Preparing for TMS Treatment
Preparation - session - integration
#1. Preparation
Preparing your body and mind for TMS can improve your comfort and enhance the effectiveness of the treatment over time. Your mindset and consistency in attending sessions matter.
Mental & Physical Preparation
– Arrive well-rested and hydrated.
– Try to maintain a healthy routine with regular sleep, nutritious meals, exercise, and time in nature.
– Notify your provider of any changes in your alcohol use, sleep patterns, medications, or supplements.
– Avoid excessive use of alcohol, marijuana, and recreational substances throughout the treatment course.
– If you have been regularly drinking alcohol your provider needs to know so we can help minimize the risk of seizures related to alcohol withdrawal.
Setting Expectations
– TMS is not a quick fix. Effects are cumulative, building gradually across the full series of sessions.
– Do your best not to miss any sessions, and especially avoid missing more than one session in a row. Consistency is key to achieving the full benefit of treatment.
– Your brain is being gently stimulated in a specific region associated with mood and cognition—it’s normal to feel subtle shifts, tiredness, or even emotional ups and downs during the course.
Mindset and Intention
– Reflect on what you hope to gain from treatment (e.g., “Clarity,” “Resilience,” “Energy,” “Relief from depression”).
– Consider writing down a few personal intentions or goals for your treatment course.
#2. Ketamine Session
What to Bring & Wear
– Wear comfortable clothes.
– Avoid earrings, bobby pins, hair clips, piercings, or any metallic items near your head—nothing metallic should be within 12 inches of your scalp during treatment.
– Avoid heavy hair products or hairstyles that interfere with coil placement.
– Bring headphones if you want to listen to your own relaxing music before or after (but not during) the session.
– Some patients like to bring water or a comfort item like a fidget, stress ball, or calming scent for grounding.
During Treatment
– You’ll be seated in a comfortable chair. The magnetic coil will be positioned on your head to target a specific area of your brain.
– Actual treatment time will be 3 or 19 minutes depending on protocol. – You’ll hear tapping or clicking sounds, and feel light tapping sensations on your scalp.
– Most patients can read, rest quietly, or close their eyes during treatment. Let the technician know if anything feels uncomfortable.
Common Side Effects
– Scalp discomfort at the site of stimulation
– Mild headache
– Facial twitching during stimulation
– Fatigue
These symptoms are usually temporary and diminish over time.
#3. Integration
Between Sessions
– Journal your mood or symptoms briefly each day and focus on any improvements/insights you have.
– Practice mindfulness, breathing techniques, or grounding strategies.
– Engage in therapy if possible—TMS may make therapeutic conversations more productive.
– Step outside your routine—try new activities, socialize, and enjoy nature to nourish your mind and mood.
– Avoid excessive stress, screen time, or doom-scrolling, especially right after a session.
Tracking Progress
– Keep us informed of any changes in mood, sleep, energy, focus, or side effects.
– It’s normal to feel discouraged if improvement doesn’t happen right away—often, changes become more noticeable after 2–3 weeks.
– Don’t stop treatment early unless advised by your provider—even slow progress is still progress.
Final Notes
You are taking a step toward healing through consistency and commitment. This is not a sprint, and each session builds on the last. Be patient with yourself and trust the process.
If you experience worsening symptoms or have concerns between sessions, please contact our office. If it’s an emergency or you’re in crisis, go to the nearest emergency room or contact a mental health crisis line.