TMS Offers Hope

Life-Changing Depression Treatment Comes to KMHS

“Now, I’m taking care of myself for the first time in a long time”

60%

During the first six months, 60% of clients experienced significant improvement and 48% achieved remission.

Ed, 43

What is it like to live with severe depression?

The precise and polar opposite of fun. It’s like walking around with a millstone around your neck.

If I said I have tried out on the order of over a dozen medications over the years, I’m low. Those are just the ones I can remember.

How did TMS help?

The changes I noted were subtle at first. It’s not something where you go into the chair, you get zapped and then bam, everything’s better. No, it’s over time, it’s cumulative and the changes can be subtle.

For my part, having completed the treatment, my symptoms are significantly reduced.

I had a tendency to shame spiral, and I don’t really do that anymore… I gained the ability to control those spirals or pull myself out of them rather than be locked in for hours and in some cases, days.

What else do you want people to know?

TMS has certainly helped me and it may have a good chance of helping you with reducing your symptoms, and helping you get back into a functional, livable place, whether it’s with or without medication.

Kay, 30

What is it like to live with severe depression?

It was hard to care for myself. It was hard to bathe, brush my hair. I’m still dealing with dental issues because of it.

How did TMS help?

It’s like being starving and then being finally able to sit down and eat a meal.

I have moments where it’s hard, like, I can feel the depression and everything. It’s there, but I don’t have to interact with it anymore. I don’t have to be consumed by it. I have that choice, and a couple of months ago I didn’t have that choice.

What else do you want people to know?

It just feels good to have options again. With the depression, it feels like branches are cut off at every opportunity, just at any inconvenience… You just pick the thing that your brain says is the least worst thing. But now I don’t have to pick the least worst thing. Now I get to pick anything that I want to do.

Eric, 41

What is it like to live with severe depression?

Before the treatment, I would get home from work, the days that I made it to work…I don’t know how many days I would just get home, sit on the couch doing nothing, and then all of the sudden it’s just dark again. And then when I looked at the clock, I didn’t realize that I just sat there doing nothing and staring into nothingness for probably 4 or 5 hours.

How did TMS help?

The best way I can describe it is it’s this feeling of being a teenager, of all the possibilities of what could happen with your life, and you have the enthusiasm to look forward to it.

What else do you want people to know?

I used to say that depression was a rich people’s problem because most people couldn’t afford to be depressed. But it is an actual problem that does not differentiate based on creed or nothing, and you don’t have to feel bad about it, you just have to do something about it.

If you feel you have lost joy, look for help.