What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?
Welcome to a journey of hope and healing with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)! This innovative, non-invasive treatment uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of your brain, helping to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and alleviate other mental health conditions. Whether you’ve struggled to find relief with traditional therapies or are looking for a natural, medication-free option, TMS offers a promising solution to reclaim your well-being and live your best life.
How Does It Work?
Understanding the Mechanism:
- Magnetic Pulses: TMS uses a coil placed on the scalp to generate brief magnetic fields, similar in strength to an MRI scan.
- Electric Currents: These magnetic fields induce small electric currents in the brain tissue underneath the coil.
- Targeted Areas: The magnetic pulses specifically target regions of the brain involved in mood regulation, such as the prefrontal cortex.
Physiological Changes
- Neuronal Activation: The electric currents stimulate brain cells (neurons) in the targeted area. This activation can modulate the electrical activity of the brain, normalizing its function in areas where it might be underactive or overactive.
- Synaptic Plasticity: TMS can enhance synaptic plasticity, which is the ability of synapses (connections between neurons) to strengthen or weaken over time. This increased plasticity can lead to better communication between neurons, improving brain function and mood.
- Neurotransmitter Release: TMS has been shown to affect the release of important neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate. These chemicals play crucial roles in regulating mood, anxiety, and other cognitive functions.
- Network Effects: By stimulating specific regions, TMS can affect brain networks, correcting abnormalities in connectivity that are often seen in conditions like depression and anxiety. This helps to restore normal network function, which can alleviate symptoms.
Long-term Benefits
- Sustained Effects: With repeated sessions, TMS can lead to lasting changes in brain activity, offering sustained symptom relief.
- Neurogenesis: Emerging research suggests that TMS might promote the growth of new neurons (neurogenesis), particularly in areas like the hippocampus, which is involved in mood regulation and memory.
Fact Sheet (PDF) »
Note: NeuroStar® Advanced Therapy is only ONE of the TMS-delivery methods out there! It’s the one I was treated with, thus it’s also the one I have the most information about. If you feel TMS might be right for you, consult your doctor or mental health professional. They can make recommendations – and hopefully there will be a location near you!
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View Facts vs. Myths Brochure (PDF) »
Who Can It Help?
TMS can be beneficial for individuals who have not found relief from traditional treatments like medication and therapy. I really like that it’s a non-invasive option that has no medication involved!
Note from Kim – TMS was a game-changer for me. Absolutely priceless! NO, I did NOT try other medications. My doctor, Dr. Bindal of KMG Psychiatry, felt I’d be a good candidate, and he was RIGHT! It took about a week for me to start noticing “it had taken the edge off.” Things only improved from there! I want from depressed and down to feeling WAY more energetic. More like my old self! My first treatment included 60 sessions. They were daily, except weekends or holidays. Then a few months later, I had 30 more sessions for “maintenance” and I’ve never looked back. I’ll be forever grateful for my TMS therapy.
Conditions TMS Can Treat
- Depression: Particularly effective for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
- Anxiety: Helps reduce symptoms in some anxiety disorders.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Emerging evidence supports its effectiveness.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Can help with PTSD symptoms – AND Complex PTSD symptoms
- Migraines: Shown to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.
- Other Neurological Conditions: Research is ongoing for conditions like chronic pain and certain neurological disorders.
