MeRT: A Breakthrough Treatment for Anxiety Disorder
This drug-free, non-invasive treatment can provide lasting relief from anxiety symptoms.
When you have anxiety, all you want is to feel calm again. To be able to get through a day without the constant worry, pain, overwhelm, and panic attacks. And to be able to sleep at night and wake up refreshed and ready to tackle your day.
Unfortunately, it’s all too common these days to experience anxiety. And sure, we all have moments of anxiety in life, whether it’s from work issues, family situations, or other stressful life events. But when that worry won’t go away, even when there’s no rational reason for it, then that anxiety may just be something more: an Anxiety Disorder.
Anxiety Disorders are the most common mental health disorder in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. Almost 20% of American adults will have an Anxiety Disorder each year, and over 30% will experience one in their lifetime.
If you’re living with the constant stress, fear, and panic of an Anxiety Disorder, know that hope exists. Even if you’ve tried medications and other forms of therapy. It’s called MeRT, or Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy.
MeRT treatment uses a gentle magnetic field to stimulate and balance brain function, guided by sophisticated imaging and diagnostics. And here at MVP Medical Center, we have used MeRT to treat Anxiety Disorders with significant success, even when other treatments haven’t helped.
I used to live in a life of fear, waiting for something bad to happen. Now, with MeRT, I find myself living in a sense of safety. My energy levels are up, my sleep is deeper, and my anxiety is gone. I am thankful for the MeRT experience in my life and I highly recommend it.” – Jody V.
There is Hope for Your Chronic Anxiety.
Learn How MeRT Treatment May Help. Contact Our Clinic Today.
Call us: 480.588.7787
What are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety Disorders can include panic attacks, social phobias, agoraphobia, and even anxiety caused by a medical condition or drug use. The most common is generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD. This includes persistent, obsessive worry and anxiety about activities or events. These can be ordinary, routine issues, and the worry is totally out of proportion to the actual circumstance. Yet, GAD can be difficult to control and also affects you physically. Plus, GAD can often occur along with other Anxiety Disorders or Depression.
Nobody knows exactly what causes Anxiety Disorders, but genetics can play a role, as well as environmental factors. Per the National Institute of Mental Health, “Several parts of the brain and biological processes play a key role in fear and anxiety.”
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
Different anxiety disorders have their own set of symptoms. With Generalized Anxiety Disorder, signs and symptoms can include the following:
- Excessive worry about everyday things
- Trouble controlling feelings of nervousness
- Knowing you worry more than you should
- Restlessness and trouble relaxing
- Difficulty concentrating
- Startling easily
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
- Feeling tired all the time or tiring easily
- Headaches, stomachaches, muscle aches, or other unexplained pains
- Having a hard time swallowing
- Trembling or twitching
- Irritability or feeling “on edge”
- Feeling lightheaded or out of breath
- Sweating more than normal
- A frequent need to go to the bathroom
If you think you might have an Anxiety Disorder, know that there is hope.
What is MeRT for Anxiety Treatment?
MeRT is an entirely new way to treat anxiety. Completely non-invasive and drug-free, MeRT combines Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS, an FDA-cleared therapy) with comprehensive diagnostic testing using a quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG).
We take these steps to analyze and formulate treatments tailored to each patient’s unique brain pattern. Patients with anxiety have markers that are visible in their EEG studies. We can see an imbalance in brainwave activity between the left and right hemispheres, called asymmetry. The MeRT protocol identifies the asymmetry and, through a targeted program of TMS, strengthens brainwave activity, which can reduce anxiety symptoms.
The MeRT process is much more evolved than standard TMS treatments since it is not a “one size fits all” approach. MeRT is highly individualized in both frequency and location. This scientific approach is unique to each person.
The MeRT treatment plan is highly individualized, with the purpose of improved brain communication. This can lead to significant clinical improvements, and many who have been on medications have found that they no longer need them.*
* Results are based on active and strict observation of our regimens. Results may vary based on the individual user and are not guaranteed.
Meet Our Doctor
Dr. Sosnowski is dedicated to doing whatever is needed to help you achieve freedom from debilitating anxiety symptoms so you can live a healthy, happy life. She is Board-Certified in the following areas: Family Practice (ABFM); Integrative & Holistic Medicine (ABiHM); Integrative Medicine (ABoIM); Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (IFMCP) Fellow: American Academy of Family Physicians.
I try to meet each patient at the level they need — nurturing, guiding, directing, or focusing them as they need me. I want people to have the ultimate in personalized, timely, accessible care. And I want to surpass the patient’s ideals for excellent care and service, along with the knowledge to keep themselves healthy and away from doctor’s offices, so they can enjoy living.”
