When you have depression, you may also deal with anxiety. Anxious depression is caused by malfunctions in the nerve synapses (connections) in certain areas of your brain.
People with anxious depression, about 50 percent of depressed patients, may experience more severe forms of depression and anxiety symptoms. The combination of problems can decrease your quality of life, lead to a higher level of functional impairment, and make it more difficult for you to find an effective treatment.
While many people find that prescription medications help their symptoms, many do not or cannot handle the side effects. If you are looking for a different form of treatment to add to your current therapies or to use exclusively, TMS therapy for anxious depression in New Jersey may be just what you are looking for. Dr. David Sikowitz is a nationally recognized expert in the field of neuromodulation. Using his knowledge and experience, he will create a treatment plan specifically for you.
Specific areas of your brain control various moods. The synapses between nerve cells in those areas may be underactive or not work. TMS therapy in New Jersey can revive poorly functioning synapses and relieve the symptoms of anxious depression.
The NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy system is a handheld device that emits magnetic waves. These waves create tiny electrical impulses in the treated areas of your brain. TMS only treats the areas that are thought to be malfunctioning, meaning that side effects from TMS therapy are minimal.
All treatment sessions are in our office. They are quick, lasting only 19 minutes. You are totally awake and alert during your treatment. Many of our patients will read, watch TV, listen to music, or chat with the technician, while others use the time for a much-needed break in their day. Your course of treatment involves daily sessions on weekdays over seven weeks.
During a TMS therapy session, your TMS specialist will gently place the NeuroStar device against your head in the treatment areas. You may feel a tapping or tingling sensation on your head under the device while it works. Because the device makes loud clicking sounds while working, we will provide earplugs.
Once your session is complete, you can return to your usual activities. The side effects of TMS therapy will be mild. Some patients report a headache centered on the areas that were treated. This can be taken care of with over-the-counter pain medications. Many side effects disappear as you continue with treatment sessions.
Yes, TMS therapy in New Jersey works for patients with depression accompanied by anxiety. It helps decrease both the depression and the anxiety symptoms. Data collected by NeuroStar showed that 65.5 percent of patients with anxious depression felt there was improvement in their symptoms. In a study of patients with depression, patients treated with TMS were four times more likely to reach remission than those not receiving TMS.
If you have found that prescription medications and talk therapy have not done enough for your depression with anxiety, contact The TMS Center of New Jersey to set up an appointment with Dr. Sikowitz. He is a board-certified psychiatrist with extensive experience using TMS. During your consultation, you will discuss what has not worked well for you and your general medical history. Then, he can determine whether TMS therapy for anxious depression in New Jersey is right for you.
