MeRT for Anxiety
Anxiety Symptoms
The symptoms of anxiety can vary from person to person, but they all share a common characteristic: a heightened state of alertness in both the mind and body, which can trigger the fight-or-flight response. In some cases, these symptoms can be severe enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room. Here are some common symptoms associated with anxiety:
- Rapid heartbeat or palpitations
- Feelings of nervousness and tension
- Faster than normal breathing or hyperventilation
- Excessive sweating
- Tremors or shaking
- Persistent rumination or racing thoughts
- Muscle twitching
- Difficulty focusing or experiencing clarity of thought
- Fatigue or lack of energy
- Weakness
- Digestive issues such as stomach discomfort or gastrointestinal problems
- Avoidance of situations or individuals that trigger anxiety
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or tightness
- Nausea
- Light-headedness or dizziness
- Numbness or tingling sensations in the extremities
- Feelings of detachment or being disconnected from reality
- Fear of dying or other phobias.
It’s important to note that these symptoms may manifest differently in each individual, and the severity can vary as well. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and they significantly impact your daily life, it is advisable to seek professional help for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Anxiety is a common experience that most individuals encounter at some point in their lives. It is natural to feel anxious in certain situations, but for individuals with an anxiety disorder, these feelings extend beyond temporary worries or stressful days. Anxiety can persist for years and have a significant impact on daily functioning.
MeRT(sm), also known as Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy, offers a non-invasive and drug-free treatment option for anxiety. This innovative therapy has proven effective in helping thousands of individuals overcome this potentially debilitating condition.
Anxiety is a broad term that encompasses various disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Additionally, anxiety or panic attacks can be triggered by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
While the exact causes of anxiety disorders are not fully understood, it is known that traumatic life events can be triggers. Genetic factors and underlying health conditions can also contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. Anxiety can also coexist with other mental health conditions such as depression, PTSD, or bipolar disorder.
Typically, physicians approach the treatment of anxiety through a combination of medication and counseling. Adopting holistic lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise, sufficient sleep, meditation, yoga, and a balanced diet, can also be beneficial. However, some individuals may experience adverse effects from medication, and for others, alternative therapies may not provide sufficient relief to overcome their disorder.
MeRT Treatment Can Help With Anxiety
MeRT treatment is utilized to address dysregulation in the brain by modulating electrical signals and neural pathways. This process stimulates and reorganizes brain function, providing potential relief from anxiety.
Cognitive performance can also benefit from MeRT treatment, resulting in various positive outcomes, including:
- Improved sleep quality
- Enhanced relaxation
- Reduction in anxiety levels
- Increased motivation
- Improved concentration abilities
- Enhanced attention span and focus
- Better mood regulation
- Improved clarity of thinking
- Enhanced decision-making skills
- Improved emotional stability
- Reduced cravings for alcohol and/or drugs
- Increased energy levels
- Improved social skills
- Boosted self-confidence.
If you feel like your anxiety is beyond your control, MeRT treatment offers a drug-free approach that can help alleviate your symptoms and assist you in reclaiming a sense of normalcy in your life.
Your Brain is as Unique as Your Fingerprints!
The way your brain reacts is highly individual, as no two brains function in exactly the same way. Recognizing this uniqueness, we tailor the treatment protocol specifically to you. Our first step involves utilizing a quantitative EEG to identify any dysregulation in your brain. This diagnostic tool helps us pinpoint the areas that require improvement in their functioning.
By analyzing your individual test results, we gather valuable data that enables us to develop a customized treatment approach to optimize your brain function. The treatment protocol involves the use of a gentle magnetic stimulation applied to specific areas of your brain. This targeted stimulation aims to enhance communication and functionality, leading to improved overall brain performance.
The MeRT Process
MeRT represents a non-pharmaceutical and non-invasive treatment option.
Originally derived from rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) technology, MeRT has evolved to provide a more advanced approach. Unlike rTMS, which targets a single location in the brain with one frequency and lacks guidance from qEEG results, MeRT offers a more tailored and precise treatment method.
