What to Expect During Your First TMS Session

If you’re starting transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy for depression, you might feel a mix of emotions — hopeful for relief, yet nervous about the unknown. Your feelings are normal.

At Reviv Functional Psychiatry & TMS Wellness Center in Fullerton, California, our experienced psychiatrist, Dr. Hina Sidhu, has helped many people navigate this journey.  

In this blog post, we guide you through what happens during your first TMS session, ensuring you feel informed and at ease. 

About TMS therapy

TMS therapy is a noninvasive, medication-free treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), a type of depression that doesn’t improve with traditional antidepressants or therapy. 

Using magnetic pulses, TMS stimulates specific areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. While researchers are still trying to understand how TMS works, they theorize that the pulses promote neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections. In the case of depression, it reactivates nerves that manage mood to alleviate symptoms. 

Treatment involves placing a coil on or near your head that delivers the electromagnetic pulses. It isn’t painful, but you may feel a tapping or knocking sensation on the scalp where we position the coil. 

Getting ready for the first session

There’s no special preparation required for TMS therapy, but it's recommended that you wear comfortable clothing to your appointment. The first session is the longest, lasting approximately an hour, as it includes a process called brain mapping, where we identify the specific area of the brain that requires treatment and determine the appropriate dose.

You won’t need any anesthesia, and you can drive and resume normal activities after your first TMS session. However, the emotional anticipation can leave some people feeling mentally and physically drained, and you may want to consider taking it easy for the rest of the day.

What to expect during TMS

Upon arrival, we walk you to the TMS therapy room and seat you in a cushioned treatment chair. We provide you with earplugs to protect your hearing from the loud clicking sound of the magnet. 

Your session starts with brain mapping. We send single pulses to the area of the brain involved in mood, gradually increasing the magnetic strength until we observe a twitch in your hand. The involuntary movement helps us identify the ideal treatment level.

After we complete brain mapping, we set the magnet to deliver repeated pulses at set intervals. Treatment time varies, ranging from a few minutes to 20 minutes. You may feel a tapping sensation on the scalp, which is well-tolerated by most. 

How you might feel after TMS

How you feel after your first TMS session can vary. Some people may experience tingling or tightness at the treatment spot, develop a mild headache, or feel a little tired. Symptoms are temporary and improve with hydration, over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, or rest. 

We would like to point out that results from TMS therapy are gradual, and you’re unlikely to feel a noticeable difference in mood after your first session. We recommend five sessions a week for up to six weeks to get the best results. 

You continue your antidepressants and therapy while receiving TMS therapy. While results vary, many people with depression experience significant improvements in symptoms, and some achieve complete remission.

If traditional depression treatments aren’t providing the relief you need, TMS therapy may be next. Call our office today to schedule a consultation with our psychiatrist and learn how TMS might benefit you.