TMS for Anxiety: Can It Help?

How Depression and Anxiety Are Related 

Experts continue to study the relationship between these two conditions and have a few theories about how they're connected. Some of their findings include the following:

1. Many of the same mental and physical functions may be involved with both depression and anxiety.
2. Some of the same neurotransmitters may be involved in both conditions.
3. You may be more genetically vulnerable to developing one or both conditions.
4. Chronic illness or serious health events can put you at greater risk of developing both conditions.

Depression and anxiety disorders often occur together. Researchers have found that as many as 60 percent of people with depression may also have anxiety symptoms. The rate is similar for people with anxiety disorders who have some depression symptoms. One disorder may be more prominent, but symptoms of both can appear at the same time. And when you have both depression and anxiety, you may struggle more with daily activities or have a lower overall quality of life than if you experienced only one condition.



So, how effective is TMS for anxiety symptoms? They may improve with TMS therapy, but not for the reason you may think. TMS currently only targets depression symptoms and is not approved as a treatment for anxiety disorders. But when you effectively treat depression, you may find that some anxiety symptoms can improve as well. To understand how this works, it helps to look more closely at the connections between both conditions.

Treat Depression, Help Your Anxiety 

Many physical and emotional symptoms of depression and anxiety overlap. And some symptoms can be a trigger for other issues, such as sleep problems leading to more irritability, or a poor appetite leading to fatigue. When at least one or two main symptoms can be improved, you're more likely to feel better overall. When your depression improves, your outlook on life can seem brighter. This mindset shift slows the flow of negative thoughts, giving you less to ruminate on and worry about. Even though you aren't directly treating anxiety, improvement of any of the following shared symptoms can lessen anxiety's impact:

• Sleeping too much
• Not sleeping enough
• Fatigue
• Aches and sore muscles
• Change of appetite and eating patterns
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability

Keep Seeking Treatment for Anxiety 

However, this doesn't mean that you'll automatically feel better after treating only one condition. Depression treatment can help with some anxiety symptoms, but this may not be enough. You'll likely receive the best results if you treat both depression and anxiety. To get relief from anxiety, consider talk therapy or medication. For the best results, keep pursuing these options even if depression treatment helps you feel better. TMS therapy for depression can be very effective, but it's still not a treatment for anxiety and therefore isn't a panacea.

TMS Therapy for Depression and Anxiety 

Depression and anxiety can make every day feel overwhelming, especially if you live with both conditions. It may take some patience to work through different treatment options, but stay encouraged and don't give up your search. Once you find the combination that works, you'll be able to start feeling better and get back to enjoying your life.