The Transformative Power of TMS for Depression
As we hope you are aware, October was National Depression Awareness Month. While depression does in impact everyone, chances are you or someone you know is impacted from a depression diagnosis. Depression does not discriminate. It does not care who you are or what your life circumstances may be. The great news is that the world is finally waking up to fact that depression is a global diagnosis impacting millions and is nothing to be ashamed of! Here at Goolsby and Associates, we work with so many people who are breaking the chains of depression through our innovated TMS treatments. You don’t have to walk this road alone.
Understanding Depression
Depression is more than just feeling down. When you can't shake the sadness, feel constantly fatigued, or lose interest in things that once made you happy for an extended period, it could be more than just a rough patch. You may be dealing with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), which affects millions of people worldwide. Fortunately, advancements in technology, like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), are changing the game for those struggling with depression—especially for those who haven't responded well to other treatments. In this post, we’ll take a deep dive into how TMS can be transformative for people battling depression, how it works, and why it’s worth considering as part of your mental health toolkit.
What is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?
Before we get into TMS, let’s talk about what qualifies as Major Depressive Disorder. MDD is not just about having the occasional bad day—it’s a serious mental health condition. To be diagnosed with MDD, a person needs to experience at least five of the following symptoms nearly every day for at least two weeks:
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Persistent sadness or a depressed mood
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Loss of interest in almost all activities (even the ones you once loved)
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Fatigue or low energy
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Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
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Changes in sleep (either insomnia or sleeping too much)
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Changes in appetite (leading to weight loss or gain)
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Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
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Physical symptoms, like aches and pains without a clear cause
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Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. MDD can be a heavy burden, affecting every aspect of your life. But the good news is that help is available, and TMS could be a game-changer for many.
What Exactly is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?
TMS is a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. It's primarily used to treat depression, especially for people who haven’t had success with traditional treatment methods like medication and talk therapy. But what makes TMS stand out?
Think of your brain as a network of circuits. In people with depression, certain areas of the brain responsible for mood regulation, like the prefrontal cortex, may not be working as efficiently as they should. TMS targets those areas with magnetic pulses, essentially “rebooting” the brain and encouraging it to function more normally.
How Does TMS Work?
Here’s how TMS works in a nutshell: a magnetic coil is placed near your scalp, usually on the left side of your head, over the prefrontal cortex. This coil sends out painless magnetic pulses that penetrate through the skull and reach the brain tissue beneath. These pulses are thought to "wake up" areas of the brain that are underactive in people with depression, helping to restore more balanced brain activity.
Unlike medications, which can take weeks or even months to start working (and often come with side effects like weight gain or sexual dysfunction), TMS can begin to have positive effects after just a few sessions. And because it's a local treatment targeting only specific brain regions, you won’t experience systemic side effects like you might with antidepressants.
TMS is Noninvasive and Doesn’t Require Anesthesia
One of the biggest perks of this FDA approved treatment is that it's noninvasive, meaning no surgery, no needles, and no medications involved during the treatment itself. You don’t even need anesthesia! The entire process is done while you're fully awake and sitting in a chair, much like you would at the dentist, except it’s much less stressful.
Because it's noninvasive, TMS is incredibly safe. Most people only report mild discomfort where the magnetic coil touches their scalp, and some may experience a slight headache after the session. But compared to the side effects of many antidepressants, TMS is a breeze.
So, what does a typical TMS treatment look like?
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Duration: A standard TMS session at Goolsby and Associates typically lasts between 5 and 30 minutes. Duration will be dependent upon the individual and their needs.
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Many people start to feel improvements in their mood after about two to three weeks, though individual results may vary. The key here is consistency—stick with the treatment protocol, and the benefits will gradually build.
How Does TMS Fit with Standard Treatment Options?
TMS isn’t meant to replace traditional treatments like medication or talk therapy—it can complement them. Some people may not respond well to antidepressants or might experience side effects that make medications hard to tolerate. TMS offers a drug-free alternative or supplement to these treatments. And in cases where people have treatment-resistant depression (meaning they’ve tried at least two different antidepressants without improvement), TMS can be a life-changing option.
Think of TMS as another tool in your mental health toolbox. It can work alongside therapy, medications, and lifestyle changes to give you the best shot at overcoming depression.
The Transformative Power of TMS
Here’s where the magic happens: for people who haven’t found relief with medication or therapy, TMS can be transformative. Research shows that TMS has a high success rate, with many patients reporting significant improvements in mood and even full remission from depression symptoms. Some of the most encouraging results come from individuals who have struggled for years, trying treatment after treatment without much success—until they tried TMS.
By stimulating the brain’s mood-regulating circuits in a noninvasive, painless way, TMS offers hope to people who may have felt like they were out of options. It’s a personalized treatment that targets the very areas of the brain that are underperforming in depression, making it incredibly effective.
Is TMS Right for You?
If you’ve been dealing with depression and haven’t found relief through medications, or if you’re hesitant to start medications due to their side effects, TMS might be worth considering. It’s safe, effective, and noninvasive, making it an appealing option for many. Plus, it can be done in conjunction with your current treatment plan, making it a flexible and powerful addition to your mental health care.
If you’re ready to explore something new in your treatment for depression, talk to your healthcare provider about whether TMS could be the right fit for you. It could be the fresh start you need to finally overcome depression and reclaim your life.
We should note that TMS is not right for everyone. Those with devices or objects implanted in or near the head may not be viable candidates for this treatment option. If you have a pacemaker or any other implants as well as those with epilepsy or neurological conditions may not qualify as well. For this reason, we always schedule a consultation to ensure that TMS is a safe option for you.
Final Thoughts
Depression can feel like an uphill battle, but TMS offers a beacon of hope for those who haven’t had success with other treatments. Its noninvasive nature, lack of side effects, and impressive success rate make it a transformative option for many. Whether you’ve been struggling with depression for years or are just beginning your journey, TMS could be the key to unlocking a brighter, healthier future.
Take that next step. Call Goolsby and Associates today and let us help you discern if TMS is right for you—you don’t have to face depression alone, and with TMS, relief could be closer than you think.