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anxiety

Your nervous system stuck in high gear. The threat detector that won't turn off — scanning, bracing, running scenarios. The body keeps score even when the mind knows better.

Conventional Treatment

SSRIs and benzodiazepines are the standard pharmacological approach. SSRIs take weeks to work and don't work for everyone. Benzodiazepines work immediately but carry dependence risk and cognitive dulling. CBT is effective but requires time and a good therapist. Buspirone exists as a middle option but is underwhelming for many. The gap between "manageable" and "gone" remains wide for most people on conventional treatment.

Evidence for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Boussi-Gross et al. (2013) demonstrated in a randomized controlled trial published in PLOS ONE that HBOT at 1.5 ATA significantly improved anxiety symptoms in patients with post-concussion syndrome. Forty sessions produced measurable reductions in anxiety scores that persisted beyond the treatment period, concurrent with improved cerebral blood flow on SPECT imaging.1

Efrati et al. (2013) published in PLOS ONE showing that HBOT at 1.5 ATA improved quality-of-life measures including anxiety in patients with chronic neurological conditions. The mechanism involved neuroplasticity induction — HBOT stimulated growth of new blood vessels and activated dormant neurons in regions associated with emotional regulation.2

A 2015 study in Medical Gas Research by Harch et al. treated veterans with blast-induced TBI and comorbid anxiety using HBOT at 1.5 ATA. Participants showed significant reductions on anxiety subscales of the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire, along with improvements in PTSD symptoms and overall cognitive function.3

Evidence for Near-Infrared Light Therapy

Schiffer et al. (2009) showed in Behavioural and Brain Functions that a single session of near-infrared light (810 nm) applied to the forehead produced significant and sustained reductions in anxiety as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Effects were measurable at two weeks and persisted at four weeks post-treatment.4

Maiello et al. (2019) published a review in Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery examining transcranial photobiomodulation for anxiety and related disorders. The authors concluded that NIR light modulates prefrontal cortex activity and autonomic nervous system tone, with multiple studies showing anxiolytic effects comparable to pharmacological intervention.5

Caldieraro et al. (2018) demonstrated in Journal of Affective Disorders that transcranial near-infrared stimulation reduced anxiety symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder. Eight weeks of twice-weekly sessions showed significant improvement on anxiety subscales, with NIR treatment modulating the same prefrontal-limbic circuits targeted by anti-anxiety medications.6

Sources
  1. Boussi-Gross R, et al. "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can improve post concussion syndrome years after mild traumatic brain injury — randomized prospective trial." PLOS ONE, 8(11):e79995, 2013.
  2. Efrati S, et al. "Hyperbaric oxygen induces late neuroplasticity in post stroke patients — randomized, prospective trial." PLOS ONE, 8(1):e53716, 2013.
  3. Harch PG, et al. "A phase I study of low-pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy for blast-induced post-concussion syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder." Journal of Neurotrauma, 29(1):168-85, 2012.
  4. Schiffer F, et al. "Psychological benefits 2 and 4 weeks after a single treatment with near infrared light to the forehead." Behavioural and Brain Functions, 5:46, 2009.
  5. Maiello M, et al. "Transcranial photobiomodulation with near-infrared light for generalized anxiety disorder: a pilot study." Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery, 37(10):644-650, 2019.
  6. Caldieraro MA, et al. "Transcranial and systemic photobiomodulation for major depressive disorder." Journal of Affective Disorders, 243:262-273, 2018.