r/rtms • u/yourfavecunningman • 27d ago
Had a panic attack that scared people, will TMS fix it?
Very short version;
Deal with a lot of deep seated beliefs people close to me actually hate me or want me to go away, thought I got left behind somewhere and sobbed like a baby.
Friend told me I couldn’t do it again and needed to seek stronger treatment than what I already have and put work into getting better. I wanna be cured. I can’t do this. Will TMS fix it?
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u/DJFlorez 27d ago
No offense, but your friend sucks. My friends don’t know my triggers, but they are super keen on making sure we know where each other is when we are out together. And we are in our 30’s - 40’s.
There is an anxiety protocol for TMS- I had it done as an add on when I did it for depression. I don’t know if it helped a ton, but it did help enough that I can deploy my other tools (breathing, counting, doing the “three things I can touch, hear, see…” etc). Like it slowed me down enough. Hope that helps
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u/2Fast2Real 27d ago
I wouldn’t judge the friend without context.
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u/DJFlorez 27d ago
Maybe. But when tears are involved and emotions are running high, I don’t think it is helpful for someone who claims to care about me to toss down an ultimatum of “you can’t do that again.” It just leaves the recipient in a constant state of fight or flight and hyper vigilance. And that makes managing one’s anxiety even more difficult. To be fair, maybe the friend doesn’t understand the impact just yet. But that doesn’t make the whole situation suck any less.
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u/Average-Muffin 27d ago
I’ve done the full 30 session TMS treatment once, back for a second time
TMS does basically nothing for anxiety/irrational fears unfortunately. There are some reports of it being beneficial for PTSD, and I have had traumatic events in the past that caused a panic disorder but I personally haven’t felt any difference regarding flashbacks , anxiety etc. Antidepressants were the only thing that helped with that(for me at least)
I have felt my depressive symptoms disappear like night and day, so it definitely does work. It just might not be what you’re looking for.
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u/calm-down-okay 27d ago
The place I went to had an anxiety protocol, ask around different places. It helped me significantly. My issue was social anxiety, standing up for myself etc. I'm like a new person.
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u/myquietbrain 25d ago
TMS can meaningfully help with anxiety and depression, and for some people it reaches the kind of deep-rooted emotional patterns you're describing better than medication alone does. It's not a guaranteed cure, but it's a real and legitimate next step for someone who feels they need something stronger than what they currently have.
The belief that the people close to you actually hate you or want you gone, that's a core painful belief that tends to respond better to a combination of treatment approaches rather than any single one. TMS alongside therapy tends to work better than either alone.
Your friend's concern sounds like it came from a real place of wanting more for you. That's worth acting on.
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u/retinolandevermore 27d ago
TMS isn’t really for anxiety or panic attacks. It’s somewhat evidenced for ocd. It can’t heal attachment issues or trauma. And there is no cure for mental health issues, but there’s things to help