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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation—A Drug-Free Treatment for Depression

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation—A Drug-Free Treatment for Depression

Major depression is a debilitating brain-body illness that impairs function and is one of the highest causes of disability worldwide. When a person is in a state of depression, the brain’s normal neural network and circuits do not function in the normal way and the various domains of life are negatively affected (impaired concentration, sleep, appetite, energy, motivation, ability to experience joy, thinking patterns, etc.).

The prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain behind the forehead—is where we think, reason, plan, strategize, prioritize, pay attention, and modulate mood. When people are depressed, the prefrontal cortex is underactive, so they find it hard to think clearly, focus, learn, and problem-solve, and they get overwhelmed with life easily.

The part of the brain just behind the prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), is where we make choices and experience our sense of compassion and empathy. During depression, the ACC is also underactive, so people struggle to make decisions and to feel socially connected to others.

On the other hand, the amygdala, the part of the brain where we experience fear, anxiety, and alarm, is overactive during depression, so sufferers will often feel worried, dread, uneasiness, and anxiety even without specific threats or problems, or they will markedly exaggerate the level of real-world issues and, thus, worry and ruminate rather than problem-solve effectively.

It probably doesn’t surprise you that the most common treatment for depression is anti-depressant medication. However, while there are many people for whom medications have been lifesaving, it is also true that there are millions for whom medications are either ineffective or cause intolerable side effects. There are also those who just don’t want medication in their bodies.

Fortunately, there is an alternative, drug-free treatment for depression today called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).

How it Works

TMS uses a strong electromagnet to activate the underactive brain circuits in order to move the brain back toward a non-depressed level of functioning.

During a TMS treatment, the electromagnet is placed against the scalp adjacent to the prefrontal cortex; then, pulses of magnetic energy move across the cranium into the brain. These pulses cause the neurons in the prefrontal cortex to fire (depolarize) and, because they are connected to neurons in the ACC, they, in turn, cause the neurons of the ACC to fire.

Then, when the ACC activates, it sends a calming signal to the amygdala. In other words, TMS treatments move the brain’s neural circuits back toward their non-depressed levels of functioning.

Various data have demonstrated that of the patients who have been unable to experience relief from depression through medications, 68 percent achieve remission of their depression symptoms through TMS treatment.

What to Expect

During a treatment, a patient will typically receive three thousand pulses over a 20- to 30-minute period. The patient is awake the entire time, and there are no IVs or medications. As soon as the treatment is over, the patient is free to leave and go about their routine business without any restrictions.

Most people will require 30 to 36 TMS treatments to get them out of a state of depression. Once they are out of depression, their wellness can often be maintained with a single treatment once a month.

For the first couple of sessions, the most common side effect is transient discomfort on the scalp where the magnetic energy crosses the cranium. Most people find this becomes easily tolerated within a few treatments.  

The only absolute contraindication to receiving this treatment is having magnetizable metal inside one’s head. However, if you have been cleared to get an MRI, you will most likely be cleared for TMS.

Many insurance plans, including Medicare, now cover TMS treatments, but you will need to check with your particular carrier. Cash price varies depending on your region and provider but typically ranges from approximately $300 to $600 per treatment.

There are a variety of machines cleared by the FDA that physicians can use to provide this treatment. I prefer NeuroStar’s system to others. They have a strong scientific support team that helps providers find relevant and recent research. Their device also allows for more focused and nuanced treatment, and it is currently the only one cleared to treat depressive adolescents ages 15 and older. (Their device is also approved for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.) You can find a list of NeuroStar TMS providers at NeuroStar Providers.

Finally, TMS treatments can be administered by any doctor who has been trained to do the procedure. However, I recommend seeking a psychiatrist rather than a non-psychiatrist, as a psychiatrist will be able to better address other factors that are contributing to depression and can generally offer a more holistic approach to resolving the issue.

Depression is a debilitating brain-body illness that is treatable. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, please seek professional help. If you have sought help and have determined that medications are not right for you, consider TMS as a possible solution. And if you are seeking holistic Christian residential treatment, consider Honey Lake Clinic.

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I grew up in a prominent protestant church and had what I like to call religious anxiety. I’ve always had questions about God and Salvation that no one could seem to answer.  I didn’t know how to find resolution. During 2020, at the height of my anxiety, I fell to my knees and begged God to show me truth and light and to give me the hope that I’ve been longing for. Days later, I stumbled upon your online videos and it was like a veil was lifted and EVERYTHING made sense! For the first time in my almost 39 years of life, my religious/spiritual anxiety has lessened. I feel a sense of freedom and peace I’ve NEVER had before… and it’s all because my view of God has changed. Thank you!

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Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

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Testimony 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

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Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

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Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

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