TMS for PTSD
PTSD Treatment in Colorado Springs and Monument
PTSD – One Man’s Experience
Michael (name changed) served his country in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet when he came home, the warzone came with him. Michael was constantly hyper vigilant, scanning his surroundings for threats, monitoring other people’s actions, and reviewing escape routes.
The skills that were necessary for survival in combat became debilitating at home in a normal situation. Michael’s hyper-alertness was mentally and emotionally taxing, causing severe exhaustion and depression. But he didn’t know how to turn it off.
Like many military veterans, Michael was suffering from PTSD.
What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. Although often associated with military personnel who have served in active combat situations, PTSD can be triggered by any serious trauma.
Non-military situations that can lead to PTSD include living through a natural disaster, witnessing or experiencing domestic violence, bullying, being involved in a serious accident, or being a victim of rape or sexual assault. PTSD can also be caused by conditions of sustained stress, such as working in a highly stressful or toxic workplace environment.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
PTSD is not a single set of symptoms. Some people with PTSD will have multiple symptoms while others may only have one symptom of PTSD. The severity of symptoms also varies from person to person.
PTSD is characterized by intense, disturbing thoughts related to the traumatic experience. These recurring thoughts last long after the occurrence of the traumatic event, even when the person experiencing PTSD is now in a safe environment.
The traumatic event may be relived through flashbacks or nightmares. Flashbacks and intrusive thoughts can be triggered by common situations such as loud noises, seeing a person that reminds them of their traumatic event, or being in an environment reminiscent of their traumatic event.
About 1 in 3 people who experience severe trauma will develop PTSD.
In general, PTSD symptoms can be grouped into one of four major symptom classifications: hyperarousal and hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, avoidance behavior, and negative moods and cognitive behavior.
Hyperarousal and Hypervigilance
Hyperarousal is an increased physical and mental alertness, in which the body and mind are always on edge, ready to respond to any threat. Individuals with PTSD who experience hyperarousal may be easily startled, have a disproportionate response when startled (such as reverting to combat responses, for example), or feel like they are always primed for action or constantly on edge. The hyperarousal may interfere with sleeping or cause frequent irritability or outbursts of anger.
Hypervigilance is a specific manifestation of hyperarousal where individuals are constantly monitoring for potential threats. Even in ordinary situations, such as eating at a restaurant, someone experiencing hypervigilance will constantly monitor exits, scan each person entering the restaurant, and frequently look out the window to check for external threats. This constant state of hypervigilance is extremely taxing, both mentally and physically, preventing any type of true relaxation or down time.
Intrusive Thoughts
Hollywood portrayals of PTSD typically involve someone experiencing vivid flashbacks. While in real life the flashbacks may not be as dramatic as those portrayed by Hollywood, individuals with PTSD do experience intrusive thoughts, memories, or nightmares related to the traumatic event.
Flashbacks cause emotional harm by constantly reminding the individual of the traumatic event. Flashbacks can also cause someone to react in a disproportionate or embarrassing manner (diving for cover as a response to a loud sound, for example). When these behaviors happen in a public setting, the embarrassment causes further emotional harm.
Avoidance Behavior
Avoidance behavior involves active attempts to avoid places, people, or activities that could trigger a memory of the traumatic event and bring up a host of negative emotions. While avoidance behavior is a protective mechanism, it can interfere with normal activities and relationships, making it difficult to hold down a job, maintain relationships with friends and family members, or engage in travel or social situations.
Negative Mood and Cognitive Symptoms
People suffering from PTSD may feel strong negative emotions such as fear, guilt, shame, anger, or sadness associated with the traumatic event. Survivor’s guilt, for example, can trouble those who survived a dangerous situation when others did not. These negative emotions can lead to depression, hopelessness, and isolation. These negative emotions can sometimes explode as outbursts of anger, self-loathing, or self-harm.
How Psychiatrists Treat PTSD
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in diseases and disorders of the brain. Psychiatrists help patients achieve better mental health by treating issues such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, postpartum depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, and addiction/dependency issues.
PTSD is commonly treated with medication or therapy. Psychiatrists may also recommend newer, more advanced treatments, such as TMS, which is an effective treatment for PTSD and is covered by TRICARE and TriWest for active duty military and military veterans.
Is TMS Effective at Treating PTSD?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a groundbreaking mental health treatment that uses the brain’s regenerative properties to induce healing. Using magnetic fields to stimulate specific nerve cells in the brain, TMS targets specific regions of the brain responsible for mood regulation, impulse control, and reward systems. The specific areas of the brain targeted will depend on which condition the patient is being treated for. Unlike medication, TMS does not involve systemic side effects and is safe for long-term use.
TMS has proven to be an effective treatment for PTSD, and many patients have found significant relief from PTSD symptoms even when other treatments were unsuccessful.
Best PTSD Treatment: TMS
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a groundbreaking mental health treatment that uses the brain’s regenerative properties to induce healing. Using magnetic fields to stimulate specific areas of the brain, TMS reignites areas of the brain that have been damaged through trauma, depression, or anxiety.
In cases of PTSD, TMS helps the brain recalibrate to a “normal” state, reducing the hypervigilance and flashbacks associated with PTSD. Many military members in Colorado Springs are choosing TMS for PTSD treatment at Colorado Psychiatry Solutions because of its effectiveness.
Many patients prefer TMS over other PTSD treatment options because:
- TMS is non-pharmaceutical. TMS directly stimulates the brain to achieve healing; it does not require medications (such as antidepressants) to achieve relief.
- TMS is effective. TMS boasts high response and remission rates, even for patients with severe PTSD, complex PTSD, or depression
- TMS is long-lasting. TMS patients continue to maintain a beneficial response long after TMS therapy has finished. Patients do not have to continually remember to take daily medication
- TMS has no systemic side effects. TMS is extremely well-tolerated. It is non-invasive, requires no anesthesia or numbing, and has no systemic side effects.
- TMS may be covered by insurance. TMS is an approved treatment under TRICARE and can be covered by commercial insurance when treating PTSD in conjunction with depression.
Questions and Answers About TMS for PTSD Treatment
Is TMS for PTSD treatment approved by the FDA?
The FDA has not yet approved TMS as a PTSD treatment directly. However, PTSD is frequently co-occurring with depression and may be treated with TMS in conjunction with depression treatment.
Does insurance cover TMS for PTSD?
Insurance coverage varies by carrier and plan. Most insurance plans provide TMS coverage for treatment of depression, which is often treated alongside PTSD. TRICARE and TriWest both cover TMS treatment for depression and patients may receive concurrent treatment for PTSD and depression. Schedule a consultation today and we will work on your behalf to obtain treatment authorization from your insurance.
Who Is a Good Candidate for TMS?
We are firm believers in TMS as an effective treatment for PTSD and other mental health disorders, like depression and anxiety. If you have PTSD and have not found adequate relief from medication or other treatment options, you are likely a good candidate for TMS therapy.
How To Get Started
To receive an evaluation for TMS treatment, simply schedule an appointment at one of our four convenient locations in Colorado Springs and Monument. You can call 719-622-6522 to speak with an intake specialist or enter your contact information in our online form.
