TMS and Lifestyle Changes
Your course of NeuroStar TMS therapy delivers non-invasive magnetic pulses to mood-related brain circuits. Combining TMS and lifestyle changes during and after your treatment can help you incorporate your progress into everyday life. Small, repeatable habits make it easier to track any improvements and ensure that your treatment is effective.
It is easier to notice the benefits of NeuroStar TMS therapy when you introduce consistent lifestyle habits early in your treatment. You should maintain a regular sleep schedule, get morning light most days, and include some type of daily movement (even brief ten-minute walks) to build up your energy and increase focus. Choose one daily anchor task, such as a shower or short stretch, to reintroduce momentum. These predictable cues turn your good intentions into action.
Three Helpful Pillars: Sleep, Movement, and Meals After TMS Therapy
Introducing foundational routines to change your lifestyle can help amplify any gains you receive from NeuroStar TMS therapy. Good habits may include:
- Prioritizing seven to nine hours of sleep on a steady schedule
- Including movement whenever it fits into your day (before work, lunchtime walks, or evening stretches)
- Ensuring your meals are consistent to avoid energy crashes
- Limiting late-evening screens and alcohol, which supports your mood and focus the next day by protecting your sleep quality
Follow Your Progress by Tracking What Matters
We recommend that you fill out a simple log to help guide NeuroStar TMS treatment decisions. This log involves rating your mood, sleep quality, and concentration from 0 to 10, and noting one action you practiced (e.g., planning an activity, engaging in social contact, or thought reframing). Bring this logbook to your check-ins so our clinicians can make informed, purposeful adjustments to your NeuroStar TMS treatment plan that is based on your lifestyle changes. If a tactic is not helping after a fair trial period, we can discuss trying a different new habit instead.
Good habits to adopt early in your NeuroStar TMS therapy plan include maintaining proper hydration, avoiding heavy caffeine immediately before your session, and planning to do a brief calming activity (a quiet walk or paced breathing) after treatment before you transition back to your daily life activities. If you notice any new or uncomfortable sensations, we encourage you to report them promptly so we can tailor guidance.
Why Does Completing Your Treatment Matter?
Real-world outcomes of NeuroStar TMS treatment show strong improvement rates. In one study, 83 percent of patients experienced improvement (Sackeim HA, et al., 2020. J Affective Disorders, 277(12):65-74.). By contrast, findings from the STAR*D program suggest that with each additional medication change, remission becomes less likely and discontinuation becomes more common due to increases in common side effects (Results from the STAR*D study, medication attempts (n=4,041), Trivedi (2006), Am J Psychiatry | Rush (2006), Am J Psychiatry | Fava (2006), Am J Psychiatry | McGrath (2006), Am J Psychiatry).
The benefits from a successful NeuroStar TMS treatment course can last for up to one year for many people (Dunner DL, et al. (2014). J Clin Psychiatry, 75(12):1394-1401), so steady routines, lifestyle modifications, and simple habit logs are well worth the effort.
Call Today To Explore NeuroStar TMS Therapy and Discuss Potential Lifestyle Changes
Utilizing both NeuroStar TMS and everyday lifestyle changes is a practical way to reinforce your mental health progress. Bloom Health Centers can help you shape your habits and schedule follow-ups that fit your routine. If you share your goals with us, we will outline clear steps that you can start following right away. Contact us online or call our office today.
TMS Patient Journey at Bloom
New to TMS? You are not alone.
Find out more about the journey to a life without depression through TMS Therapy at Bloom.
TMS Offered At:
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Arlington
801 N Quincy St, #601
Arlington, VA 22203
Winchester
158 Front Royal Pike, #206
Winchester VA 22602
MOB III, 7702 E Parham Rd Suite 102 Richmond, VA 23294
630 Peter Jefferson Pkwy STE 130 Charlottesville, VA 22911
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NeuroStar Indication Statement
Adult Indications for Use
The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is indicated for the treatment of depressive episodes and for decreasing anxiety symptoms for those who may exhibit comorbid anxiety symptoms in adult patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and who failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from previous antidepressant medication treatment in the current episode.
The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is intended to be used as an adjunct for the treatment of adult patients suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Adolescent Indications for Use
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is indicated as an adjunct for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adolescent patients (15-21).
Important Safety Information
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is only available by prescription. A doctor can help decide if NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is right for you. Patients’ results may vary.
The most common side effect is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site. These events are transient; they occur during the TMS treatment course and do not occur for most patients after the first week of treatment. There is a rare risk of seizure associated with the use of TMS therapy (<0.1% per patient).
Visit neurostar.com for full safety and prescribing information.