dTMS, or deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, is an FDA-approved treatment that focuses on a neuroscience approach to addressing symptoms associated with a variety of mental health and chronic pain issues. While this treatment is relatively novel, the success rates of dTMS are having people who may benefit from this type of neuroscience approach wonder what they can expect during sessions. So, what actually happens during dTMS sessions and what can a person expect from using this type of treatment?
Your First dTMS Treatment Session
Once you are deemed qualified to use dTMS, you can expect to schedule your first session. During this session, a qualified dTMS specialist will guide you through the brain mapping process. Brain mapping is a technique that is conducted by using a device much like an EEG which works to map out how your brain is functioning. It’s completely harmless and you can expect the specialist to place small monitoring applications around your scalp to conduct the session. You may be asked questions during the session to get your brain to respond in various ways so these can be recorded on the monitoring device.
Brain mapping is a crucial part of the dTMS process as it sets a baseline in order to showcase progress after sessions are concluded. And, it can help to show the dTMS specialist areas of your brain that aren’t functioning as they should, resulting in various symptoms. Thus, allowing your specialist to gain information of how to conduct dTMS sessions to best suit your needs and provide successful outcomes.
Identifying How dTMS Works
It can be helpful for people who are considering dTMS to better understand how it works. A dTMS device uses magnets to send stimulating pulses into the brain which works to balance areas of the brain that are under or over-performing, leading to mental health or chronic pain symptoms. This magnetic stimulation can bring the brain back to functioning at a base level which can help to resolve debilitating symptoms and improve mental and physical well-being.
Who Can dTMS Help?
There are a variety of symptoms and issues that dTMS can help with including:
- Treatment-resistant depression
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Longterm Covid symptoms
- Substance use disorder
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Chronic pain conditions (fibromyalgia, MS, etc.)
Some More Information to Know About dTMS
Undoubtedly, you may have more questions about what to expect from dTMS therapy. Some important facts to know about dTMS include:
It’s Non-Invasive: There is no pain experienced with dTMS therapy sessions. There is a small percentage of patients who experience headaches or sensitivity to the scalp after sessions, but this is rare and only a temporary side effect. TMS doesn’t require any medications, surgical procedures, or even any downtime.
It’s Safe: If you are qualified for dTMS, it is very safe. There are very few side effects and the ones that are experienced are very rare. So, you don’t have to worry about experiencing any adverse reactions.
It’s Outpatient: One of the great things about TMS therapies is that they can be conducted on an outpatient basis. That means that you can come to get dTMS on your own time and schedule it around your schooling or work hours.
dTMS Available at Synchrony Brain Health
Synchrony Brain Health offers brain-based, neuroscience approaches to treating a number of mental health and chronic pain disorders. Here, we offer outpatient dTMS sessions for people who are qualified. Find out more about our dTMS services and our clinic from our website.
