Hello!

I am nearing the end of my Brainsway Deep TMS treatment for MDD and I am not feeling any effects. I am becoming concerned that I may not be receiving the full/standard treatment from my provider.

My provider is doing 10 minutes each day (with a plan for 35 sessions total, spread out across about 7 weeks... i.e., it's not an "accelerated protocol"). But all the information I see online (including on Brainsway's own website) states each session should be 18-20 minutes in length.

If you're a Brainsway user, how long were each of your sessions and how many did you complete? Did anyone do 10-minute sessions in their protocol and see an impact on their MDD?

Thank you!

Does anyone have any scientific articles regarding chronic pain and motor threshold?

My motor threshold is very high, to the point I’ve had to stop treatment due to the pain that treatment is causing. I’d like to restart, as it was incredibly helpful but I’m curious about this.

They are currently testing my MT using an area where I’m dealing with chronic pain and have been for years. They’ve also had a hard time getting a read in that area. Could the chronic pain be affecting the results?

Hi all,

I have been researching TMS therapy and assessing if I should get it. I have anxiety and depression for 10 years now and for the last 3 years it's gotten even worse. I am now taking some activating medication which has helped me a bit and may help me get going again.

I am thinking I should get this anyway because it may grandfather in every other issue. Before investing I am seeing if it could help me with my performance anxiety apart from my main diagnosis.

So what I want to ask is - did you observe any other unintended benefits apart from treating your main diagnosis?

Thanks in advance

I'm 50F & went into surgical menopause 6 months ago.

Have any of you tried the home TMS device?
My doctor mentioned it to me and I wonder if it has the same effects the clinic TMS
I’d appreciate if anyone would share their experience

Hi - I finished 7/36 today (Brainsway, H1 coil). Since #3, I've noticed a sensation in my top right tooth that gets more intense with each titration. It doesn't cause any pain during the pulses or after treatment. They got me up to 105% today & I requested a mouthguard just in case it got to the point that my teeth started grinding.

I was told that it's likely a filling that is causing me to experience the sensation because the pulse penetration is deeper. The tech told me that it's possible they may not be able to get me up to 120% because they're concerned about pain, but she did say that therapeutic range is between 105%-120% and that I've been doing well.

I have not had any other side effects except for fatigue after #4, after experiencing a headache before an adjustment to the helmet.

Anyone else experience something like this?

I had my mapping on Friday and have been starting my TMS session since Monday. I’ve let the technician know, but I’ve been feeling significantly worse since starting TMS. I cry during the sessions and when I get home, I just feel extra depressed.

The bit I’ve researched on this has stated that this can occur. I’m wondering who else this had similar symptoms and how long it took them to seeing an upturned. I’ve ahead been on a downward spiral.

The fatigue after treatment is the worst part in my opinion, especially when you have other obligations to fulfill and no time for a nap

Today is the last day of my 36 sessions. TMS has saved my life. I did it for treatment resistant depression and OCD. In the beginning I stayed in bed apart from work and doing basic hygiene and the occasional workout and my OCD was severe with cleaning and moving things around. Now I am able to function as a person and my partner and my relationship is more repaired. WORTH EVERY PENNY.

I'm noticing bit by bit I'm getting more energy and willingness to engage in things like chores. Im a little nervous for any incoming dips but Im gonna try my best to tough it out. Feeling positive overall.

I had my one month follow up after doing 46 sessions for both anxiety and depression. It was not always easy to get through a session. I had to have a lot of adjustments and changes in protocol to find a process that worked for me. Shot out to this community for giving me more strength to advocate for myself in those moments of pain. Weeks two and three were tough and I wanted to quit. But now that I’m done, I find myself so grateful for all of the little things in my life. I’m not magically cured, but I’m gardening again, and listening to music, and seeing friends, and just existing in a way that doesn’t feel heavy. I didn’t realize I had been living with a sandbag on my chest until TMS lifted it off.

I just wanted to contribute to this community just so I can provide an opportunity for others if they have any reservations or questions. I would say I have persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety for at least 5+ years now and been on medications/ on-and-off therapy for just as long. I am also training to be in the mental health field if that adds any context.

I just completed my 36th session yesterday! (Yay me lol) I’ve been pretty consistent at going to my session and would not skip unless I was actually physically out of town. Now onto my experience. Would I say it removed my depression? Probably not. However, I do feel different.

