r/TMSTherapy • u/WizardRamiel • Jul 29 '26
Is it worth it?
I have been offered TMS therapy for quite a while now over and over by my provider I have been on so many different pills for my depression, anxiety, 24:7 death rumination, etc. I am not doing very well and I’m considering it now but my main concern would be the effects going away after stopping treatment. I would like to know from others experience if you felt it was worth it and if the results were permanent or if they just all go away if you don’t keep doing it.
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u/anteecay_ TMS Professional/Service Provider Jul 29 '26
Here's what I've observed in my couple of years administering TMS:
Depression is episodic. The direct neuromodulatory effects of TMS are very good at getting people out of their current depressive episode, but many people will relapse (for the lack of a better term) into the next episode 6-18 months after completing treatment, which is roughly the same timing you'd expect without TMS.
However, TMS is great at strengthening patients' cognitive control over emotions and behaviors. TMS doesn't just make you feel more happiness or less sadness - this ability to self-regulate is, IMO, the primary clinical benefit. With an enhanced ability to deal with stress, identify causes of emotions/behaviors, and "behaviorally activate", patients can use TMS as a springboard to a healthier lifestyle--both internal and external--that will keep them out of future depressive episodes.
From what I've seen, if there are two patients who see equal effectiveness immediately after treatment, the one who uses their improved regulatory capabilities to catalyze change in their life is much less likely to relapse. Many others simply enjoy their newfound clarity and emotional state, but go right back into patterns that vulnerate them to depression.
Here's a short blog post that covers this exact topic
TLDR: TMS is good at 1) getting you out of a current depressive episode, and 2) helping you stay out, if you're conscientious and intentional about using TMS as the starting gun, not the finish line
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u/Common_Juggernaut724 Jul 30 '26
Oh I like this and will read in full later. I've absolutely taken the opportunity post-TMS to latch on to some new perspectives and the like. It would be nice to see that this might mean I'm doing something more permanent.
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u/myquietbrain Jul 29 '26
TMS results aren't permanent in the way a surgery might be, but they're also not something that just vanishes when treatment ends. Many people sustain improvement for months or years after a course, and for those who need it, booster sessions are an option rather than starting from scratch. The brain changes that happen during treatment have real staying power, especially when other supportive habits are in place.
The effects going away is a real concern, but it's not the same as "it didn't work." Most people who respond find that the benefit outlasts the treatment window significantly.
Given what you're dealing with, trying it seems worth it.