TMS Therapy?

[CaptainOfMyShip]

I have a follow up appt this week and wanted to know has anyone ever tried TMS therapy. My psychiatrist recommended it but I have only done slight research. It is suppose to be another alternative to antidepressants or combined with them. I have been on countless medications over the years. The problem is the gruesome side effects. Plus When my mania is severe, I forgot to take them. My doctors always fuss about not taking meds but im like out of whack to take them. They dont get it. I exploring my options because I am drained.

[o2G2o]

I think it depends on whether or not you think you're capable of establishing some small steps forward without additional therapies or medications. My advice would be to try to gain some little victories in your life and go with the momentum, see where that takes you. What kind of realistic 30 day goal could you give yourself in terms of lifestyle (for lack of a better word)? I think we can tend to overwhelm ourselves by looking at a far away goal and stressing out constantly about not achieving it. For example, if you decided you wanted to have $100,000 in your bank account by age 25, and you're 23 and have $300, the challenge seems insurmountable and adds an extra layer to the depression or anxiety. The truth is, it doesn't matter if you reach your goals. If you're firing on all cylinders and an A-type personality who was given every opportunity to achieve them, it could be tempting to beat yourself up over it. But if you're like most people, life throws an awful lot of hurdles our way and things don't always go as planned. I'm 42 years old and have never owned a home, have no savings and no plan for retirement. It seems like just yesterday I was in my 20s. What I do have is a long term goal and plan, and it's currently 4 years behind schedule. If I were to focus solely on the fact that I'm 4 years behind, coupled with the fact that I'm quite a bit older than you and therefore have less "productive" years left, I'd be a total panic-stricken disaster. What I came to realize is we have a finite number of days in life. It's better to have less and be relaxed and happy than it is to put pressure on yourself in such a way that it ruins your best years. I'm not saying you should just start smoking blunts all day and not give a shit until you're 35 - we've seen that play out for many people and it's not pretty. Just take each day as it comes and try to find some small pleasures in life as you chip away at the long term goals.

[o2G2o in reply to o2G2o]

Sorry, I'd like to add: don't look for or expect things like true love, true happiness or other absolutes. Those things find you when you get on the right path and start figuring shit out. Too many people are constantly searching. Life is hard - don't get it twisted - and even being moderately healthy and happy is quite an accomplishment in itself.

[CaptainOfMyShip in reply to o2G2o]

Your right. I am not sure how to respond. I place unnecessary pressure on myself. Life is hard and I have to accept that there are things I can not control. Damn! Lol thank you❤

[o2G2o in reply to CaptainOfMyShip]

We tend to look at drugs or therapies as magic bullets. Pharmaceutical companies, doctors, holistic healers and purveyors of therapies know this and prey on it. You can do this yourself. Just imagine if you got a slightly better apartment and an extra $800/mo in salary for now - just picture what that would really feel like (close your eyes if you have to) and ask yourself what percentage your stress would drop by. Then picture drawing yourself a roadmap to a situation you'd love to find yourself in, and start down that road. I think you'll agree that you're not facing a disease after all. You are just in a rut. Climb out.

[Agora1 in reply to CaptainOfMyShip]

Captain, believe in what o2G2o says. Reread his response several

times, it will take you far. I believe in you xx

[CaptainOfMyShip in reply to Agora1]

Aww thank you💙 I just psych myself out. I will keep fighting. We all here for a common purpose!!!

[CaptainOfMyShip in reply to o2G2o]

Oh and I am pretty sure that you would be surprised to know that every Therapists I ever had deemed me a perfectionist. 😒 It has only put me in a deep hole...Thank you for sharing with me😊

[Kat63 in reply to o2G2o]

I wish I knew you IRL. Or somebody like you. Thanks for posting. I needed to hear these things.

[o2G2o in reply to Kat63]

That is extremely sweet but I think you'd be underwhelmed. I'm more of a Holden Caulfield than a Tony Robbins - not exactly "crushing it" over here. 😂

[Agora1 in reply to o2G2o]

o2G2o, you are very wise beyond your years.

Great advice x

[o2G2o in reply to Agora1]

Thank you. If I could take my own advice I'd feel a lot wiser. ❤️

[Agora1 in reply to o2G2o]

Me too my friend.. lol x

[Gina_64]

I haven't tried TMS therapy but I've read extensively about it. There are good reviews and studies to back it up. I haven't gone because it's a daily commitment for 4-6 weeks and I can't make it to drive 30 minutes by myself to go. It's also been recommended by my psychiatrist to go to a ketamine clinic. Very good results, but not covered by insurance. Cost is $600-$700 per session. The program consists of 6 treatments. Another option not for me. You may have a TMS therapy place near you and from what I read, it's very helpful for those who have been resistant to medication. That's me. I hope you can try the TMS.

