• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Brainstim Centers TMS & MeRT, Encino & Valencia CA

Depression, PTSD, Concussion and Autism Treatment using MeRT and TMS

  • Home
  • About
    • About BrainStim Centers
    • Clinical Team
    • Our Process
    • Insurance Coverage
    • Covid 19
    • Side Effects
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Services
    • Services Overview
    • MeRT TMS
    • MeRT Videos
    • Standard Protocol TMS
    • EEG
    • Cambridge Brain Testing
    • MRI
    • Initial Analysis
  • Conditions
    • Conditions Treated Overview
    • Depression
    • Autism
    • Drugs for Autism Treatment
    • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
    • Brain Performance
    • Addiction
    • Chronic Pain
    • Anxiety
    • OCD
    • Tinnitus
    • Our Process
  • Testimonials
    • Reviews
  • Science
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Location
    • Patients
    • Assessment Forms
    • Physicians
  • News
    • Brain Health News
    • Newsletter
    • In The News
    • Podcasts

Anne Hill

How Childhood Trauma can Affect the Brain

Dr. Mark Liker, located in the Greater Los Angeles Area, Can Help You Overcome the Effects of Childhood Trauma

Childhood trauma is all too common these days. Approximately 14% of Americans report that they experienced emotional abuse or neglect during their childhood. And that trauma can also cause permanent changes to the structure of the brain.

A recent article in The Irish Times went into detail about brain health and adverse childhood experiences:

“Psychological studies have shown… that traumatic experiences in childhood have the potential to alter a child’s brain through the narrowing of neural pathways which may cause longer-term effects in areas such as attachment issues, physical health, emotional regulation, dissociation cognitive abilities, self-concept and behavioural [sic] control. Brain development in infancy and early childhood lays the foundation for all future development.”

It is important to note that extended periods of trauma in childhood can increase the chances of:

  • anxiety disorders
  • bipolar disorder
  • major depression
  • personality disorders
  • PTSD
  • psychosis

As another example, a study used an MRI to measure changes in brain structure among young adults who had experienced childhood trauma. As a result of their testing, they discovered differences in nine brain regions between those who had experienced childhood abuse and neglect and those who had not.

It’s probably not surprising to you that trauma in childhood affects people later in life. However, the manner in which this trauma alters the brain is important to understand. After all, the more we know the areas of the brain affected, the more we can treat those areas and lessen the effects in adults.

Call Our New Patient Coordinator to Learn More

CALL:(310) 895-7122

Three Levels of Childhood Stress

childhood traumaEvery child experiences stress. After all, stress is a part of life, and an important way to learn how to handle situations and increase resilience. However, there are different levels of stress, each of which has a different impact on the brain.

Positive Stress is a moderate type of stress, which only lasts for a short time and is a normal part of life. Examples of this type of stress may include being left in daycare for the first time or visiting the doctor. Learning to adjust to positive stress is vital for healthy childhood development.

Tolerable Stress can be more serious, such as the death of a loved one or a natural disaster. This type of stress can potentially cause damage to the brain but occurs infrequently enough to give the brain time to heal.

Toxic Stress is another matter entirely. This occurs when the stress is strong, frequent, and prolonged, such as abuse, neglect, or violence. This toxic stress disrupts normal brain development and can rewire certain parts of the brain.

Areas of the Brain Affected by Childhood Trauma

How Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation TMS Works to Improve Brain FunctionThe US Department of Health and Human Services laid out five different areas which may be affected by childhood stress and trauma:

  • Reduced size of the hippocampus, the area central to learning and memory.
  • Decrease in volume of the corpus callosum, responsible for communication between brain hemispheres and specifically, integrating motor, sensory, and cognitive performance.
  • Reduction in size of the cerebellum, affecting motor skills and coordination.
  • Smaller prefrontal cortex, which is critical for behavior, emotional and social regulation, and perception.
  • Overactivity in the amygdala, the area responsible for processing emotions and determining whether something is potentially dangerous.

As we have noted above, these impacts on the brain will affect how a child responds to life. Moreover, adults who have experienced this type of childhood neglect and abuse are far more likely to deal with depression, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and more.

