Home » What Is TMS Therapy and How It Can Help Your Loved One

What Is TMS Therapy and How It Can Help Your Loved One

by EmmaSturgis

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy, commonly referred to as TMS therapy, is a noninvasive type of brain stimulation therapy used to help people suffering from depression and other conditions. Using electromagnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells, TMS therapy can often improve symptoms associated with mental health disorders and neurological disorders. In many cases, it is used with people who have had little success with traditional antidepressants or psychotherapy. If you want to learn more about this innovative therapy and how it may help your loved one, here is all you need to know.

How It Works

TMS therapy is done on an outpatient basis, meaning your loved one will not need to stay overnight in a hospital. The sessions are conducted by either a technician or physician, and usually last 30-60 minutes. Your loved one will need to remove jewelry or other items that are sensitive to magnets, and will wear earplugs to minimize the sound of magnetic impulses. Finally, your loved one will sit in a comfortable chair, need no anesthesia, and be completely awake during the session.

Depression

Over 30 percent of people who have been diagnosed with depression do not respond well to medications and traditional psychiatric services such as counseling. If your loved one is among this group, TMS therapy may be able to help with what is known as treatment-resistant depression. Focusing on the prefrontal cortex within the brain, TMS therapy may be able to stimulate nerve cells and increase activity in this part of the brain, decreasing such depression symptoms as low energy levels and decreased appetite.

PTSD

If you have a loved one suffering from PTSD, TMS therapy may also be beneficial. The prefrontal cortex also processes fear and worry, two main problems associated with PTSD. When used in conjunction with cognitive processing therapy, many patients report reaping therapeutic benefits for as long as six months.

Stroke Rehabilitation

When you have a loved one who has suffered a stroke, you know how hard it can be for them to recover. TMS therapy may be able to help, since it has been used with some patients to help them regain motor recovery associated with voluntary movement. If your loved one also suffers from dysphagia, which is difficulty swallowing after a stroke, TMS therapy has also been used as an effective treatment tool for this as well.

To learn more about TMS therapy and how it may be able to help your loved one overcome the effects of depression or other illnesses, speak to your doctor and get answers to your questions.

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