TMS for anxiety (not just depression) — my experience
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Sign in to commentThis is a great topic. You're right that most TMS literature focuses on MDD, but there's growing evidence for anxiety disorders. The right DLPFC target your provider chose is consistent with current research for anxiety. We're also seeing interesting results with newer protocols that target both hemispheres in the same session for patients with comorbid depression and anxiety.
YES! I did TMS for anxiety + OCD last year. Similar protocol — right side targeting. The OCD improvements were slower but the anxiety relief was noticeable by week 3. My therapist said I was making more progress in CBT sessions after TMS, like it unlocked something.
I'm about to start TMS and have both anxiety and depression. Did your doctor discuss doing both sides? I'm trying to understand what to ask about at my consultation next week.
Emma — bilateral TMS (treating both left and right DLPFC) is becoming more common for patients with comorbid conditions. Ask your provider about sequential bilateral treatment. Some newer protocols like intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) can treat both sides in a shorter session time. Bring up your specific symptom profile so they can tailor the approach.
GAD + panic disorder here. Eight months post-treatment and the constant-low-level dread is just… gone. Still get situational anxiety but it doesn't run the show.
Same — I have GAD and went in for depression but my anxiety dropped almost as much. Right DLPFC adjustments seemed to be the key.
Did right-sided 1Hz for 30 sessions. Sleep onset improved first, then ruminations slowed, then the chest-tightness eased.
Important — many providers won't bill 'TMS for anxiety' because insurance won't cover it. They bill for comorbid depression and treat both. Ask explicitly.
Did your provider use a specific anxiety protocol or the standard depression one with adjustments?
Health anxiety has been the toughest piece for me. TMS knocked the volume down enough that CBT finally landed.
Anyone tried the Stanford-style protocol for OCD specifically? I'm in evaluation now.
Three weeks in for anxiety primarily. Sleep is the first thing that improved — I'm finally not lying awake replaying conversations.
Yes — Brainsway's deep TMS has an FDA clearance for OCD. Different coil shape than standard depression treatment.
Six months in, still taking my SSRI but at half the dose. Provider doesn't want me dropping it for another year. Patient with that.
The Stanford team published on right-sided iTBS for anxiety last year. Worth asking your provider about it.
Best part of TMS for anxiety: I stopped dreading new situations. The anticipatory dread was 80% of my suffering.
Panic attacks went from 3-4/week to maybe 1/month. Still have them but they're shorter and I can ride them out.