TMS for PTSD in Orange County CA

TMS for PTSD: How Does It Help?

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Overview of TMS for PTSD

TMS for PTSD is a new, non-invasive treatment option that has shown promising results in clinical trials. Here we explore TMS for PTSD in more detail to help you decide if this is a promising option for you or your loved one.

Trauma and Our Foundations

It is no easy matter to discuss trauma. It should be said that when trauma occurs, it is as if a foundation in our heart changes shape. Places where our feet once found level ground become a steep slope of emotions and fear. It is deeply personal and painful on levels that affect our every breathing moment.

With that said, trauma is not rare. About 60% of men and 50% of women endure at least one traumatic experience in their lives. When you go through a trauma such as a car crash, sexual assault, combat, intense injury, or any other distressing event, it changes your brain chemistry. That change can last for years after the trauma occurs—and it can affect your daily life and relationships with friends and family.

What Is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition that can affect people who have experienced a traumatic event on an especially intense level. Symptoms of PTSD include:

  • intrusive thoughts, memories, or nightmares related to the traumatic event
  • avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event
  • feeling emotionally numb
  • difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
  • irritability or angry outbursts
  • being easily startled or frightened

What Is TMS?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an FDA-approved, non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain that are not functioning normally.

By stimulating the prefrontal cortex, TMS helps reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other symptoms associated with PTSD. It is an innocuous, efficient way to treat depression and anxiety disorders, including PTSD.

The treatments are administered in a series of sessions over several weeks.

Is TMS Therapy Safe?

TMS is a safe and effective treatment for PTSD. You don’t need to be sedated or prepared for the procedure, and there’s no pain involved. Some patients may experience headaches or temporary pain at the site of stimulation. However, these side effects are generally mild and manageable.

Does TMS therapy work for PTSD?

In addition to reducing symptoms, TMS can increase volume in certain areas of the brain associated with emotional regulation. This means that the therapy could have long-term benefits beyond just helping you feel better right now. One study showed that up to 80% of PTSD patients felt better after a single TMS session.

TMS can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, including medication, talk therapy, CBT, and more. Though TMS therapy for PTSD is a relatively new practice, the results are very promising. At our trauma center in Newport Beach, many patients with PTSD have found that TMS therapy helps them manage their symptoms, and the benefits far outweigh the risk for these individuals.

Is TMS for PTSD Right for Me?

Do you want to know if TMS would benefit you and your traumatic symptoms? It could be. The best way to find out if you are a candidate for TMS in Newport Beach for PTSD is to give us a call at Lido Wellness Center in Newport Beach, California. Our mental health specialists are ready to help you understand your options, including whether an outpatient mental health treatment plan would benefit you.