TMS For Anxiety: Debunking Myths And Setting The Facts Straight

26 September 2023

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions worldwide, affecting millions of people. While traditional treatments like therapy and medications have been effective for many, some individuals continue to struggle with anxiety symptoms. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has emerged as a promising alternative for those seeking relief. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the world of TMS therapy for anxiety, debunk myths surrounding its effectiveness, and present the facts that can help you make an informed decision about this innovative treatment.

What Is TMS For Anxiety?

So, does TMS work for anxiety? Let’s start by demystifying TMS. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS, isn’t some sci-fi concept; it’s a real-life, non-invasive procedure that taps into the power of magnetic fields to gently nudge specific parts of your brain. Originally designed to help with depression, TMS has been under the research spotlight, and guess what? It’s showing some impressive potential in the realm of anxiety treatment. So, let’s keep the curiosity flowing as we explore the myths and facts surrounding this innovative therapy.

Myth Vs. Fact: TMS And Anxiety

Myth #1: TMS Is Only Effective For Depression

One common misconception about TMS is that it’s exclusively effective for treating depression. While it was initially developed and approved for depression, research and clinical experience have demonstrated its potential benefits for anxiety disorders as well. TMS works by modulating neural activity in the brain, making it a versatile tool for various mental health conditions, including anxiety.

Fact: TMS Can Be Effective for Anxiety

Several studies and clinical trials have shown that TMS can significantly reduce symptoms in various anxiety disorders, such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). The key lies in targeting the right brain regions associated with anxiety, and TMS therapy can precisely accomplish this task.

Myth #2: TMS Is Painful And Unsafe

Another myth is that TMS is a painful or unsafe procedure. In reality, TMS is considered a well-tolerated and safe treatment option. During a TMS session, patients typically experience a tapping or clicking sensation on their scalp, but this discomfort is generally mild. TMS is non-invasive, meaning it doesn’t require surgery or anaesthesia, and it doesn’t induce seizures.

Fact: TMS Is Safe and Generally Painless

TMS for anxiety is performed in an outpatient setting, and most patients can resume their daily activities immediately after a session. It has a minimal risk of side effects, with the most common being mild scalp discomfort or headache, which usually subsides quickly. TMS therapy sessions are closely monitored by trained professionals to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Myth #3: TMS Is A Quick Fix

Some individuals may expect TMS to provide instant relief from anxiety symptoms. While TMS can be highly effective, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and results may vary from person to person. It is essential to have realistic expectations and commit to a recommended TMS anxiety treatment plan.

Fact: TMS Requires a Treatment Plan

TMS for anxiety typically involves a series of sessions over several weeks. The exact number of sessions and their frequency may vary based on individual needs and the severity of the anxiety disorder. Patience and consistency are essential for achieving the best results with TMS.

Myth #4: TMS Is Expensive And Not Covered By Insurance

Cost can be a significant concern for those considering TMS. However, many insurance plans now cover TMS therapy for various mental health conditions, including anxiety. It’s crucial to check with your insurance provider to determine coverage and potential out-of-pocket expenses.

Fact: TMS May Be Covered by Insurance

Due to the increasing recognition of TMS as an effective treatment for mental health conditions, insurance coverage has expanded. Some patients may find that their insurance covers a substantial portion of TMS therapy for anxiety costs, making it more accessible.

Myth #5: TMS Is A Last Resort

Another misconception is that TMS should only be considered when all other treatment options have failed. While TMS is sometimes recommended after other treatments have been ineffective, it can also be a viable choice as a first-line treatment for anxiety disorders, especially when individuals prefer non-medication options or have concerns about potential side effects.

Fact: TMS Can Be Considered at Any Stage

The decision to pursue TMS for anxiety should be based on an individual’s unique circumstances and preferences. It is not limited to being a last resort and can be discussed with a mental health professional at any stage of treatment planning.

Myth #6: TMS Results Are Temporary

Concerns about the temporary nature of TMS benefits can deter some from exploring this therapy. While individual responses may vary, many individuals experience long-lasting relief from anxiety symptoms after completing a full course of TMS treatment for anxiety.

Fact: TMS Can Provide Lasting Benefits

Research has shown that the positive effects of TMS on anxiety can persist for months to years after treatment. Some individuals may require maintenance sessions, but TMS has the potential to offer enduring relief from anxiety symptoms.

Summing Up

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) isn’t just about tackling depression; it’s got a promising role in helping folks wrestling with anxiety disorders too. By shedding light on the myths surrounding TMS and getting the facts straight about its safety, effectiveness, and potential insurance coverage, we’re here to arm you with the knowledge you need to make smart choices about your mental health.