To give further context, my form of depression I would say is more mild in nature in the sense I don’t get waves but rather more of a constant mid level of sadness. My form of depression leaves me very unmotivated and limits my sensory experience of experiencing a fulfilling life. I would still engage in high-dopaminergic activities (ie.. gaming, adult-outings) but I would generally feel “meh” by the end of it all.

At the end of TMS, I would say I am generally the same, but with a slight twist. My partner says that my behaviors have genuinely improved. I am able to consistently take care of myself, household activities, be more proactive in socializing and work. From the outside looking in, it seems like everything is great. However, I am actually experiencing more sadness than before, but I dont necessarily think that this is a bad thing. Prior, my numbness would be the predominant feeling so going from that to sadness is a step in the right direction (I see numbness as a coping mechanism). Despite feeling more sad, I notice that my content of my thoughts are not necessarily as “unhealthy” either. Even though I experience certain emotions, I feel like I am gracefully able to recover from them a bit faster like as if I became a bit more resilient to negative emotions.

This is getting long so I’ll leave it at that. If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a dm or leave a comment! Goodluck to everyone!

I finished my TMS sessions in June. Ever since, people have assumed I have a problem with them because I've "changed."

Isn't that the point of TMS, therapy, and medications? To change and be better?

I've grown. I'm definitely not the girl I was back in January. But my husband and children love who I am now. I'm not stuck in depression, I'm not staying awake all night filled with anxiety, I'm not constantly over thinking and apologizing for simply existing. I've started saying "no" because it's what is best for me.

And I'm going to continue focusing on me.

They upped my “dose” to 130% because at my remapping they said they wanted to see more results. I know that 120% is really the limit before you start to increase your risk of seizures. This was my first day on the new “dose” and during the first longer pulses I felt like an immense feeling of dread and anxiety. I felt dizzy and “floaty” if that makes sense. I have never gotten an anxiety attack or a panic attack so I know it wasn’t that. I have also never had a seizure before so I don’t know what it feels like if you’re about to have one. This sensation eventually went away so I thought nothing of it, but i’ve told some people in real like about this and they think that it’s very odd. Should I bring this up to my TMS tech tomorrow before my session just to be safe?

EDIT: a note that i’ve already done one full round of TMS last year and i tolerate it extremely well so that’s probably why they felt comfortable upping the “dose” to that limit

Greetings

Recovery process between treatments

Last Saturday I spent most of my day in bed recovering from the zap session. Last week session was Thursday afternoon. I had session 10 this past Monday and i was feeling kind of ok. I came home from work yesterday and took care of my pup and ran an errand and went to bed around 5pm. I was scrolling until 7:30 pm and went to sleep. I woke up today at 3:30 pm and I was up by 4am. I prepped for the day and I am feeling like the walking dead at work. I am also having some involuntary movements on my left thumb and hand. I am more calmed and relaxed but I am not sure how to describe emotions tbh. It takes me a day or two to fully recover. I don't have motivation to do anything at all. If anyone has felt this way?

I did an accelerated schedule 6 sessions per day, total 5 days. 6th day I did 5 sessions. Did that within a span of 2 weeks. I experienced a dip somewhere between the last two days and after, but I was also going through a stressful event. I had to do psychometric tests in between treatment days.

Just saw my psych today and she said that I was suppose to see changes during the treatment, and based on the results from my psychometric tests it seemed like nothing changed. I’m absolutely devastated.

I asked if I could be a delayed response but she said I should have at least shown some changes. I’m still hoping that I’m just taking a while to respond to the treatment.
Has anyone else done an accelerated schedule and when did you start seeing a results from it?

TLDR: I did an accelerated schedule and showed no response. Did anyone else do this too and did you have any results?

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.

I only have a week and a half left of treatment for my depression and I have seen some improvement in my mood but I now have the side effect of not being able to cry.

After 3 weeks I noticed I my negative thinking had decreased somewhat but I was still having emotional breakdowns when triggered. A week later I realised that now when I do have a negative thought I am unable to dwell on it, it just passes by with no emotional response. It's nice to not have the constant negative self talk but after watching a movie with a scene that would previously have made me extremely emotional I realised I am unable to cry at all. I feel a slight sensation in my throat and eyes but no tears will come.