Numerous studies have demonstrated altered brain wave oscillations in individuals with various conditions, including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, and more. The MeRT treatment protocol utilizes a magnetic field to balance and stimulate brain function. By leveraging sophisticated diagnostics and imaging, we customize the treatment for each individual, considering factors such as location, frequency, and power used by the magnet. This personalized approach addresses the unique needs of each person’s condition. As a result, MeRT can enhance brain communication and synchronization, leading to significant and long-lasting improvements.
Initial research on MeRT has been primarily conducted by the U.S. Department of Defense, focusing on veterans returning from combat. An article published in Defense One highlights the DOD’s research and the positive effects MeRT has shown in individuals with TBI, PTSD, and MDD. Additionally, studies conducted in the private sector have explored MeRT’s effectiveness for other conditions.
What to Expect
To begin the evaluation process, we kindly request your presence for a comprehensive testing appointment. During this session, we will collect your new patient paperwork, and our chief neuro technician will conduct a qEEG and EKG examination. These tests allow us to identify any dysfunctions or communication issues within your brain.
Typically, this appointment takes approximately 45 minutes. However, if you are seeking treatment for your child with autism, we kindly ask you to allocate an hour for this assessment. Once you decide to proceed with treatment, we will arrange your assessment period accordingly.
If you are not yet prepared to commit to an assessment period or would prefer to have your qEEG and consultation prior to making a decision about treatment, we offer an alternative. You have the option of visiting us for a qEEG/EKG examination and a consultation with our clinician. This way, you can review your results and determine your candidacy for treatment before proceeding with the assessment period.
Your second appointment, which is approximately 45 minutes in duration, will involve meeting our medical professional for a clinical evaluation. During this session, our medical expert will address any inquiries you may have and discuss the treatment plan that is most suitable for your situation.
Assessment Period
he evaluation phase of the treatment extends over a period of two weeks.
During this assessment period, we closely monitor your response to the treatment in order to assess its effectiveness. At the conclusion of the two-week assessment period, we will conduct a follow-up qEEG to observe any changes that have occurred in your brain.
The assessment sessions are scheduled from Monday through Friday during the first week, and from Monday through Thursday during the second week, totaling nine sessions. Following these sessions, we will perform a repeat qEEG to evaluate the progress made during the assessment period.
Continuing Treatment
After the completion of the assessment period, if we observe positive clinical progress and improvements in the qEEG results, we will proceed with scheduling subsequent two-week treatment periods. It is important to note that each treatment period spans two weeks, and it is necessary for you to be able to remain in Newport Beach or the surrounding area during this time. To maximize the effectiveness of the treatment and ensure long-lasting results, we strongly recommend a total duration of six weeks, which includes the assessment period.
The comparison between the initial and second qEEG/clinical evaluations will provide insights into your response to the treatment. It is during this period that you should start noticing changes in how you feel. Optimal and long-lasting results are typically achieved with a six-week treatment plan, which incorporates the assessment period.
Since every individual’s brain is unique, the treatment protocol is tailored specifically to you based on the detailed qEEG/EKG data from your brain and the specific condition being addressed. Generally, the effects of the treatment can have a lifelong impact, although some individuals may prefer occasional follow-up treatment as needed. It is important to recognize that each person is different, and treatment protocols may vary. Your provider will conduct regular follow-up EEGs and consultations to assess your progress.
Additional Information
Each treatment session typically lasts around 45 minutes. During the session, you will be seated comfortably while the neuro-technician administers the treatment near your scalp using a hand-held magnet. The magnetic impulses are gentle and are delivered for six to eight seconds per minute. While undergoing the treatment, you may experience a mild sensation, but it is not painful or uncomfortable.
It is important to understand that the results and improvements achieved are dependent on adhering to our treatment protocols and guidelines. Individual outcomes may vary and cannot be guaranteed. Additionally, the response to therapy can differ for each person. Generally, the duration of MeRT therapy directly correlates with the duration of the observed changes, meaning that longer treatment periods tend to result in longer-lasting effects.