Now, let’s be real – TMS isn’t a magic wand that makes all your anxiety vanish in an instant. It’s more like a steady hand guiding you toward relief. It’s gentle, non-invasive, and generally well-tolerated. For many, it’s a ray of hope, offering a path to managing anxiety that doesn’t involve medications or complex procedures.

But here’s the golden rule: always lean on the expertise of a qualified mental health professional when considering TMS therapy for anxiety. They’re the compass guiding you through your unique mental health journey, helping you figure out if TMS is the right fit for your needs

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Ankita Tripathy

Ankita Tripathy loves to write about food and the Hallyu Wave in particular. During her free time, she enjoys looking at the sky or reading books while sipping a cup of hot coffee. Her favourite niches are food, music, lifestyle, travel, and Korean Pop music and drama.

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How to Stay Healthy and Fit Despite a Hectic Schedule

With our busiest schedules to follow, we often get reluctant about hitting the gym or following a proper diet plan. Nobody has the kind of time to spend hours pampering themselves. The good news is health and fitness is not all about investing too much time in cooking healthy meals and working out at the gym, it is much more. Even the littlest healthy habits and avoidance of unhealthy habits can improve your overall lifestyle and turn you into a healthier YOU. Want to know what such habits are and how you can add them to your daily routine? They might not sound very new, but they are exactly the ones you usually miss out on. So, here is a reminder for you to follow them for a healthy and happy life. Read through and thank me later! How to Stay Healthy and Fit Despite a Hectic Schedule: Carry a Water Bottle: We all are aware of the fact that drinking 7 to 8 glasses of water is necessary for healthier skin and body. However, most of us get reluctant about it because it is way out of our reach and we are too busy to fetch a glass for ourselves. Therefore, I would suggest you carry a medium-size water bottle wherever you go and finish it at least twice to hydrate your body well. Drinking water is not only best for hydrating the body but it also helps flush out any toxins prevailing inside the body. Stay Socially Active: By staying socially active, I do not mean to stay updated with and connected to social media. It means taking time out for catching up with old friends in person and making new friends as well. Put all the gadgets away and spend some quality time with your family on the weekend. Staying socially active helps us relax and give us immense emotional strength. It is great for mental health and wellbeing. Get Rid of All Kinds of Addiction: If you are addicted to anything in your life, either it is some high-quality weed, video games or smoking cigarettes, try to get rid of it. It is tough, I know. However, where there is a will, there surely is away. Telling yourself to avoid something takes you closer to it. Therefore, instead of doing that, just distract your mind by engaging in better and healthier activities whenever you feel the need for it. You will gradually be able to get rid of it without even knowing it. Proper and Uninterrupted Sleep: With all the smartphones and wireless gadgets in our room beeping every other minute, going deep into sleep has nearly become impossible. We all are so addicted to checking every notification immediately that we do not even keep our phones silent while going to bed. As a result, we end up staying up till late and feeling restless throughout the day. If you want a healthier lifestyle, start turning your phone on silent mode before you go to bed and put all your devices away at least half an hour before you go to sleep. If you want something to do in that spare time before you doze off, take a good book to read while sipping on chamomile tea. Read More: 7 Ways To Kick Off Your Fitness Routine Go Trampolining To Have Fun And Maintain Your Fitness Who Can Benefit From The Elliptical? You Can’t Out-Diet Your Training

