5 Potential Benefits of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Depression is an ever-growing mental health concern, affecting as many as one in six people, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Treatment often includes therapy and medications to ease symptoms and regain feeling like yourself.

But what if traditional treatments aren't successful in managing your depression? You may want to consider other options, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS.

The team at Pacific Phoenix TMS is proud to offer TMS as one of the many treatment options for mental health problems like depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Leading our team is Dr. Elia R. Gonzalez-Rodriguez. She is a board-certified psychiatrist with experience treating difficult-to-manage mental health issues with alternative therapies.

What is TMS?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a noninvasive tool doctors use to influence your brain's electrical activity. The therapy uses magnetic coils to stimulate specific cells in your brain, improving mental health disorder symptoms.

The FDA has approved TMS for treating depression that other forms of therapy have not successfully remedied. They also approved it for treating migraines and obsessive-compulsive disorder when other treatments haven't helped.

Various forms of TMS therapy change in conjunction with the type of magnet used or the area where the magnetic field is located.

The science behind TMS

TMS is a cutting-edge technology that allows Dr. Gonzalez-Rodriguez to help patients with treatment-resistant depression and other mental health disorders, but how does it work?

The first step is the magnet, a special magnet that's unlike those stuck to your refrigerator. The magnet we use in TMS therapy is powerful and emits a large electromagnetic field.

So why a magnet? The neurons and cells in your brain emit tiny amounts of electricity. They use electricity to send signals to other cells and nerves throughout your body.

However, people with depression have less nerve activity, which results in a decrease in neurotransmitters. The magnet helps to "excite" the neurons in specific areas of your brain to make changes in the areas of your brain that focus on your emotions and feelings.

During the noninvasive procedure, we place a magnetic coil on your head. We deliver magnetic pulses through the coil to your brain cells during therapy to stimulate nerve activity in specific areas of your brain.

Five significant benefits of TMS therapy

Although it may seem like something right out of a scary movie, TMS benefits your mental well-being. There's nothing to be afraid of, as it helps to manage the symptoms of difficult-to-treat mental health issues.

There are many potential benefits of TMS therapy for depression and other mental health problems, with five of the most promising, including:

1. It's highly effective

TMS therapy is exceptionally effective in helping people with depression, OCD, and PTSD that have shown to be resistant to other forms of treatment.

2. Safe for the patient

TMS can come with side effects like any other treatment, but most are short-lived and mild. TMS is safe for the patient, and severe side effects are rare.

3. Completely noninvasive

You don't need surgery or any invasive procedure when you undergo TMS therapy. That means no risk of infection or time to heal after the procedure, making it beneficial to patients.

4. It's life-saving

TMS can save someone's life who's struggling with depression. Severe depression can lead to suicidal thoughts and death. TMS helps patients recover from treatment-resistant depression, which curbs the suicide rate.

5. Works with other therapies

The great news is you can receive TMS with other forms of therapy to treat mental health disorders. We may use TMS with traditional therapy and medications to enhance treatment outcomes.

To find out if TMS could benefit you, call 360-828-7802 to reach our team today at our convenient offices in Salmon Creek or East Vancouver, Washington, or request an appointment on our website.