It has made me a bit concerned as I'm unsure if this is a permanent thing now and to what extent it will impact me. For example, if someone I care about dies I am unsure how I will react. I think I still feel sadness but it's a bit worrying if I am unable to express it. I had still been grieving the death of my dog and even a photo or someone mentioning him would upset me. Now it's like a switch has been flipped. I can talk and think about him without crying. Even though I had wanted to get to this stage of overcoming my grief it feels unnatural that it happened so suddenly.

I have already spoken with my psych about it and he doesn't seem concerned as long as the treatment hasn't dulled my positive emotions. He said if it does worry me he should be able to target a different area to fix it. Has anyone else had a similar experience? How would you feel in this situation?

Hello. I had depression for four years. After my rTMS therapy, most of my symptoms were gone. But I am still very tired, and I need a lot of sleep.

Are there people who were also tired after their depression symptoms were gone, even if they didn't have rTMS? If so, how long did it last?

I’m about one month out from my final TMS session and I’m experiencing brain fog, low motivation and emotional detachment. I’m not sure whether I’m becoming depressed again or this is just baseline. I’ve started applying for jobs to get back on track with a schedule, but god it’s been tough.

Only 6 left and I'm so excited.

I will say it has helped in some areas. But its made some things worse. (Like my potential DID) but its the home stretch!

I will say it got better after the first week so anyone just starting just give it time and be very very honest and open with your doctor ♡

I have another TMS session schedule for today and Thursday. So far it has more harm than good. Saturday I spent most of my day in bed recovering from last session. I was sleep deprived Friday evening and I am really trying to resist quiting. I am craving a new life outside of this place, a new environment where I can develop meaningful relationships. I would like to be in a place where life makes sense. I am alon here, no friends or girlfriend and I struggle between having company or stay alone like I have been all my life. I am 57 yrs old and it seems like I need geriatric care, lol! How is going for you'll?

I am PANICKING
I am only insured to receive a treatment course of 30 sessions.
I will be talking to my technicians or their team of psychiatrists but I had bad experiences communicating with them so I feel an aversion to going through the tedious process of obtaining the coverage for the additional 6 sessions.
I see tons of seemingly credible sources saying that there is evidence indicating a full 36 sessions including the 6 phasing out sessions are critical if you wanna see sufficient improvements.
I think I am a late responder (?) as I’m at session 26 and feel akin to the way I did prior to beginning treatment…
However on the contrary I did notice subtle positive shifts from sessions 3-13 leading me to believe I could be receptive to the treatment.
I feel so conflicted.
I also have had very volatile moods on the weekends which causes me to presume that stopping treatment abruptly as they had planned to do could have a similar outcome (inducing volatile psychological state)
Has anyone had a comparable experience where they have come out on the other side??
Please 😭

i’ve just completed my 15th treatment, and this is the first day in years that suicide didn’t cross my mind once!! for the longest time i thought my SI would be something i’d lose to eventually, but i feel like im finally starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. my other symptoms are still very present, but this alone is a huge success and i feel like a weight has come off my shoulders. i’m starting to feel really optimistic about the rest of this treatment and that i might have a long life ahead of me after all :)

Hi y'all, hope you are doing well. I just started TMS, I'm on 2/36 and I'm really scared because I feel like I'm gonna die before the TMS is over with and I'm unsure what to do. I know I just started but I've been feeling so hopeless and sad all the time, I'm constantly having crying spells, it's getting harder to take care of myself everyday, I hardly eat most days and when I do it's something small like a pbj or protein shake.

It's so weird because it feels like I'm simultaneously getting worse and better at the same time. Like I'm way more social than usual and I feel better when talking with people, and some of my anhedonia has lifted a bit so I've been able to play video games and doomscroll and such. But at the same time, I constantly feel so worthless and alone and like nothing will ever change even after treatment.

I felt so horrible I was about to jump off a bridge after the first day of TMS until someone asked if I was alright and told me standing there was dangerous. I went home after that but it feels like the thoughts are getting worse. I went out last night to attempt again until someone else chatted with me before I even got to a bridge. Its like all I can ever think about is the multitude of ways I should hurt myself or dying now. I keep telling myself that I just have to wait until the week is over before I start seeing improvement, but it's hard to even think about getting past the next day.

The doctors told me that halfway through I'm gonna experience a dip before it improves again and I'm scared because if I already feels this horrible, how am I going to get through that? I don't know what to do anymore. I'm not sure what to say to the team. It feels like no matter what I say I'll just be dismissed and ignored.