TMS is a unique depression treatment because it treats the brain directly to overcome depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and other mental health issues.  Most other depression treatments target adjacent systems (serotonin, glutamate, etc.) to bring about relief from depression, anxiety, and other issues. TMS uses a stimulus/response mechanism to prompt the brain to develop new, healthy neuro pathways. These new pathways are able to restore healthy communication channels throughout the brain, overcoming the areas of the brain diminished from depression.

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A TMS Analogy: The Snowstorm

We like to explain TMS in a way that is easily understandable for a Utah audience: clearing the sidewalk after a snowstorm. A huge snowstorm has hit the Wasatch Front, dropping a foot or two of new snow. But let's say you are out of town when the storm hits (hopefully vacationing somewhere warm!) and not able to immediately shovel your sidewalk.

 

When you return, you notice your sidewalk has a pathway trampled down the middle of the sidewalk. Since you weren't home to shovel, as people walked back and forth, they made a trail through the snow. The next people to walk through followed those same footsteps, and those following behind continued to follow the same footsteps until a tamped down pathway was formed.

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That pathway represents the damaged neural pathway in the brain. Like the people walking in deep snow, it's easier for the brain to follow an established pathway rather than spend the effort required to build a new one. Even if that pathway is damaged (by depression, anxiety, or PTSD), it's easier for the brain to continue to use it. But because of the damage in the pathway, those brain signals become garbled, resulting in feelings of depression, anxiety, stress, or feeling constantly overwhelmed.

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When you get home from your trip you pull out the snowblower and get to work. You clear the sidewalk, removing the damaged pathway and opening up the full sidewalk again. This is similar to how TMS works: it clears out the damage and establishes a new, clear channel for brain signals.

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How TMS is Different

There are a few other reasons why TMS stands out. First, it is not a medication. Many patients are looking to get off medication or to reduce their use of pharmaceuticals overall. TMS uses no medication whatsoever in treatment. Many patients choose TMS for that reason alone.

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Second, TMS has no systemic side effects. Because it's not a medication, it doesn't have the same issue of introducing side effects that antidepressants are notorious for. 

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Third, TMS provides long-term relief, continuing to deliver relief long after treatment has finished.

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