So, you’ve done your research on TMS.
Thought it over. Maybe talked with friends and family.
Completed your complimentary consultation.
And it turns out TMS may be a good fit for you.
Congratulations!
The next step is to schedule your TMS evaluation.
In this appointment, you’ll sit down with a member of our Psychiatry team to determine if TMS is right for you.
It’s also a chance to communicate your needs and preferences, discuss any questions you’re having, and collaborate with your provider to create a plan that works for you.
You can cover a lot of ground in this appointment! So, it’s worth taking some time to prepare.
Read on for 5 ways to prepare for your TMS evaluation:
1. Get clear on your “why”
The first (and perhaps most important) way to prepare for your TMS evaluation is to get crystal-clear on your emotional wellness goals.
If you were to feel more like yourself again tomorrow, how would life be different for you?
How would you feel?
What would you do?
Clearly communicating your goals will help your provider make decisions about how TMS might be able to help you.
And that’s the whole point!
Prepare for your TMS evaluation:
- Consider your thoughts: What thoughts have you been noticing yourself having lately? What changes do you hope to see in your thinking over time?
- Consider your emotions: How have you been feeling these days? What changes do you wish to see in your emotions over time?
- Consider your behaviors: Are you behaving in ways that are frustrating or concerning to you (or to others)? What behavioral changes would you like to see in yourself over time?
- Consider your lifestyle: In general, are you a morning person or a night owl? How active are you? Do you work outside the home? What kinds of support do you have in your life? What are your interests/hobbies?
2. Gather your materials
Perhaps this is the first time you’ve ever considered TMS for your emotional wellness.
Or maybe you’re no stranger to the idea and are simply seeking a professional perspective.
Regardless, it’s essential to come to this appointment with some key pieces of information.
Prepare for your TMS evaluation:
- Make a list of your current medications. For each medication, write down the name, dosage, prescribing provider’s name, how long you’ve been taking it, and any notes about how it seem to be working, any side effects, etc.
- Make a list of any past medications. Anything you’ve been prescribed in the past for emotional wellness; note why you discontinued each.
- Prepare paperwork. Working with a therapist? Signing a simple release form can enable them to communicate with your psychiatrist.
- Bring anything else that seems relevant. Perhaps you’ve kept a journal for awhile that offers insight into your emotional wellness. (No need to bring the whole journal– just spend some time reviewing it and jot down a few themes or patterns you’ve noticed.) Or maybe you’ve received a legal document or treatment discharge letter that contains important information. Bring it along, just in case.
3. Enlist help if needed
This appointment is about you and your emotional wellness.
And you know yourself best, so take a minute and consider:
What do you need to help you make the most of this TMS evaluation?
Prepare for your TMS evaluation:
- Open the lines of communication. If you’ve worked with a provider in the past who may have useful, relevant information to share, ask to sign a release so they can communicate with the psychiatrist conducting your TMS evaluation.
- Bring a support person. Will having a loved one or support worker present at your appointment help you relax, focus, and/or communicate more effectively? Invite them to join you. Even if they simply wait in the reception area, a familiar face can be reassuring.
- Plan ahead to remember. If you’re concerned about remembering all of your questions, bring a list to your appointment, along with a notepad and pen to jot down key information you learn. (If someone else joins you for part or all of your appointment, you can ask them to listen and take notes for you.)
4. Remember self-care
Your TMS evaluation is nothing to be worried about.
But, it is important.
So, don’t forget about your self-care!
Prepare for your TMS evaluation:
- Get quality sleep.
- Be mindful (but not judgmental!) of how you’re feeling leading up to the appointment.
- Block off some time to care for yourself in whichever ways you prefer.
5. Commit to taking action
Whatever your life is like right now, it didn’t get that way overnight.
So, don’t expect everything to change in one appointment.
Instead, shift your mindset and commit to taking some sort of action around your TMS evaluation.
Remember: It doesn’t have to be monumental action. It just has to be action taken by you.
Prepare for your TMS evaluation:
- Be honest with yourself and your provider.
- Keep an open mind about what you’re hearing, what you’re capable of, and what’s possible for you.
- Treat yourself with compassion.
- Commit to making reasonable, healthy changes.
- Be thankful that you’ve taken this step in your emotional wellness journey!
Enjoy this post? You might also like:
TMS: The Promising Depression Treatment You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of
Understanding Depression Symptoms
Depression Treatment Options
Interested in starting the process toward a TMS evaluation?