Follow These 5 Yoga Poses to Reduce Stubborn Belly Fat

The 'spare tire' area of the body is the most dreaded place for unsightly fat. That section around and near our waistline and extending downward...yep...that stubborn belly fat that those suffering for it would love to remove. Many have tried special diets, exercise routines and expensive equipment to help them rid that extra baggage. But, have you tied Yoga? Why has worried About The Belly Fat Region? This is one of the most noticeable areas, thus making many quite self-conscious. While your mental health may be affected by this feeling, your physical health could be at risk also. Fat in this region of the body has been linked to certain cancers, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and insulin resistance; all of which can be life-threatening. Read also: Bed Time Yoga to Sleep Well As we get older, this is even worse, as we slow down physically and so does our metabolism often increase this area of fat. So, to maintain a healthy lifestyle, one should learn to use the following exercises and follow them while maintaining a nutritious diet. One without the other simply won't work. Specific Postures The following are some poses that are great for reducing that pesky belly fat. You should try to hold each pose for 15-30 seconds, and try to repeat it about 5 times with 15 seconds rest in between Wind Easing Posture (Pavanamukthasana) This one tone and firms the abdomen and relieves the lower back. Lie flat on your back with your legs stretched and arms at your side. Stretch your feet out with heels touching While exhaling, bend the knees and bring them toward your chest Press tightly toward your abdomen, applying pressure to the abdominal region As you breathe deep, hold this pose for approximately 60 – 90 seconds Exhale and release your knees while bringing your hands down to your sides with palms facing downward. Cobra Posture (Bhujang Asana) A word of caution should be you suffer from ulcers, back injuries, hernias or may be pregnant this pose should not be done by these individuals. While lying on your stomach with your legs outstretched and palms under your shoulders, touch your toes and chin to the floor. Keeping your legs flat on the floor, inhale slowly and begin raising your chest while bending backward as much as possible. As you exhale, slowly lower yourself back to the original position. Pontoon Posture (Naukasana) Wonderful pose for tightening the stomach muscles and strengthening the legs and back. With your back flat and legs together stretched out and arms at your side (palms down), inhale slowly and begin raising your legs, keeping straight. Stretch your foot and toes pointing straight and raise your legs as high as possible. Once you have reached this point, with arms straight, reach to your toes to create a 45-degree angle with your body. Hold the pose and normally breathe for 15 seconds. Release and inhale. Bow Posture (Dhanurasana) Strengthen your core with this pose. Full potential can be reached by rocking back and forth. While lying on your stomach with your arms at your side, outstretch your legs Bend your legs at the knees and reach backward with your arms to grasps the ankles and hold. While inhaling, lift the head and begin bending backward while trying to lift your head a high as you possibly can. Hold the pose for 15-30 seconds, breathing normally. Exhale and come back to the original position. Board (Kumbhakasana) Caution should be taken if you have high blood pressure or and spinal injury. Start by crouching with hand and knees directly underneath the shoulders and hips. With the toes tucked under, begin to step back with your feet extending your legs. The entire body should be in a straight line from head to toe. Be sure to keep your hand flat with fingers spread apart. Hold for 15-30 seconds or as long as possible. Then exhale and drop back to your knees. It's best for your body to complete these in the morning. Your best results will be to repeat the poses daily, 3-5 times, three days per week then take a day off. Kathy Mitchell was born and raised in the USA. She has done MA in English literature. She loves to publish her article on different health websites. In her spare time, she likes to do research on health information. She is an inspirational writer who strongly believes in the power of self-motivation. Also, she is contributing to consumer health digest since 2011, which is a leading health news platform. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter and Google+. Read More: 7 Ways To Kick Off Your Fitness Routine Get Up And Workout! Things To Consider What Are Popular Mind And Body Exercises Available At A Gym? Go Trampolining To Have Fun And Maintain Your Fitness

