A novel and hopeful treatment for depression, anxiety, and insomnia, WITHOUT DRUGS! It is being carried out in patients suffering from these types of mental health illnesses. What does it consist of?
According to recent data, the World Health Organization estimates that worldwide, some 280,000,000 people are suffering the consequences of experiencing depression. One of the mental health illnesses that is rapidly gaining ground among each and every age group. Including young men and women, adults and older adults. It is a disease that, year after year, has shown a worrying and vertiginous increase. Apparently is not even close to giving a truce. It is even appearing in children at a very early age.
280 Million Suffer from Depression
Another mental health disorder that has grown exponentially in recent years, especially after the global pandemic of Covid-19, is anxiety. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 4 percent of the world’s population currently suffers from some anxiety disorder. During 2019 alone, more than 301 million people had been diagnosed with some anxiety disorder. Making it one of the most common and globally known mental disorders.
301 million people had been diagnosed with some anxiety disorder.
There is another closely related to depression, and anxiety appears in the spotlight. Another condition that has the authorities worried and medical specialists are trying to combat these mental health diseases. I’m talking about insomnia. Why is it so worrying?
According to the latest data collected, it is estimated that between 10 and 15 percent of the world’s adult population is suffering from some degree of chronic insomnia. And between 30 to 35 percent of people have at some point suffered from occasional or transient insomnia. It is associated with some stressful moments or situations that they have had to go through.
Along with the worrying increase in these 3 mental illnesses, the concern of health authorities to find new alternative treatments to combat them more effectively has also grown. Among these, today I want to focus on an innovative non-drug treatment that is on the rise, to treat these mental health problems.
Novel Treatment WITHOUT DRUGS for Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is the name of this novel medical treatment for depression, anxiety, and insomnia. The treatment does not use any drugs or medication. An alternative that could be used in those patients who have not responded well to medications and other more traditional methods.
As explained by the NIH, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation method. The treatment has recently been developed for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders. It uses magnetic fields to stimulate certain areas of the brain.
How are the sessions of a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?
It is a painless and localized procedure in which a coil is placed on the patient’s head and begins to generate a series of repetitive magnetic impulses, activating the neurons in the target region. The sessions last 20 to 30 minutes and usually last 5 to 7 weeks. During repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation sessions, patients with depression resistant to conventional treatment or medication remain awake and alert. Once finished, they can resume their daily activities as normal.
Side Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
Unlike many psychiatric drugs that do have various side effects, transcranial magnetic stimulation is a treatment for depression, anxiety, and insomnia that has not generated reports of serious side effects. There have only been cases in which mild discomfort has been experienced, such as headaches or discomfort, but which generally resolve in a short period of time or immediately.
It is important to note that the use of this treatment is restricted in people who have magnetic implants or recent adverse neurological or cardiac events.