TMS, medication, and therapy are all helping me take steps towards my betterment.
John, TMS patient
We’re proud of the technology, team, and process we offer our patients seeking Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) treatment.
(New to TMS? Learn more about it here.)
And as we witness each patient experience the benefits for themselves, we’re right there celebrating alongside them!
This week, we’re talking with John about his experience with TMS:
Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, John! Can you share a bit about what life felt like prior to beginning TMS treatment?
Before TMS, I experienced near-constant catastrophizing about everyday tasks or events– benign or otherwise.
I also had lots of negative thinking about myself and my capabilities. Feeling as if I was useless, that I was letting not only myself, but my family down, too. That I wasn’t trying hard enough to get better.
What had you tried (before TMS) to address these challenges?
Mostly therapy, with sporadic medication trials. The latter of which had no discernible benefit.
Any hesitations about exploring TMS for yourself? What made you decide to give it a try?
It was suggested to me by Lauren while I was in touch with her about seeking a psychiatrist. It sounded promising, so– fairly soon after that– we decided to go ahead and give it a shot.
My main fear was that it wouldn’t help me. But, the confidence of Lauren, Dr. Leuhr and Derek, and their explanation of the procedure and the success rate of TMS helped me move forward with treatment.
What was the experience like for you?
At first it felt a bit overwhelming to schedule all of my appointments but, overall, it was beneficial to me.
What were some of the first changes you noticed after beginning treatment?
The first change I experienced was what I could only describe as a sense that there was a helpful “fog” or “bubble” around me that eased the more invasive negative thinking I had been suffering from previously.
How does life feel different now, after TMS treatment?
Now that treatment is at its end, I feel better than I was before starting TMS. I have an easier time pushing aside negative thinking.
Any advice or encouragement you’d like to share with someone considering TMS?
Keep doing it and see it through to the end. Try and be as consistent as possible and don’t miss your appointments if you can help it.
Things can change for the better.
Thank you, John! We’re honored to have worked with you.
Inspired by what John shared?
Here’s what some of our other patients had to say about their TMS experience at Sonder:
“I think what REALLY made me see that things were changing were the comments I received from the coworkers and managers at my job. They’d make comments on my drive, my focus, my attitude. When I heard it from other people, it was like the changes I’d started seeing became an actuality.”
“I am definitely enjoying life more. I no longer worry as much about the present and the future. I cope more easier with life’s challenges which do happen for everyone.”
“One day I realized that I was smiling more, felt positive and was not turning to food to drown my sorrows. After treatment I felt like a new and much better me.”
“Life feels very different than before. I can laugh and feel the joy of it again. I look forward to all sorts of things.”
“The hope I have for my future since completing TMS has increased exponentially. I have made leaps forward in my personal life and in my career.”
Interested in learning more about TMS?
Enjoy this post? Check out these other posts about TMS:
TMS Patient Experience: Whytnee
TMS Patient Experience: Amy
TMS: The Promising Depression Treatment You’ve Never Heard Of
Preparing for Your TMS Evaluation
5 Reasons to Choose Sonder Psychiatry