Recovering from this type of trauma and its long-term effects on the brain can be an arduous process, particularly when trying to figure out which forms of therapy will work. However, with the proper treatment, including therapies like MeRT, there is hope.

In essence, MeRT focuses on balancing brainwave activity to ease symptoms. We do this by performing a qEEG (brain mapping) to identify the imbalance. Then, we strengthen the brainwave activity through a highly personalized treatment plan using TMS.

 

Would you like a consultation with our New Patient Coordinator?

If you’ve been experiencing the adverse effects of childhood trauma, then we want to help. And it costs nothing to call us and talk about what is happening.

During your call, the New Patient Coordinator will listen to you and answer your questions. She will also explain our process and protocols, as well as costs, possible insurance benefits, and any other details you want to know.

There are no obligations and she will take all the time you need in order to determine whether you should take the next steps.

Call Our New Patient Coordinator to Learn More

CALL:(310) 895-7122

Or fill in the form below and she will contact you.

For more information or to speak with our New Patient Coordinator, please fill in the information below.
  • Absolute Contraindications

    Absolute contraindications for cortical MeRT treatment: Pacemaker, Defibrillator, Vagal Nerve Stimulator, VP Shunt/ Magnetic intracranial shunts, Deep Brain Stimulator, Epidural Cortical stimulator, Steel shunts/stents, Cranial metal fragments (i.e. shrapnel, excluding titanium), Cochlear implant, Aneurysm clips, coils, pipelines flow diversion, Pregnant or breastfeeding, Primary brain cancer / metastatic legions in brain (unless palliative care), Magnetic dental implants, Implanted cardio-verter defibrillators (ICD), Ocular implants.
  • Relative Contraindications

    Relative contraindications require closer protocol attention and may or may not disqualify someone from receiving cortical MeRT treatment, depending on the doctor’s discretion and the person’s individual condition. These include:: History of Seizure or seizure disorder, Titanium shunts/stents, Spinal Cord Stimulator, Hearing aids, Ferrous cortical implants, Magnetic ink tattoo, Bipolar Disorder Type I/II, Baha Implant.

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, General Tagged With: brain, childhood trauma, depression, Dr Mark Liker, Encino Ca, MeRT, PTSD, stress, TMS, Valencia CA April 28, 2022 By Anne Hill

Pandemic-related depression rates continue to rise. Here’s what you can do.

We’re well into our third year of a global pandemic, and if you feel depressed, wondering when and if you’ll see an end to all this upheaval, you’re not alone. And even if you’re moving through this pandemic with your mental health relatively intact, just watching the news can bring on feelings of anxiety and depression.

So, it won’t surprise you that mental health conditions are on the rise: Depression among adults in the United States tripled in the early months of the COVID pandemic. And new research shows that this only increased in 2021, with depression affecting one in every three American adults.

Just some of what may be contributing to these mental health issues are:

  • Uncertainty about the future
  • Financial pressures
  • Altered daily routines
  • Information overload
  • Rumors and misinformation
  • Fear of getting sick or dying
  • Social isolation
  • Anger and divisiveness in the country and the world
  • Grief over the loss of loved ones
  • Mental health issues after recovering from COVID

A June 2020 study by the CDC reported on the results of a survey done on over 5,400 US adults:

  • 40% said they were struggling with mental health or substance use
  • 31% reported symptoms of anxiety disorder or depressive disorder
  • 26% had trauma/stressor-related disorder symptoms
  • 13% said that they had started or increased substance use
  • 11% reported that they had seriously considered suicide

We are now almost two years past that study, and the mental health toll is only getting worse. In fact, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. and has been on the rise for teens and adults. The most recent statistics show that 8.9 percent of youth in grades 9-12 reported that they had made at least one suicide attempt in the past 12 months.

If you are feeling suicidal, please call 911. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Additionally, we have listed some resources at the end of this article that may help.

How to Take Care of Your Mental Health

depressionFortunately, there seems to be a bit of light at the end of the tunnel, as cities and countries are easing restrictions and infection rates drop. However, with all that’s going on, we see very little emphasis placed on our mental health. Here at BrainStim Centers, we care about your mental health. And we want to help you heal.

