For many people living with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), daily life can feel like an endless loop of worry, stress, and exhaustion that’s hard to escape.
Therapy and medication can help many, but some people still have symptoms or don’t feel good on certain medications due to side effects. For these people, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for anxiety can be a new and helpful evidence-based option.
TMS for anxiety is a safe, noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to gently stimulate parts of the brain involved in mood regulation. This treatment was originally approved for major depressive disorder, however research has shown that TMS can also help reduce anxiety, especially in people with anxious depression, where anxiety and depression symptoms occur together.
Understanding anxiety
Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health challenges, affecting about 20% of adults in the US. Generalized anxiety disorder means feeling constant, overwhelming worry that interferes with daily life. Physical symptoms can accompany these feelings, such as muscle tension, restlessness, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty concentrating.
Other types of anxiety include social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While each presents differently, they share similar patterns of overactivity in the brain’s fear and stress circuits.
By understanding how anxiety changes brain activity, we can better understand why treatments like TMS can help balance those brain circuits and can reduce anxiety symptoms.
How TMS for anxiety works
Transcranial magnetic stimulation uses focused magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in specific regions of the brain that control mood, typically the part of your brain located behind your forehead called dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
This area helps regulate mood and emotional responses, but it often shows underactivity in patients with depression and anxiety. By stimulating this area, TMS helps restore more balanced communication across neural networks.
In people with GAD, the brain’s fear and worry system can stay switched on almost all the time. TMS for anxiety helps “reset” this system by gently calming and balancing the parts of the brain that handle fear, worry, and emotions..
Clinical studies have shown that TMS can:
- Decrease excessive worry and muscle tension
- Improve concentration and sleep
- Reduce co-occurring depressive symptoms
- Enhance overall mood stability
While TMS is not yet approved for GAD, it is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for patients with anxious depression or treatment-resistant depression where anxiety is a big part of their depression.
Benefits of TMS for anxiety
TMS offers several advantages for people struggling with anxiety disorders and anxious depression:
- Non-invasive: No surgery or anesthesia needed.
- Few side effects: Most people only feel a little scalp tingling or a short headache.
- Medication-free option: Ideal for people who can’t tolerate or don’t benefit from antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications.
- Complementary treatment: Can be used alongside psychotherapy and medication for a more comprehensive care plan.
- Improved quality of life: Many patients report better sleep, energy, and focus after completing a TMS course.
Because anxiety and depression often overlap, TMS can help address both mood and stress symptoms at the same time.
What to expect during TMS for anxiety treatment
TMS treatment usually happens over about nine weeks, with a total of about 36 sessions. Each session lasts about 20 minutes, but newer versions of TMS may have shorter sessions like theta burst stimulation or Express TMS, which can take as little as three minutes.
During the session, you will sit comfortably while a magnetic coil is positioned over the scalp. The device sends gentle pulses to stimulate targeted brain areas. Some people feel a tapping sensation or hear a clicking sound, but the treatment is painless and well-tolerated.
After each session, patients can return to their usual activities — work, school, or errands — without downtime.
Potential side effects and risks
TMS for anxiety is considered safe for most people. Side effects, when they occur, are typically mild and resolve over time. Common effects can include:
- Scalp discomfort during or after treatment
- Mild headache or fatigue
- Facial muscle twitching near the stimulation site
Serious side effects, such as seizures, are extremely rare. Providers screen every patient carefully before starting treatment to ensure that TMS is appropriate and safe.
Many people feel much better after TMS for anxiety, but it doesn’t work the same for everyone. Some people may still need other treatments — like therapy or medication — to get the best results.
When to seek help
If anxiety or depression interferes with daily life — causing persistent worry, restlessness, or trouble concentrating — it may be time to seek help.
Individuals who haven’t found relief with medication or therapy should discuss TMS for anxiety with their mental health provider. Early intervention can prevent symptoms from worsening and improve long-term outcomes.
Conclusion
For people with generalized anxiety disorder or anxious depression, TMS therapy offers a promising path toward relief. By safely modulating brain activity linked to worry and mood regulation, TMS provides an alternative or supplement to traditional treatments like medication and therapy.
Key takeaways
- TMS therapy is a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic stimulation to help regulate brain activity linked to anxiety and depression.
- It shows strong results for GAD and anxious depression, especially when traditional medications or therapy haven’t worked.
- Sessions are short and well-tolerated, with mild, temporary side effects.
- Combining TMS for anxiety with other treatments like medication management, and therapy often provides the best outcomes.
- Ongoing research continues to expand TMS’ potential in treating anxiety disorders safely and effectively.
Looking for TMS for anxiety treatment near you?
Pacific Mind Health offers transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for depression, OCD, and other mental health conditions at our Los Angeles locations. Our experienced clinicians provide compassionate, evidence-based care to help you feel better.
Ready to take the next step? Schedule a consultation today to see if TMS is right for you.
