Anxiety, a widespread and often debilitating condition, affects millions of individuals worldwide. Medication provides anxiety relief for many people, but for some, medication alone is not sufficient to relieve anxiety completely. After trying multiple anti-anxiety medications, those who continue to suffer from anxiety feel frustrated and may give up hope on finding a solution.
The good news is that there is new hope. New treatments, including ketamine and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have a strong track record at treating anxiety (Source).
Understanding Anxiety
Anxiety is a complex disorder that impacts your well-being and sense of control. There are different manifestations of
anxiety, each with its unique set of symptoms and challenges.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder, for example, involves excessive worry about everyday events, often disproportionate to the actual threat. Panic disorder, on the other hand, involves sudden, intense bouts of fear accompanied by physical symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath. Social anxiety can make social interactions daunting, while specific phobias center around irrational fears of particular objects or situations.
Common symptoms of anxiety disorders include persistent worrying, restlessness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances. If left untreated, anxiety disorders can lead to additional mental and physical health problems, significantly impairing an individual’s ability to function in their day-to-day life.
The Link Between Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression often go hand in hand, with many individuals experiencing symptoms of both conditions simultaneously, leading to a phenomenon known as anxious depression.
Traditional treatment approaches, such as taking medication, often have difficulty providing adequate relief for both anxiety and depression together. This co-occurrence can significantly complicate diagnosis and treatment approaches. Fortunately, newer treatments such as ketamine and TMS can treat anxious depression and provide significant relief for both anxiety and depression.
Ketamine Treatment for Anxiety and Depression
Ketamine, originally used as an anesthetic, is a legally available drug that has gained recognition for its impressive ability in alleviating treatment-resistant depression and anxiety. It provides temporary relief in a comparatively short period of time (hours to days). Ketamine also acts as a system “reset button” by creating windows of neuroplasticity that can lead to rapid healing. Because of its unique effective action, ketamine offers the appealing combination of immediate relief with potential long-term benefits to your mental health.
At Colorado Recovery Solutions, we offer two different types of ketamine treatment: infusion ketamine and nasal spray delivery (Spravato). If ketamine is recommended as a treatment option, your provider will work with you to determine which ketamine treatment option is best suited for your condition.
TMS Treatment for Anxiety and Depression
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a groundbreaking mental health treatment for depression and anxiety. Using magnetic fields to stimulate specific nerve cells in the brain, TMS targets the regions of the brain responsible for mood regulation. Unlike medication, TMS does not involve systemic side effects and is safe for long-term use.
While TMS is not currently approved for treating generalized anxiety disorder, it is FDA-approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder and for treating anxious depression. The good news is that anxiety can often be treated alongside depression. As part of targeting depression with TMS, patients often experience an improvement in their anxiety symptoms as well. This dual benefit makes TMS a treatment of choice for patients facing both conditions.
When you schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) at Colorado Recovery Solutions, they will be able to advise you on whether TMS treatment is an appropriate solution for you.
What Research Says about Ketamine and TMS
Both ketamine and TMS are the subjects of active research. Multiple new studies are published each year that examine the effectiveness of ketamine and TMS at treating depression and anxiety.
In a recent study, ketamine was found to be as effective as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in treating treatment-resistant depression. ECT has long been the gold standard treatment for major depressive disorder, so it was somewhat surprising that patients receiving ketamine treatment reported better outcomes. The patients who received ketamine treatment also reported fewer side effects from treatment.
Likewise, TMS research demonstrates that TMS is an effective treatment for anxiety and depression. Multiple studies reaffirm the use of TMS at treating depression, with new research exploring the use of TMS in treating anxiety. Researchers in a recent study concluded that TMS is an appropriate treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). (Source)
Anxiety and Depression Treatment in Colorado Springs
The first step to finding relief from anxiety and depression is to schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist. Colorado Recovery Solutions has three convenient locations in Colorado Springs and Monument to address your mental health needs. Schedule a new patient appointment today to take the first step.
During your appointment, your psychiatrist or PMHNP will listen to you carefully, ask questions about your condition and symptoms, and discuss treatment options. Those treatment options may include ketamine, Spravato, or TMS treatment, depending on your diagnosis and other factors.
You can schedule a new patient evaluation by calling us at 719-622-6522.