[CaptainOfMyShip in reply to Gina_64]

Thank you so much❤. I have united health so I am not sure if they will. Would you do a ketamine clinic if you could? I get mixed reviews about it. Is that used to put animals to sleep? They asked me about it in the hospital this march but I declined. Not sure. I might not be able to committ to TMS if is a daytime program because I work full time. Also, ppl encourage CBD oil but I am a little leary.

[Gina_64 in reply to CaptainOfMyShip]

I've tried CBD oil. Several different brands and can't seem to get any benefit. If my insurance paid for ketamine therapy, I would definitely do it because nothing, nothing is helping. I would be scared, but I would try it. It's not approved by the FDA so that's why insurance won't pay for it. It does make me leery that someone can open a clinic and charge outrageous prices and make so much money from other's misery. It just doesn't sound very compassionate for a physician to do this. We do have a clinic here. I just can't pay the money for treatment.

[Gina_64 in reply to CaptainOfMyShip]

Ketamine was and still, I believe, is used as an animal tranquilizer. I have experienced it being used for sedation in both pediatrics and adults as an ICU RN. In the ketamine clinic, I believe the safest route is for it to be given with caution and knowledge about the drug by an anesthesiologist. The clinic here, it is infused by a family practice physician. Which would be concerning to me. Like I said, the other concern is these physicians making tons of money from people in desperate circumstances.

[o2G2o in reply to Gina_64]

Growing up, ketamine (or Special K as the kids called it) was a recreational drug that teenagers could buy for almost nothing. For that reason, it was popular, and I'd often see people I know spaced out on it for hours. If you're considering ketamine, I'd say it's not really a stretch to consider morphine or heroin as "treatments". I'd advise strongly against it, personally - but I'd like to qualify that statement by saying I've not researched it as it pertains to anxiety. That's just an off-the-cuff remark because of my personal exposure to that particular drug 25+ years ago. My point was simply that "getting so high that you don't realize you're anxious" isn't what I'd call a solution. (I may be wrong, perhaps it's dosed so low that you don't get high at all.)

[Gina_64 in reply to o2G2o]

We used it, like I said, in ICU in a controlled environment, not to get high, not off the street. I would not be comparing it to the 80’s, or morphine and heroin. If I were to do it, it would be in a controlled environment by an anesthesiologist. It is a far stretch to compare it to morphine and heroin. Totally different drug class, indication, mode of action, etc. There are many clinical trials and information regarding this drug. And yes, it is known as special k on the street to get some sort of high or whatever. I have not only studied it, I’ve seen it used in a clinical setting both in the 80’s and a couple of years ago. I am still leery of a primary care doctor outrageously charging people to administer this drug without FDA approval nor the appropriate skills to be administering it. So I’m not saying it’s safe right now, but if it’s my only choice, and it’s in a controlled environment with appropriate medical personnel, FDA approved..hell yea I would consider it. I’ve been so bad, I’ve already considered it, but I’m not spending $4,000 on a $5 drug. Although, just because a drug is FDA approved, it does not mean it’s a good choice. I’ve been on meds with horrible side effects, I’ve gotten ECT, in which I lost some of my memory. All approved by the FDA for treatment. So I can appreciate all sides. I just don’t want to feel or be dead.

[o2G2o in reply to Gina_64]

My apologies, I didn't mean to come off as flip. You certainly don't sound like a stupid or reckless person at all and I didn't mean to imply that you just want to get messed up (which I sort of did, the way I framed my comment).

If you're comfortable saying so, what exactly are you hoping to get relief from (specifically)? I don't know if I'm phrasing that well - I mean what problem are you experiencing that leads you to this particular remedy for it? I suppose I could take a look through some of your previous posts for some background - (probably should have done that before my initial comment.)

[Gina_64 in reply to o2G2o]

Oh it’s totally ok. No offense taken. I have bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. I’ve been hospitalized for taking ODs of my own prescriptions. They told me I am resistant to medication. My days progressively get worse, which I have mood swings. I start out ok and then my mood changes drastically. I feel awful right now and the only break I get is when I sleep. I just want to be numb right now.