There’s something strange that happens when you’ve lived with chronic anxiety or trauma for too long. You forget what normal even feels like. You start adjusting your life around your symptoms:
- Choosing the quietest restaurants
- Avoiding certain conversations
- Steering clear of situations that make you feel unsafe
- If this sounds familiar… you’re not alone. If you’ve tried the conventional options, therapy, medication, meditation, and they’ve either plateaued or barely scratched the surface, you may have come across something different lately.
It’s called the Stellate Ganglion Block. And yes, it sounds a bit clinical. But for many, it’s been a turning point.
So, what is SGB? How does it compare to traditional treatments? And how do you know if it’s right for you? Let’s walk through it.
What Is Stellate Ganglion Block?
The Stellate Ganglion is a group of nerves in your neck that plays a role in your fight-or-flight system. After trauma or prolonged stress, this system can become stuck in overdrive, keeping your body in a constant state of hypervigilance, even when you’re objectively safe.
That’s where the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) comes in. It’s a quick injection of a local anesthetic near that nerve cluster, usually under ultrasound or x-ray guidance. What it does is interrupt that stress signal. Quietly, gently, and quickly.
Some patients describe it as “flipping a switch.”
Others say it felt like their body finally remembered how to relax again.
Why People Are Talking About It
Although SGB has been used for decades to treat chronic pain, its application for PTSD and anxiety has recently gained momentum because it works differently. While therapy helps you understand, and medication adjusts chemistry, SGB works directly on your body’s wiring.
Here’s what draws people to it:
- Rapid relief – Drug-free – No need for daily pills or long-term psychiatric treatments
- Physical reset– It is thought to help regulate the body, not just the mind
- Pairs well with other therapies – Once the body settles, deeper emotional work becomes possible.
People aren’t turning to this because they’re desperate but because they’re hopeful for something that may work for them.
A Look at Traditional Treatments
Before we dig deeper into SGB, let’s look at what else is out there. Because this isn’t about bashing traditional treatments, it’s about honestly comparing options.
1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is often the gold standard, and for good reason. It’s evidence-based, structured, and helps people identify distorted thought patterns.
But here’s the catch, if your anxiety is rooted deep in your body’s stress response, thinking your way out of it can be difficult.
You know the thought isn’t logical but still feel the symptoms deeply.
- Medications (SSRIs, Benzodiazepines, Beta Blockers)
Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can be life-changing for many. They adjust the brain’s chemical balance to ease mood and anxiety symptoms.
But…
- They take time (4-6 weeks to even start working).
- Side effects are common (nausea, weight gain, sleep disruption).
- Some people feel emotionally “flat” or “disconnected”.
For some, they work beautifully. But when they don’t? It’s frustrating.
3. EMDR and Trauma-Focused Therapies
These go deeper than traditional therapy. They are thought to work by rewiring how the brain stores traumatic memories.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is thought to be effective for PTSD.
But it can also be slow. And for some, it stirs up old pain before it relieves it. That’s when patients find EMDR therapy can become overwhelming.
4. Lifestyle Approaches
Meditation, yoga, cold plunges, dietary changes, they all have value. They help with nervous system regulation, especially long-term.
But let’s be honest: when you are mid-panic or stuck in a trauma loop, no amount of lavender oil or journaling is going to break that cycle.
You can’t “relax” your way out of a hijacked nervous system.
Where Stellate Ganglion Block Fits In
This is where Advanced Interventional techniques like SGB stand out.
This isn’t about thinking, feeling, or processing. It’s about aiding in ‘resetting’ your body’s fight or flight response system.
What to expect:
- It takes about 10 minutes to perform.
- Uses a local numbing anesthetic.
- Performed under ultrasound guidance.
- Targets the overactive fight-or-flight response.
After SGB, patients often report being able to:
- Sleep deeply
- Breathe fully
- Sit through therapy sessions without feeling the urge to flee
SGB doesn’t replace the therapies above, it complements them with the aim of making them finally work when all else fails.
So, Who Is a Good Candidate for SGB?
You might consider SGB if:
- You’ve tried therapy and medications, but you still feel “stuck”
- Your anxiety feels physical: tight chest, rapid heart rate, constant tension
- Trauma has left your body on high alert, even when you’re safe
- You want relief without adding another daily pill
- You’re trying to re-engage with life, but your system won’t let you
That last one? It’s common. SGB helps bridge the gap between how your life looks on the outside and how it feels on the inside.
But Is It Safe?
Fair question.
The Stellate Ganglion Block is a medical procedure, and like anything involving needles and nerves, it carries some risk.
- Potential (but usually temporary) side effects include: A temporarily droopy eyelid (Horner’s Syndrome)
- Hoarseness or difficulty swallowing
- Bleeding or infection (rare)
- In extremely rare cases: collapsed lung (when not done with proper imaging)
That’s why experience matters. Choosing a provider who understands image-guided injection techniques is key.
Clinics like TOPS Doctors specialize in this. Their physicians are trained in ultrasound-guided precision, minimizing risks while maximizing relief.
Discuss the procedure with your primary care and mental health providers as well.
How Long Do the Results Last?
It varies from person to person.
- Some people get relief for weeks.
- Others? Months.
- A few? A year or more.
It depends on your nervous system and what you do with the calm once you have it.
Some combine it with therapy, finally able to do the deep work. Others repeat the procedure every 6 – 12 months as needed. And some go for a Dual Sympathetic Reset, a two-injection protocol shown to increase duration of effects.
It is an intervention that opens a window, and what you do in that window can possibly change everything.
Is It Covered by Insurance?
In some cases, yes. But not always.
Most insurance providers cover SGB for pain. When it comes to PTSD or anxiety? That depends on your provider
That’s why working with a clinic that knows how to help you navigate pre-approvals or payment plans matters.
Final Thoughts: Is Stellate Ganglion Block the Right Move?
Here’s the truth: No single treatment works for everyone.
But if you’ve put in the work, if you’ve done therapy, tried meds, changed your habits and still feel stuck in a body that won’t calm down, it might be time to try a different kind of reset.
Not one that replaces therapy or lifestyle changes…
But one that gives those things a fighting chance.
The Stellate Ganglion Block isn’t magic. But for many, it’s been the spark that made recovery possible again.
And sometimes, that’s all you need, a real physiological shift. One that gives your mind and body a moment to stop fighting each other.
When that happens? Everything else gets easier.