TMS Therapy for Depression
Some people may think that they will never experience depression until they’re hit with it. They can’t just shake off that sinking feeling of sadness that never goes away, and what used to be an enjoyable task is now becoming meaningless.
This can happen after they’ve experienced a major shift in their lives, like the death of a loved one. Others might be undergoing a divorce, and they might think that their current condition won’t get any better. Worse, some think of ending everything, and they start to withdraw emotionally from their loved ones. See more causes of depression when you read this post.
Having the energy to do their daily chores can feel like a constant uphill climb, and some are losing patience when the standard treatments like counseling don’t make a difference in their lives. For many patients, they’re also fed up with the different medications that they have to take, and this is where transcranial magnetic stimulation can help.
Table of Contents
What Can Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Offer?
Find relief with the TMS that primarily utilizes magnetic fields on different parts of the brain. Specifically, it’s placed on the prefrontal cortex because this is known to be an area that can affect one’s mood.
People who stopped responding to antidepressants may feel different when the magnetic pulses are waking up some of their underactive brain regions. The extra activity can help them have better emotional control, and studies show that many have achieved full remission, where their depression symptoms were able to go away for months without coming back.
The treatment course can vary, but the longer your sessions are, the more major the changes that you can expect. Sometimes follow-ups can be recommended, but this can often depend on your condition and the planned Depression TMS Therapy that your healthcare provider has planned for you. Return to work afterwards, and there’s no need for a recovery period while you achieve meaningful results.
Other Applications for TMS
Individuals experiencing anxiety disorders may find that TMS can also benefit them. The operators may target brain regions like the amygdala to help calm any overreactive neural pathways, and this can reduce the symptoms of many patients experiencing panic disorders.
Specialized coils are also able to reach the deeper areas of the brain to help patients experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorders and offer them relief that they might not be able to get from traditional counseling.
There’s also research that suggests that this therapy can reduce intrusive memories, which is ideal for people who are experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. It might also ease bipolar disorders without triggering mania, and some studies are exploring the role of the magnetic pulses when it comes to addiction, like cravings for alcohol.
Early trials may also suggest that TMS can enhance the memory of people with Alzheimer’s disease, but further research is needed to prove this. It can also help in stroke rehabilitation, where it can act as a support for the reactivation of damaged neural networks and to improve the neuroplasticity of the brain. See more about the brain functions in this URL: https://solportal.ibe-unesco.org/articles/neuroplasticity-how-the-brain-changes-with-learning/.
Many researchers have a goal to restore connections between neurons with the help of enhanced activities in the areas that were affected by Alzheimer’s. Patients can read studies online where those who have received TMS were able to slow the rate of their worsening symptoms by about 44%.
What to Expect During Treatment?
The right healthcare expert is going to assess the kind of dose that your brain can handle depending on factors like your current condition. With their accurate mapping that’s done into a treatment room, you can expect a more focused therapy rather than a cookie-cutter approach.
Treatment locations on the head may vary, but you’re going to sit comfortably on a chair while they try to switch the coils on certain areas of your scalp. When the machine is turned on, you might hear a rapid tapping and this can surprise many first-timers, and this pattern may be repeated while you remain awake. It’s called intermittent theta bursts that often last 3.5 minutes, and if it works for you, then you might want to continue.
Why Do People Choose This Therapy?
This is an outpatient procedure that’s administered without complex preparation. You simply sit on a chair and allow the pulses to take effect. This is very safe for many individuals especially those who have experienced adverse bodily reactions with medications.
The protocols are tailored to you and many individuals reported that they generally tolerated the therapy. Facial twitching might be expected but this is often manageable for many. Aside from depression, this can also help those who have Parkinson’s Disease, but you might want to check with your doctor first before going forward to be on the safe side.