Now accepting new patients
Now accepting new patients
Anxious depression is not just sadness. It is sad with a motor running underneath. Restlessness. A constant scanning for what might go wrong. Exhaustion and wired, somehow at the same time. TMS therapy for anxious depression can quiet that motor and lift the weight together, without adding another medication to the pile.
50 percent
or more average reduction in both depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) scores after a full course
83 percent
of people who complete a NeuroStar course see measurable improvement
36 sessions
standard course, 5 days per week for about 6 to 7 weeks
19 to 37 minutes
per session, awake the whole time
No systemic side effects,
nothing circulates in your bloodstream
Anxious depression is major depression carrying a heavy load of anxiety at the same time. It is common, it is exhausting, and it can be harder to treat with medication alone.
Symptom domain
Restlessness
Racing thoughts
Worry
Low mood
Physical tension
Irritability
Fatigue
Trouble focusing
Common impact on daily life
Cannot sit still, cannot settle, even when worn out
A mind that will not turn off at bedtime
Constant scanning for threats that may never come
Heaviness and loss of joy underneath the worry
Tight shoulders, clenched jaw, an uneasy stomach
A short fuse with the people closest to you
Wired and exhausted at once, drained by the effort of coping
Anxiety crowds out concentration and memory
When this mix persists despite adequate medication trials, TMS becomes a medically appropriate next step.
Medications spread through the whole body and can blunt anxiety and mood while stacking up side effects. TMS works differently. It places focused magnetic pulses over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which helps regulate the amygdala, the brain’s alarm center that runs hot in anxiety. By strengthening the circuit that keeps the alarm in check, TMS can ease the worry and lift the depression at the same time.
Think of it as physical therapy for an overworked alarm system. No sedation, no anesthesia, nothing in your bloodstream, and you drive yourself home.
Learn more about TMS therapy
A full course is 36 sessions, 5 days per week, over about 6 to 7 weeks, each session 19 to 37 minutes. Weekend appointments make the schedule easier to keep.
Step 1
Reach out by phone at (501) 794.6037 or request a consultation online. We answer the simple questions first, including what your insurance covers, at no cost to you.
Step 2
Dr. Janette McGaugh reviews your history, your past treatments, and your goals to confirm that TMS is a medically appropriate next step for you.
Step 3
On your first treatment visit we find the precise spot on your head and set the right dose for you. This mapping visit takes about 1.5 hours.
Step 4
You recline in the chair, feel a gentle tapping, wear earplugs for the clicking sound, and stay awake. Read, listen to music, or just rest. Sessions run 19 to 37 minutes, 5 days per week, for about 6 to 7 weeks.
Step 5
There is no sedation and no downtime, so you drive yourself home and return to normal life immediately.
About the TMS dip: some people feel a little worse around week 3 or 4. It is temporary. It passes, and it is often a sign that change is underway.
Maintenance sessions: after your acute course, some people benefit from occasional weekly or monthly follow up sessions to protect their progress
Start your free consultation
Feature
How it works
Invasiveness
Common side effects
Works when meds fail
Treatment time
Recovery time
Insurance coverage
TMS
Magnetic pulses target a specific mood circuit
Noninvasive
Mild scalp discomfort that fades
Yes, this is its main use
19 to 37 minutes per session
None, drive yourself home
Widely covered for resistant depression
SSRIs and SNRIs
Medication changes brain chemistry body wide
Oral medication
Weight, sleep, sexual, and energy effects
Often the thing that already failed
Daily pill
None
Widely covered
CBT
Talk therapy reshapes thoughts and behavior
Noninvasive
None physical
Sometimes, varies by person
Weekly sessions
None
Often covered
ECT
Electrical current induces a brief seizure
Requires anesthesia
Memory effects, recovery time
Yes, but more intensive
Multiple sessions with recovery
Needs recovery after each session
Covered, used for severe cases
See if TMS is right for you
Dr. McGaugh was great. Their office is warm and inviting. They don’t make you feel like a “patient” and they will sit and listen to you. My first visit I was so broken…crying…down and uninterested…I was giving up…but the treatments took affect by week 2…they have helped me to back to me that’s been gone for years from dealing with life and tragedies…I can’t thank them enough🩷
Highly recommend Dr. McGaugh! Very knowledgeable, understanding, and reliable. I love working with a smaller practice because you feel more like family rather than just another patient. Also highly recommend her TMS treatment, as someone who has suffered anxiety most of my life but not a big fan of antidepressants and their side effects, TMS has worked wonders!!
Absolutely love Dr. McGaugh and her lovely office staff. Super kind, understanding, and always ready to try something different or make adjustments to find the right fit. If I could leave more stars I would! If you are in Arkansas looking for a psychiatrist look no further! Helpful and up to date on recent research and methods. Thank you Best Life Psychiatry for helping me live my best life!
I suffer from depression and anxiety and the TMS treatment has been working wonders for me.
My mind is not foggy and I can sleep better.
It’s a cozy little clinic and Doctor McGaugh knows what she’s doing.
I’m looking forward to continuing with the treatment!
Coverage for TMS has expanded a great deal. Most commercial insurers and Medicare cover TMS for treatment resistant major depressive disorder, and anxious depression is generally covered when it is documented under that umbrella. NeuroStar reports that more than 300 million people have insurance plans that include TMS coverage.
Our team handles the prior authorization paperwork and verifies your benefits for you before you begin, so there are no surprises.
Get a free benefits check today
It is major depressive disorder accompanied by significant anxiety symptoms, sometimes called major depression with anxious distress.
NeuroStar is cleared to treat depression, and it is also indicated to help reduce anxiety symptoms in adults with depression who have anxious distress. Many people see both PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores fall after a full course.
Some people feel a short dip around week 3 or 4. It is temporary and usually passes.
Often yes. TMS is frequently used alongside medication. Make any changes only with Dr. McGaugh, never on your own.
Many people notice changes by week 2 or 3, with the fullest benefit after completing the course.
Dr. McGaugh can discuss other paths, including Spravato esketamine or medication changes, if TMS is not the right fit.
Not always. We check your plan’s requirements during your free benefits check.
Most plans, Medicare, and Tricare cover TMS for depression. We verify your benefits before you begin.
Click here for a free NeuroStar TMS consultation
