Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy is a non-invasive, non-drug, and FDA-cleared treatment with zero downtime. TMS is safe and effective for a range of conditions affecting mental health and cognition. Although it’s still relatively unknown to the general public, TMS is a modern tool that can immensely improve mental health conditions, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety.
TMS uses magnetic energy to stimulate parts of the brain that are responsible for mood and emotion and relieves depression symptoms in return. However, one of the most common questions new TMS patients ask is if TMS therapy has the potential to change a person’s personality.
What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive procedure that utilizes gentle magnetic pulses to stimulate the areas of the brain responsible for mood. Before your first treatment session, you’ll meet with a psychiatrist who specializes in TMS therapy. They will assess your eligibility for TMS therapy, explain how the TMS therapy process works, and answer any questions you may have.
The psychiatrist works with TMS technicians to locate the area of your brain functioning for mood regulation known as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. This brain mapping protocol involves holding a small magnet above a patient’s head to correctly identify the region of the brain that is responsible for mood.
You will be prescribed a certain number of TMS sessions. A typical treatment lasts about 20-30 minutes. During treatments, a device is placed on top of your head that sends gentle magnetic pulses into underactive brain functioning areas.
How Might TMS Treatments Impact Personalities?
When it comes to personality, it’s important to distinguish between stable, long-term traits and temporary mood states. TMS targets specific regions of the brain associated with mood regulation and emotional processing. The goal of any depression treatment is to improve a patient’s depressive symptoms, and while TMS therapy may lead to feelings of relief from symptoms, TMS therapy will not fundamentally change one’s personality traits.
Unlike medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other antidepressants that go through the body to get to the brain, TMS works directly through the stimulation of neural pathways. Medications like Zoloft (sertraline) are sometimes reported to cause side effects such as emotional blunting. Other antidepressants like Wellbutrin (bupropion) have been known to make the user more irritable or angry.
In contrast, TMS stimulates targeted brain regions to enhance brain function. As a result, any noticeable changes in personality traits that occur during TMS treatment can likely be attributed to improvements in depressive symptoms rather than a direct effect on personality.
In other words, TMS therapy relieves depressive symptoms. So, as depressed patients experience relief from the burden of major depression, they may exhibit a renewed sense of energy, enthusiasm, and engagement with the world around them. These changes are reflections of improved mental well-being, not alterations in core personality traits.
Moreover, TMS is generally well-tolerated and does not have the systemic side effects commonly associated with medications. TMS therapy can be used in conjunction with other depression treatments like talk therapy or antidepressants. Some studies show that the medications involved can actually work better in conjunction with transcranial magnetic stimulation.
The Bottom Line of TMS Treatment and Personality Concerns
The bottom line is that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) won’t change your personality, but it may help with symptoms that led to behavioral changes that appeared to impact your personality in the first place.
You may notice things like:
- Feeling happier and wanting to do more activities with loved ones.
- Lowered anxiety that allows you to enjoy more of life’s pleasures.
- Reduction in pain and aches in the body so you can be more active.
- More energy so you can be more involved with family and friends.
Thinking of Starting TMS Therapy?
Neuro Wellness Spa offers TMS therapy at many of its locations throughout the Los Angeles area. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an innovative and promising treatment option for individuals struggling with major depressive disorder and other mental health conditions. With its ability to target specific brain regions and modulate neural circuits, TMS offers a non-invasive and drug-free alternative to traditional therapies and depression treatments. The effectiveness of TMS therapy has been demonstrated in numerous studies, with many patients experiencing significant improvement in their depressive symptoms.
As depressive symptoms lift during and following TMS therapy, individuals often report feeling a renewed sense of energy, motivation, and emotional well-being. These positive changes can undoubtedly influence how one perceives and interacts with the world. These changes are a reflection of improved mental health rather than a fundamental alteration of personality. Again, while TMS treatments may lead to improvements in mood, these changes are a result of the relief from depressive symptoms rather than a direct alteration of one’s core personality.
Compared to traditional medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other antidepressants, TMS stands out as a safer and more well-tolerated treatment option.
TMS Therapy in Los Angeles
TMS offers a valuable alternative to individuals who have not found relief with other treatments, providing hope and a path toward mental well-being.
If you or a loved one is struggling with depression, OCD, or other mental health conditions, contact Neuro Wellness Spa today. Our mental health experts will review your mental health history and symptoms and walk you through all of your treatment options, including psychiatric medications, psychotherapy, and TMS therapy. Don’t wait, contact us today to schedule a consultation with a psychiatrist.