Read more about Dr. Sosnowski and our personalized comprehensive care on our About Us page.
Anxiety Treatment with MeRT: What to Expect on your First Visit
Starting as a new patient at MVP Medical Care initially involves two appointments, each lasting about 45 minutes to an hour. Your first appointment is for testing, and your second appointment is for your consultation with Dr. Sosnowski. For patients who prefer to have their first and second appointments before deciding to move forward with treatment, we are happy to work with you on this.
Your MeRT treatment will involve the following steps:
Evaluation
The first step of treatment is to perform a qEEG and EKG. It’s important to note that these tests are simple and painless: We place a cap on your head to measure the electrical activity in your brain and map out any areas not performing as they should. At the same time, we also place a lead on your chest to capture the EKG data.
Analysis & Protocol
Once we’ve completed your initial tests, we send the data to our scientists and clinical teams. Along with Dr. Sosnowski, they carefully analyze the test results to identify any dysregulation occurring in your brain. Then, based on their analysis, we develop a treatment plan customized to your specific condition and schedule your assessment period of treatment.
Following your qEEG and EKG, your second appointment is a consultation with Dr. Sosnowski. She will answer any questions you may have and let you know more about what to expect during your assessment period of treatment. She will also go over your medical history, along with symptoms.
Assessment Period and Evaluation
The assessment period is vital to determine if MeRT will achieve results for your specific condition. Therefore, this treatment period lasts for two weeks. Treatment for the first week occurs Monday through Friday, followed by the second week of treatment on Monday through Thursday.
If you are traveling from out of town, we aim to schedule your qEEG/EKG on a Friday, then your consultation and first treatment session for the following Monday.
After two weeks of treatment, we perform an additional qEEG and EKG to track your progress and make any needed modifications. We also monitor your progress throughout your daily treatments to confirm how you feel and track any improvements.
Once we complete the appropriate assessment period and you are noting improvements in brain function, we will schedule additional MeRT treatment for two weeks at a time.
At the end of every two weeks, we will perform an additional qEEG/EKG to monitor your progress. You will then consult with Dr. Sosnowski to confirm that changes are still showing on the testing.
Most conditions treated with MeRT provide noticeable and long-lasting results after four to eight weeks of treatment. However, each patient is different, and the results may vary.
MeRT Treatment
Once your treatment protocols are in place, you will come to therapy five days a week at two-week intervals. All you need to do is sit in a comfortable chair while a highly trained neuro-technician places a magnetic coil on your head. This device produces a low-frequency magnetic field to induce mild electrical signals in the targeted areas of the brain.
The stimulation occurs for six to eight seconds every minute. You will be required to close your eyes during that six-to-eight-second period. You will typically spend 30 to 45 minutes in the chair each day.
Insurance Coverage and Payment Options
While MeRT treatment isn’t generally covered by insurance, we are happy to provide you with the appropriate paperwork at the end of your treatment. You can then submit the paperwork to your insurance company to see if they will provide you with any reimbursement.
Currently, rTMS is FDA cleared for Depression and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Therefore, in some cases, we may be able to help you with your insurance company if you are seeking treatment for those issues. Additionally, some patients have reported that they have received some reimbursement for EEGs or clinical evaluations and treatment when treating Major Depressive Disorder, depending on their health coverage. However, Medicare patients have reported that their coverage provides no reimbursement for MeRT. And for non-FDA cleared treatment, it is unlikely that your insurance company will provide you with any reimbursement for MeRT.
We take all major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
Care Credit is also an option to assist in financing medical expenses. This is a separate company from MVP Medical Care and is a credit card you can use to cover medical costs and services. Often, when you go to the Care Credit website and apply, they will let you know if you are approved very promptly.
Questions about Anxiety Treatment with MeRT?
Contact Our New Patient Coordinator for More Information
Since MeRT is a relatively new treatment, we understand that you may not be sure if this is right for you. And that’s completely okay. After all, you need to get all the information necessary to make the right decision for your health.
In order to get that information, your first step is a simple, no-obligation phone consultation with our New Patient Coordinator. During this consultation, you can discuss your symptoms and history, ask all the questions you want, and have her explain the protocols, fees, and treatment details.
Our goal is simply this: to help guide you through the healing process, so you achieve all the remarkable results MeRT has to offer. In fact, many clinicians and technicians employed by various clinics that offer MeRT have gone through treatment protocols themselves. They know first-hand what the treatment can do, and as a result, want you to heal as they have.
So, take a few minutes and talk to our New Patient Coordinator. She is here for you and truly wants to help.
Call Us Today. We are Here to Help.
Our New Patient Coordinator will take the time to answer your questions, listen to your concerns, and explain our procedures.
Call us: 480.588.7787
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