Sometimes, depression lingers on for longer than you’d like, remaining a problem for your mood and energy levels for months or even years at a time. However, even chronic depression can be relieved with the right treatment approach. This year, are you ready to be free from symptoms of depression? Make a 2026 New Year’s Resolution to learn more about transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment.
Dr. Ronald P. Winfield and the team at Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates LLC of North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, provide TMS services for new and existing patients who are struggling with depression. Here’s what you should know about this promising, noninvasive type of treatment.
TMS therapy directly targets your brain with noninvasive, gentle stimulation. In this way, TMS addresses your depression symptoms at their source.
Stimulation comes from a coil, measured to fit your head and placed over your scalp. While you sit comfortably, the coil activates, controlled by a specialized CloudTMS handheld device.
The magnetic energy pulses released by the TMS system pass easily through your skull to touch the parts of your brain responsible for mood regulation. The repeated stimulation increases blood flow to your brain and also accelerates the release of neurotransmitters. Over time, your brain recovers from the impacts of depression, and your symptoms lessen or even go away completely.
FDA-approved as an effective treatment for depression, TMS can provide long-lasting relief, as long as a year or more. Half of all depression patients treated with TMS find that their depression fully goes away. Without the burden of depression, your energy rebounds, your mood brightens, your concentration returns, and your other life goals look closer and more achievable.
TMS is completely nonpharmacological, meaning that you’re not taking medications or coping with their side effects. Often, TMS is a good solution for people who don’t want to take antidepressants or other medications. You don’t even need any sedation or anesthesia during your TMS treatment sessions.
It’s easy to pair TMS treatment with talk therapy, a common strategy for managing depression. You don’t need to pause your therapy in order to explore TMS.
TMS therapy takes some time to complete, with about 12 weeks needed for a full course of treatment. The team at Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates offer TMS as an outpatient procedure. You’ll need 36 TMS sessions in total, but each session only lasts half an hour. You can drive yourself home after your appointment, so it doesn’t create too much of an inconvenience.
Treatment is noninvasive and doesn’t come with serious side effects. You may feel a pulsing sensation when the coil activates, especially during your first few treatment sessions. We can adjust the intensity of the TMS pulses to reduce scalp discomfort. We also provide earplugs to lessen the noise of the TMS machine while it’s working.
If you’re ready to leave depression behind you this year, consult with Dr. Winfield to learn if you could be a good candidate for TMS treatment. Schedule your initial consultation appointment at Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates online or over the phone today.