It begins with doing whatever you can to reduce the stress in your life. While you may not be able to control what’s happening in the world around you, you can do your best to take care of yourself and your mental health.

Here are some healthy ways the CDC recommends for coping with pandemic-related stress and anxiety:

  • Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to the news. Try limiting it to a couple of times a day.
  • Take care of your body by eating healthy, exercising, and getting plenty of sleep.
  • Breathe — take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate.
  • Avoid consuming too much alcohol, tobacco, or other substances.
  • Know what to do if you are sick and are concerned about COVID-19, and contact your healthcare professional.
  • Have information on hand about any other support services, such as counseling or therapy.
  • Make time to unwind and do some other activities you enjoy.
  • Talk with people you trust about how you’re feeling. It helps to connect with others.
  • Become more involved with your community or faith-based organizations.

How We Can Help You: MeRT Treatment for Depression

While you do everything you can to ease the stress from this pandemic, sometimes the depression can still be overwhelming. And perhaps you haven’t responded to medications or other treatments as well as you’d hoped.

Depression is often initially treated with antidepressants, psychotherapy, or in many cases both, but sometimes these treatments don’t work fully on everyone. And sometimes people don’t tolerate the side effects well.

We have another option for treatment. It’s called MeRT, or Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy. MeRT is a long-lasting treatment for depression that is non-pharmaceutical and non-invasive, and MeRT is FDA-approved for the treatment of Depression and Major Depressive Disorder.

MeRT is a highly personalized treatment that focuses on balancing your brainwave activity to ease symptoms of depression. Patients who are clinically depressed have markers that we can see in their EEG studies, so the first step of MeRT is performing a qEEG, or brain map, to clearly locate those markers. Once we identify the imbalance, we can strengthen the brainwave activity through a highly personalized treatment plan using TMS.

Treatment for depression with MeRT has proven highly successful in permanently relieving patients of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and more.

Learn more about our proven treatments for depression here.

Additional Mental Health Resources

  • Call 911
  • Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery: 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish), or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
  • Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Lifeline Crisis Chat
  • Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
  • Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453
  • Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or Online Chat
  • The Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116  TTY Instructions
  • Veteran’s Crisis Line: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Crisis Chat or text: 8388255

Find a health care provider or treatment for substance use disorder and mental health:

  • SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and TTY 1-800-487-4889
  • Treatment Services Locator Website
  • Interactive Map of Selected Federally Qualified Health Centers

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, General Tagged With: BrainStim Centers, Dr Mark Liker, Encino Ca, Mental Health, MeRT, TMS, Valencia CA February 28, 2022 By Anne Hill

Dr. Mark Liker Featured in Global 1’s Surgeon Spotlight

Each week, Global 1 features a prominent and renowned surgeon in their Surgeon Spotlight. And recently, they honored our very own Dr. Mark Liker. In their post, they wrote that “Dr. Liker’s broad range of training and experience gives him the insight needed to correctly diagnose complex brain and spine issues and identify the most effective treatments for his patients.”

Global 1 is the largest commercially insured bundled surgery network in California and amongst the largest in the nation, with a network of more than 125 outpatient surgery centers. Click here to read their full post honoring Dr. Liker.

 

Filed Under: General November 30, 2021 By Anne Hill

Footer

Phone and Hours

New Patients:

(310) 895-7122

Fax: (818) 475-1433

Email us: info@brainstimcenters.com

Hours:
Monday to Friday 9AM to 5PM


Holiday hours: We are closed:
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Our Locations

Encino Location:
16260 Ventura Blvd, Suite 700,
Encino, CA 91436

Valencia Location
28212 Kelly Johnson Pkwy, Suite 215,
Valencia, CA 91355

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
BrainStim Centers, Inc
BrainStim Centers, Inc
5.0
Based on 1 reviews
powered by Google
review us on
JakobJakob
03:04 01 Jul 21
I have been struggling with insomnia for the past 6 years. Most doctors have just prescribed me medications with horrible side effects. I then found Brainstim Centers. I received 36 treatments and I could not have imagined such improvement in my sleep. I went from averaging 4 hours of sleep a night to 8 hours a night after the treatment. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. Special shout-out to Christy and Alex.
‹
›
js_loader

Copyright © 2022 · Website by CPS · Log in