Lip Fillers: 7 Essential Factors To Consider Before You Start Using

A study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that a cosmetic lip injection is performed once every twenty minutes. That’s once every episode of New Girl, not including the credits or title sequence! To learn basic details about lip fillers, read on to the end of the article. What Are Lip Fillers? With the help of lip fillers, you can increase the volume of your lips. These come in the form of injections with dermal fillers. Actually, they consist of synthetic hyaluronic acid (HA). This is actually a natural substance inside the human body. Some common lip filler brands are Restylane, Juvederm, and Perlane. Benefits Of Lip Fillers The following are some of the major benefits of lip fillers: Lip fillers add volume to your lips, which goes away as you age. The symmetry between your upper and lower lips gets better. The wrinkles and fine lines around your mouth will go away. Also, lip fillers will give a youthful appearance to your lips. As a result, it improves your self-image and confidence. You will get natural-looking results without the need for surgery. However, the results are temporary. Hence, you can try out different shapes and volumes without committing permanently. One of the best things about lip fillers is that you can resume your normal activities immediately after the treatment. In fact, you do not need recovery time for it. However, if the results after treatment do not satisfy you, you can dissolve it with an enzyme that dissolves HA-based fillers. Top 7 Things You Must Know About Lip Fillers Lip fillers are, of course, super common. They’re also super precise, low-key, and effective. Maybe you’re thinking of sliding under the needle yourself, or maybe you’re just trying to tear yourself away from your ninth consecutive ‘side of KUWTK. Either way, there are some things you should know about lip fillers. Here are 7 of them. 1. Prep For Lip Fillers Matters: Maybe this seems like a no-brainer–but if you’re looking to have an awesome experience with lip fillers and enhancement, it’s worth noting. Although lip injections have become a really common procedure (thanks, Kylie!), it’s still not a one-size-fits-all sort of deal. It’s essential that you consult carefully with your doctor to ensure you’re clear on your personal lips’ limitations and potentials. On your end of the deal, it’s important to consider your own expectations and desired outcomes. Although lip injections have become pretty low-key, it’s still necessary to decide for yourself the sort of impact you want your new lips to have on you and your face. For additional preparation, specialists suggest abstaining from painkillers like aspirin, Motrin, and Aleve, as well as fish oil, multivitamins, and vitamin E. Each of these acts as a blood thinner and can serve to make recovery more…bruises. 2. Different Fillers Do Different Things: You can expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $1000 for your fillers. The actual numbers depend on a few different things, including specific location and practice. Price can also depend on the particular type of injections you choose. People typically choose between Collagen or Hyaluronic Acid (HA) bases as their filler material. Collagen works simply by plumping the lip through its presence. HA, on the other hand, plumps the lip directly while also trapping water within the lip. There are several different brands and forms of HA that can have various effects. For example, a filler such as Juvederm (s/o to Kylie!) will usually result in a really soft, youthful–let’s just say it–Kylie Jenner-esque pout. Other fillers, like Restylane or Volbella, utilize smaller particles to achieve a subtler plump. It’s important to talk with your surgeon and decide together which of the potential fillers will work best for your lips, goals, and budget. 3. Lip Shapes Depend On Your Face: You can bring as many close-ups of Kylie’s bottom lip to your surgeon as you want–but nothing can really guarantee the precise way your lips will look after the fact. Sure, the specific type of injection you go with can have some impact on the outcome of your lips’ shape, but it all comes down to your face’s natural set-up and allowances. Lip injections typically work better on people with naturally fuller lips (lame, we know), and the way your lips look once they’re healed really does have a lot to do with how your face moves with your injection. The downside is that it’s nearly impossible to “copy” someone’s lips. But the plus side of this fact is that your lips will probably come out looking more natural and fitted to your face. They’re still your lips, just…fuller. 4. You Can Handle The Pain: Maybe you, like a lot of people, aren’t super keen on needles. Or pain. Or needles. Surprise! There’s no magical way to administer lip injections without injecting the lip (although we wish there were). If you want fuller lips, the fact is, you’ll need to undergo the needle. The cool thing about lip injections, though, is that your lips are put under–a numbing cream, that is. The salve is applied generously to the lower parts of the face surrounding the mouth, then let sit for 20 to 30 minutes while the numbing agent activates. This means that by the time the needles come stabbing at your face, any pain you feel will be more of a dull discomfort that most people find more than bearable; you can tell by the way they come back time and again for top-ups. 5. Recovery Is Low-Key: The major difference you’ll notice immediately following your injections is some slight swelling and soreness. Some experience slight bruising. As your appointment wraps up, your surgeon will place an ice pack against your lips. He’ll encourage you to use ice if you experience any soreness after, but that’s about it. The initial swelling and soreness should go away after a day or two. You’ll be healthy, free, and looking fine to go about your days as normal. Also, you can go to work, have a drink, whatever. The only real thing to avoid in a day or two following your injections is drinking from straws and sipping on, especially hot liquids, although even these are mostly related to the lingering numbness. 6. Injections Won’t Last Forever: Depending on your personality and the type of injection you take, the exact length of time fillers can vary a bit. Some fillers will stick around for only 4 to 5 months, while others have been seen to last for nearly a year. On average, people find their way back to their surgeon’s office for top-ups every 6 months. Everyone’s body metabolizes materials differently, and there’s no real way to predict this at the outset, but talking with your surgeon on the topic is the only good way to decide what’s best for your face. 7. Don’t Love Your Fillers? Ditch ’em. In the Leslie Ash days of lip injections, fillers were a seriously permanent thing. The good news for the rest of us (sorry, Leslie, you’re too far gone) is that if you decide after the fact that you’re not into your lip fillers, you can have them dissolved! While Collagen fillers aren’t so easily taken out, HA-based fillers can vanish at the tiny flick of a needle. If you decide to get rid of your fillers, your lips will be re-injected with an enzyme designed to safely and quickly break down the filler material. You’ll be back to your old face in no time. It’s important, first, to give your lips that day or two to heal, as the swelling and slight bruising that can occur might be affecting the way your lips actually look. Either way, it’s always good to know that, if you want, you can take this decision back. Risks Of Using Lip Fillers The following are a few risks of using lip fillers that you must be aware of: Since lip fillers come in the form of injections, you can face injection site issues like redness, bleeding, pain, swelling, etc. Apart from that, certain allergic reactions to lip fillers are also common. In case the treatment specialist mistakenly injects lip fillers into an artery, the tissue will die as a result. This is also known as vascular compromise. You can end up with lips of different sizes and a lack of proportion. In some cases, lip fillers can move to other areas of the face and can create a swell. If you have herpes simplex virus, you can trigger an outbreak if you use lip fillers. You can even end up with a fever after a lip filler injection. Need Lip Fillers, Like, Now!? Be sure to take your time in choosing the right surgeon and practice for the job. You want someone who makes you feel comfortable and certain they’ll do the thing right–after all, you’re getting lip fillers to help you feel awesome about yourself! If you’re not quite ready to set up a consultation, that’s no big deal. Stick around and check out more fun beauty content from us! Read Also : How To Achieve Kissable And Healthy Lips

TMS For Anxiety: Debunking Myths And Setting The Facts Straight

What Is TMS For Anxiety?

Myth Vs. Fact: TMS And Anxiety