Austin Mental Health Treatment
People are increasingly coming to the realization that our mental health is just as important to overall wellness as our physical health. In fact, science continues to provide evidence of the link between these two systems, and how an illness of the mind can actually aggravate or promote illness of the body, and vice versa. The mind-body connection is a profound one. For optimum wellness, the need to include mental health treatment to one’s self-care efforts is essential.
When seeking Austin mental health treatment services there are several things to consider. Having a grasp on one’s mental wellness concerns and treatment goals is the first step in beginning the process of locating the best practitioner match for maximum clinical impact.
When Should I Seek Out Austin Mental Health Services?
A mental health condition can emerge gradually. You may have seemed find and then, seemingly without warning, you discover you are immersed in a dark depression or are suddenly struggling with irrational fear and anxiety. While understandable that one might take a wait-and-see approach on this development, it may become a major concern when it is realized how significantly the mental health issue has impacted daily functioning. That is usually the point when someone will begin to actively consider seeking out a mental health professional.
Signs of mental distress might include:
- Persistent feelings of sadness or despair
- Excessive worry or fear
- Struggle to function at daily tasks, or severely impaired
- Cannot overcome a trauma or difficult life event
- Abusing substances to numb emotional pain
- Mood swings
- Anger issues
- Have a behavioral addiction that is harming your quality of life
- Suicidal ideation
What Should I Look For in a Therapist?
Selecting the right therapist for oneself is very important. Just as with any other relationship or friendship, people seek compatibility. Only if one feels comfortable with a therapist will they feel free to open up and share their personal story. This is how the important trust bond between therapist and client is formed.
When seeking an appropriate mental health professional to guide you through a life event or chronic mental health issue there are some things to consider in the decision-making process. These include:
- Therapist is a good listener
- A sense of safety when meeting the therapist
- They have their credentials posted
- Therapist values confidentiality and privacy
- Therapist does not react to the things you share with judgment or harsh criticism
- Therapist takes your needs seriously
- Therapist has defined boundaries
- Therapist defines expectations and goals
- Therapist gives sense of warmth and compassion
What Types of Treatment are Offered at Austin Mental Health Programs?
Most mental health conditions are treated with psychotherapy, medication, or both. Depending on the diagnosis, the psychiatrist will create an appropriate treatment plan for the patient.
Medication: If medication is to be prescribed, there may be a trial period in which the dosing or even the drug itself is adjusted for better efficacy. In the case of antidepressants, it may take several trials before the best fit is determined. These drugs, however, can result in unpleasant side effects that some patients may not tolerate. In addition, about 50% of patients do not experience relief of symptoms from antidepressants.
Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is the primary form of treatment for mental health disorders. Through the use of evidence-based approaches patients can process through unresolved emotional issues, as well as learn how to make positive changes in thought and behavior patterns. Psychotherapy is provided in both individual sessions and group sessions. The therapist may assign the patient to joining a group of others who share a common issue, and where the patient can enjoy an additional layer of support.
Adjunctive therapies: Increasingly, alternative or adjunctive therapies are accessed for augmenting the effects of the traditional treatment protocol. Such therapies might include TMS therapy, EMDR, biofeedback, mindfulness meditation and other holistic practices.
What is TMS Therapy?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a fairly new innovation in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). A large percentage of patients suffering from depression do not respond to the antidepressant drug therapy, and TMS provides a safe, noninvasive alternative treatment option.
TMS is a technique that is design to reset brain chemistry by stimulating neurons in the limbic region of the brain. This is accomplished through the use of magnetic energy that is funneled through a coil that is situated over the patient’s scalp. During the treatment session, the patient experiences a light tapping sensation where the magnetic pulses are being delivered on the scalp.
Once the magnetic fields penetrate the scalp electrical currents are induced. These currents penetrate the targeted brain tissue to a depth of about 2 cm, stimulating those brain cells that are underperforming. Over the 4-6 week course of TMS treatment sessions, the brain chemistry is rebalanced, which can result in symptom relief.
What Mental Health Disorders Does TMS Treat?
Currently, TMS therapy is FDA-cleared for treating resistant MDD. However, doctors who administer TMS in patients with co-occurring anxiety have found their anxiety symptoms are improved in addition to the depression symptoms. In particular, patients with co-occurring generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder have been helped as a result of TMS therapy.
TMS is currently being studied for a wide array of other mental health applications as well as medical conditions. Already in Europe TMS is approved for individuals seeking help for substance use disorder, smoking cessation, Parkinson’s disease, stroke rehabilitation, chronic pain, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Anew Era TMS & Psychiatry Austin Leader in TMS Therapy for Depression and Anxiety
Anew Era TMS & Psychiatry Austin provides a full-spectrum of mental health services, with a specialty in TMS therapy. Serving Southern California and Austin, Texas, the experts at Anew Era TMS & Psychiatry offer an additional layer of treatment for individuals who experience intolerable side effects with antidepressants, or who were not helped by them. When seeking Austin mental health treatment services, reach out to Anew Era TMS & Psychiatry for valuable guidance in obtaining the best treatment options for optimal wellness. Contact us today at (888) 503-1549.
