However, there is no evidence that TMS worsens anxiety in most patients. Now, if you're comfortable with that, we'll increase the intensity next time. You're at 50 percent and we need you to go up to 110 percent, which is the therapeutic dose. Nothing could break depression's control over me.
His fingers grabbed my neck, choking me at every step, invisible hands dragging me even further into despair. No; there is no evidence that EMT therapy worsens depression. Clinical trials have shown that TMS has a success rate of around 70-80% in providing significant symptom relief. In reality, it is not uncommon for patients to report some fatigue perhaps a few hours after treatment; think of TMS as an “exercise for the brain.” I asked the doctor at TMS for a summary of the treatment to be sent to my primary doctor; she didn't send a summary, but instead called my PCP and just gave the name of a psychiatrist.
Exposure therapy would also be part of EMT treatments, so even viewing a bridge would be possible. This lends credence to these hypotheses about the inhibitory and excitatory effects of TMS, and while this is exciting for those seeking to reverse the effects, there are some serious objections that should be overcome. When I added all of these factors, including being within the first year of my TMS injury and trying to figure out how I would stay alive in the coming months, I decided not to move forward even though it was still a very difficult decision. RTMS has not been associated with many of the side effects caused by antidepressant medications, such as gastrointestinal upset, dry mouth, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, or sedation.
Clinical studies also explored whether prolonged magnetic field exposure to EMT therapy can cause memory loss or negative effects on concentration. Patients who have not achieved an adequate response to antidepressants, or who are unable to tolerate medications, may consider RTMS therapy. While RTMS is a safe procedure, it is important to note that because it is a new treatment, there may be unpredictable risks that are not currently recognized. I was only 16 or 17 years old at the time, and I think my parents thought that TMS was the last ditch to improve me, even though it had been improving in the previous months.
I recommend that you discuss your symptoms with your EMT provider and the provider who prescribes antidepressants. Because TMS is a relatively new treatment, more research is needed to fully understand the effect of TMS on symptoms of bipolar disorder. Observing the fact that drugs are dangerous, that's why he said he didn't want to take them, does not deny the fact that TMS is not always the miracle cure that it supposedly is.
