proved that about 58% of patients responded positively to rTMS treatment and 37% managed to achieve remission. In contrast, the response rate of dTMS is a whopping 75% with 51% actually achieving remission!

That’s not all either. dTMS has a lot going for it at the treatment level too. It is a fact that while rTMS sessions typically last around 30 to 40 minutes at a minimum, a standard rTMS session delivers the desired impact within 20 minutes itself.

This substantially shorter session time makes it easier for the patients to get the treatment done on a regular basis. They are required to come in 5 days a week for four to six weeks, just like a typical rTMS treatment.

Patients or attendants can check the TMS Center Centennial website, https://tmscentercentennial.com to find a TMS therapy near me.

BrainsWay TMS – On Prescription Only

People who are resistant to regular depression treatments have a new hope in BrainsWay Deep TMS treatment that yields amazing results. However, it still requires approval from a qualified doctor.

The first line of treatment for serious psychiatric conditions is usually counseling and antidepressant medications. Though such therapies are usually effective, they may fail to yield improvement in severe cases.

In such cases, the patients usually opt for alternative treatments like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation near me. This is based on advanced technology that uses specialized equipment to stimulate specific regions in the brain that control mood. For instance, BrainsWay’s Deep TMS is a highly accurate and effective treatment that can activate the neural pathways and generate satisfactory results in major depressive disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

The figures speak for themselves – more than 50% patients report drastic reduction in symptoms while 1 out of 3 experienced complete remission. It is FDA approved and was included in the 2010 American Psychiatric Association (APA) Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Major Depression.

So does this mean that any patient who is not getting the expected results from regular therapy or their family members can decide to opt for this treatment?

Not really, as BrainsWay’s deep TMS treatment is available by prescription only. It is important to consult a qualified physician and find out if the therapy will be right or not. A BrainsWay physician can study the case history, symptoms and other details before prescribing a suitable course of treatment.

BrainsWay is primarily a non-invasive and non-medication treatment. The device is shaped like a helmet that is placed over the head to send short pulses of a magnetic field to the brain. The location has to be carefully determined by a certified technician who will monitor the entire treatment session as well.

The treatment usually requires 10 to 15 sessions. It is not painful or disruptive and is free of systemic side effects as well. It does not require anesthesia or hospitalization either.

You can use the locator on the TMS Center Centennial website, https://tmscentercentennial.com to find a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation near me.

BrainsWay TMS – Safe and Effective All Around

BrainsWay TMS Therapy is free of systemic side effects. It can be easily tolerated by the body and is safe for patients who do not experience satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication.

Depression is a serious condition that robs all the joy and satisfaction from daily life. Everything from sleep and appetite to concentration and self-esteem goes for a toss. Diagnosing the symptoms and providing appropriate treatment becomes crucial.

The customary therapy for depression is counseling followed by antidepressant medications. However, the latter often fail to yield the desired results even while the patient suffers from unwanted side effects.

In such situations, alternative forms of treatment - using medical devices such as at BrainsWay TMS locations – are considered favorable.

In fact, BrainsWay’s Deep TMS has emerged as a proven method to treat major depressive disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. It uses short magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the brain so as to create a positive effect on the neurotransmitter levels.

This is a non-invasive and non-medication system that is considered safe and easy to tolerate with almost no side effects during or after the treatment. All that the patient feels is a tapping or knocking sensation during the treatment.

Though some people do complain of mild discomfort or pain at the treatment site or around the jaw area, it can usually be resolved by adjusting the helmet. In any case, the sensation is temporary and disappears after a couple of sessions. In very rare cases, a patient experiences muscle twitch, tooth pain or other facial pain.

More than 1.6 million treatments have been performed with BrainsWay. More than 50% of patients have had a drastic reduction in symptoms and 1 out of 3 people experience complete remission from their depression. However, the patient (and their family members) should stay vigilant and notify the doctor in case of any worsening in the depression symptoms.

Finally, the therapy should always be administered by a licensed therapist only. The locator on the TMS Center Centennial website, https://tmscentercentennial.com will help in finding Brainsway TMS locations nearby.

Difference Between dTMS and rTMS

Deep TMS and Repetitive TMS treatments are being used in cases of severe treatment-resistant depression. While the methods are similar, there are certain basic differences that dictate the results.

Brain stimulation therapies have been gaining increasing leverage as an alternative treatment for depression. They are usually preferred when first-line treatments like medication and psychotherapy fail to achieve the desired results.

Of these, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has managed to achieve some breakthrough remissions and is one of the popular brain stimulation methods for treating depression and other mental health conditions.  In fact, there are two types of TMS clinical therapies offered by depression treatment centers – repetitive TMS (rTMS) and deep TMS (dTMS).

The rTMS was developed first and is considered the standard TMS treatment while the dTMS is basically an improvement over the rTMS technique. But, both these methods are primarily drug-free and non-invasive treatments that manage to normalize the neural activity in the brain. It is painless and do not require sedation – the patient can return to work immediately.

The basic TMS technique is simple – a large coil (similar to an MRI magnet) is used to transmit electromagnetic pulses to specific parts of the brain. The coil has to be carefully positioned based on the targeted brain cells (associated with mood) that have to be stimulated. This slowly changes the neural pathways so as to alleviate the symptoms of depression.

Both the methods have proved to be safe, effective and free of any physical or neurological side effects.

Let us understand the primary differences between these two types of TMS therapies:

Shape – rTMS uses a magnetic coil that is shaped like the figure 8 while dTMS is done using an H coil (H-1 usually but a new H-7 has been developed recently).

Pulse rate – In standard rTMS treatment, the electromagnetic field is repeatedly pulsed into the brain with increasing strength thus creating a stronger electromagnetic induction. In contrast, dTMS works on a continuous strength that maintains a steady electromagnetic pulse throughout the treatment.

Range – The rTMS coil manages to penetrate around 3cms into the skull. This allows it to stimulate the prefrontal cortex alone. On the other hand, dTMS treatment can safely penetrate up to 4cms. Therefore, it manages to reach deeper brain structures directly and can stimulate broader areas of the brain.

Duration – rTMS therapy has to be delivered for around 35 to 40 minutes to have the desired impact while dTMS sessions last for 20 minutes only.

Efficacy – Studies show that the response rate of rTMS (after six weeks - 30 sessions) is about 58% with about 37% of the patients achieving remission. In the same duration, around 75% of patients responded positively to the treatment and 51% managed to achieve remission.  The broader range of activation in dTMS is considered the reason for the superior response rate.

Therefore, a direct Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation near me is a more effective option for mental health conditions; of course only under the guidance of an appropriate healthcare professional.