Sadly, only a small percentage of those who suffer from anxiety will ever seek treatment. However, there is still a vast market of pharmaceutical drugs ready and waiting for those who need it. During any given year, 11-15 percent of Americans take a benzodiazepine, commonly called “benzos,” to treat their anxiety. Benzos work by altering GABA receptors in the brain which produce anti-anxiety, muscle relaxing and sedative effects. While this type of treatment can release sufferers from their mental cage, it is not without side effects. Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, and decreased alertness and concentration. Benzos are also known to impact multiple areas of thinking, including interfering with the formation and consolidation of memories, creating a type of amnesia for present-day events.
“I am in my own skin, but I don’t feel like I can be. I am mentally imprisoned to the point of physical imprisonment.”
A growing number of patients are therefore seeking alternatives to these medications. Implementing habits such as yoga and meditation have shown positive results. However, these often require consistent practice in order to be effective. For those with extreme anxiety, immediate results are needed. Jenny quit taking her medications out of sheer frustration over the side effects. “I shouldn’t have to swallow addictive pills to be myself again or just to fall asleep at night because my racing mind won’t subside,” Jenny said.
During any given year, 11-15 percent of Americans take a benzodiazepine, commonly called “benzos,” to treat their anxiety
Many, including Jenny, have found success with Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES). CES uses medical devices, such as Alpha Stim, about the size of a cell phone that send a pulsed, weak electrical current to the brain via electrodes placed on the ear lobes. This causes cortical deactivation, producing changes similar to those produced by medications, such as benzodiazepines. CES increases alpha activity–producing increased relaxation–decreases delta activity–reducing fatigue–and decreases beta activity–decreasing ruminative thoughts and improving focus–thus eliminating anxiety without the side effects seen in many pharmaceutical drugs. Jenny describes the relief she has found using her CES device as “freedom from the prison of anxiety without being numb to my emotions.” And to her, that feeling is priceless.
For more information visit www.alpha-stim.com or www.kasihoward.com. Kasi Howard, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist at the Alamo Wellness Group located at 6243 W Interstate 10 in San Antonio, TX 78201, and she can also be reached at 210.838.0090.
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