Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a severe anxiety reaction. It commonly appears as an inclination to avoid locations or contact that could trigger memories of the traumatic event. PTSD adversely affects patients’ quality of life for an extended period, impacting their ability to engage in daily activities normally.
The estimated lifetime occurrence of PTSD among the general population is about 8%, while an additional 5-15% may undergo sub-clinical presentations of the disorder.
However, a significant portion of individuals who encounter a distressing incident will not experience a persistent post-traumatic reaction. The statistics clearly show hope is at hand; hence, treatment such as TMS therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Linwood is essential for a patient’s recovery.
PTSD is significantly higher among military veterans, indicated by data suggesting that 30% of Vietnam War veterans contend with PTSD, along with an additional 25% exhibiting a subclinical form of the disorder.
To learn how TMS therapy is used to treat mental health conditions, such as PTSD, reach out to us today.
Some of the common causes of PTSD are as follows:
Dr. Srisai Gowda can conduct an evaluation to help determine the cause of your PTSD and recommend treatment options, such as TMS therapy, in Linwood.
The chances of experiencing PTSD depend on several factors, including the support a patient receives after a traumatic event, the community’s attitude, and individual predispositions to the disorder.
There are 3 main types of post-traumatic stress reactions in a patient:
Patients may encounter re-experiencing symptoms wherein sights, smells, and sounds unexpectedly trigger discomfort. Nightmares, frequent flashbacks, and an ongoing sense of helplessness are common occurrences. Re-experiencing symptoms over time can cause considerable distress for patients.
Most Common Reactions:
In the initial stages, a typical response in patients is a concerted effort to suppress thoughts and discussions related to the traumatic event. Consequently, they may avoid places and people that remind them of the event. Patients expressing symptoms of avoidance frequently experience a sense of emotional numbness or detachment they describe as ‘feeling dead inside.’ In severe instances, this avoidance behavior may significantly impede routine activities such as grocery shopping or obtaining necessary medications, ultimately leading to complete isolation.
Most Common Reactions:
PTSD patients often experience a sudden heightened ‘fight or flight’ reaction to seemingly non-existent danger. This causes episodes of extreme fear or anger, often accompanied by physical outbursts. The patients do this when they think there is a threat to their safety. Ideally, this reaction should cease once safety is assured.
However, patients often find themselves in a perpetual state of heightened alertness, preventing rest and leading to difficulties such as disrupted sleep, impaired concentration, and heightened irritability. They may experience jumpiness and startle easily at sudden noises. Prolonged hyper-arousal can be unsettling and have repercussions on daily functioning for patients.
Most Common Reactions:
If you are experiencing any of these three types of post-traumatic stress disorder reactions in Linwood, talk to us about TMS therapy.
A recommended complete TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) treatment for PTSD in Linwood involves five sessions per week over a maximum of six weeks, followed by three weeks with reduced session frequency. In our experience with TMS for PTSD patients at Shore Clinical TMS & Wellness Center, we have frequently observed positive outcomes.
Patients report a decrease in the intensity of their PTSD symptoms and a reduced likelihood of experiencing them.
TMS therapy for PTSD considers any interconnected issues that may contribute to or arise from the condition, including phobias and depression. This non-invasive treatment, which requires no anesthesia, medication, hospitalization, or recovery time, utilizes repetitive magnetic pulses to stimulate the specific brain areas associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. It is also effective in addressing complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
The most commonly used form of TMS for PTSD is called repetitive TMS (rTMS) in Linwood. It involves the delivery of multiple brief pulses to the same area of the brain over several minutes. Our clinic follows the process:
We determine the personalized stimulation dose for the patient’s brain cells during the initial treatment session. Simply put, we identify the energy needed to stimulate the patient’s brain in the early stages. This dosage is individualized for each person, and our specialists consistently review it during the treatment course to ensure noticeable improvements.
After determining the correct placement and stimulation dose, the TMS machine will deliver precise impulses to a particular brain region. After the treatment session, patients can quickly resume their usual activities, such as driving, as no medications are given, and they remain fully alert throughout the process.
Over six weeks, patients ideally report fewer and fewer episodes of severe anxiety, sleeplessness, emotional numbness, self-destructive behavior, and more.
If you are ready to take the next step toward improved mental health, contact us to learn about TMS therapy for PTSD in Linwood.
