Mental health treatment doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all approach. For those who haven’t found relief through traditional methods, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy offers a promising alternative. This FDA-approved, non-invasive treatment uses precisely targeted electromagnetic pulses through an electromagnetic coil to activate certain areas of the brain that influence mood regulation and emotional processing.
One of the most common questions we receive from patients considering TMS is about timing: How soon might they experience relief from their symptoms?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the typical timeline for TMS results across various conditions, with a special focus on depression and anxiety. We’ll explore the factors that influence treatment effectiveness and what you can realistically expect during your TMS journey. Whether you’re researching options after medications have proven ineffective or you’re curious about the science behind this innovative therapy, this information will help you make informed decisions about your mental health care.
How Long Does it Take for TMS to Work? The Timeline for Seeing Results
If you’re considering TMS therapy for depression, major depressive disorder, or anxiety, you may wonder, “When does TMS start working” and when you’ll notice results. While everyone’s response to their treatment sessions varies, most patients experience improvements following this general timeline. When most patients experience improvement in their anxiety levels, depressive symptoms, etc:
- Week 1: You may not notice any significant changes in your symptoms yet. However, you may start to feel more relaxed and less tense after each session.
- Week 2: Subtle positive shifts often begin to emerge two weeks in. You might feel more grounded and less reactive in situations that typically trigger your anxiety or depressive symptoms.
- Week 3: This week often marks a turning point. You may experience more substantial relief from your symptoms, with daily challenges that once seemed overwhelming becoming more manageable.
- Week 4: By this stage, you may start to feel like a new person! The cumulative effects of brain stimulation often result in marked change, with many of our patients describing a renewed sense of emotional stability and resilience.
It’s essential to understand that response times differ between individuals. Some of our patients notice rapid benefits, while others experience gradual shifts over the full treatment course. We strongly recommend completing your entire prescribed treatment plan, even after initial positive changes, to maximize long-term benefits and reduce the likelihood of symptom recurrence.
How Many Sessions Are Needed to see Results from TMS?
How many sessions for TMS to work varies widely depending on your specific circumstances. We determine the ideal number of sessions through a personalized assessment of your needs, looking at several factors:
- Your specific condition—whether you’re seeking relief from anxiety, insomnia, OCD, PTSD, or bipolar disorder
- The severity of your depression—mild cases often respond differently than those of severe depression
- Whether you’re using TMS alongside medication as part of a comprehensive treatment approach
At Brain Health Center, we’ve designed our accelerated TMS program to deliver results faster than other treatment modalities. Our protocol includes 50 sessions over just 5 days, with 10 treatments daily, each lasting only 10-15 minutes. This concentrated approach means you won’t have to wait weeks or months to begin experiencing relief.
How long for TMS to work differs for each patient, which is why we carefully evaluate your situation during the consultation and develop a treatment plan tailored to give you the best possible outcome in the shortest appropriate timeframe.
What Initial Signs Will Show That TMS Is Starting to Work?
What Initial Signs Will Show That TMS Is Starting to Work?
As TMS therapy begins to take effect, you may notice subtle changes before experiencing major symptom relief. While everyone responds to treatment differently, these early indicators suggest your brain is responding positively to the treatment:
What Affects My Treatment Timeline?
A few different factors can affect your treatment timeline when it comes to TMS therapy for anxiety. Let me break it down for you.
First, the severity of your anxiety can affect how long it takes to see results from TMS therapy. If you have mild to moderate anxiety, you may start to see improvement after just a few sessions. However, if your anxiety is more severe, it may take longer to see significant improvement.
Another factor affecting your treatment timeline is the frequency of your TMS therapy sessions. Typically, TMS therapy sessions are scheduled five days a week for several weeks, with each session lasting about 30-60 minutes. However, advanced facilities can provide treatment in about five minutes. If you can attend all of your scheduled sessions, you may see results more quickly than if you miss or skip days.
Finally, it’s important to remember that everyone’s brain is different, and some people may respond to TMS therapy more quickly than others. Some people may start to see improvement after just a few sessions, while others may need to complete the full course of treatment before they see significant improvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TMS effective for anxiety?
If you’re wondering whether TMS therapy can help with anxiety, the answer is that it might. While there’s not a lot of research on TMS specifically for anxiety, some studies have found that it can effectively reduce anxiety symptoms.
For example, one study found that TMS on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex helped reduce anxiety symptoms in patients with anxiety disorder. Another study found that TMS effectively reduced anxiety symptoms in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.
While more research is needed to understand TMS’s effectiveness for anxiety fully, these studies suggest that it could be a promising treatment option for some people.
Who should avoid TMS?
While TMS is an effective treatment option for many people, it’s not for everyone.
You’ll want to avoid TMS therapy if you have a metal implant or object in your head. Because TMS uses a magnetic field to stimulate the brain, any metal implants or object could be at risk for injury. The most common examples are cochlear implants, stents, implanted stimulators, and pacemakers
You’ll want to avoid TMS therapy if you have a history of seizures or are pregnant since there is limited research on whether TMS is safe for epilepsy or pregnancy.
How long do TMS results last?
The duration of TMS benefits varies from person to person, but studies show that the benefits can last for several months or longer.
One study found that patients who received TMS treatment for depression experienced significant symptom reduction lasting at least six months after completing treatment. Another study documented symptom relief continuing for up to 12 months. While research into the long-term effects continues, these findings suggest TMS can provide lasting benefits for many individuals.
How many TMS treatments are needed?
Our 5-Day Accelerated TMS Depression Treatment includes 50 sessions over 5 days. Most patients receive 10 treatments daily, each session lasting approximately 10-15 minutes.
Why did TMS not work for me?
While TMS is well-tolerated and shows promising results for many patients, it may not work for everyone. It can be less effective for those with bipolar disorder, active psychosis, or untreated substance abuse disorders than for patients with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. If TMS isn’t successful for you, don’t lose hope. Your treatment team can suggest alternative therapies or different treatment approaches to help you find relief.