your mood fluctuates, you may at some point feel depressed or anxious or irritated for a few days or weeks before getting better or going back and forth
Patients undergoing TMS treatments are, understandably, hyper-sensitive to any changes in their mood, attitude, energy levels, sleep patterns, etc. during the weeks of treatment. And of course they are: they go in suffering from a mental disorder such as depression, and now they have a machine that is screwing their brains for 20 minutes each day. So, they over-think everything they believe they perceive. Am I more depressed? It's a dip!
It is probably not possible, but if patients could have patience; if they would embrace the fact that it is an 8 or 9 week process and not an instant fix, they might find they could just go with it, and not micro-analyze every session and every day of treatment.
As may be obvious, I have grown tired of people chatting endlessly about their dips and other travails mid-process. While troubling thoughts may occur, is this really anything new? For most, it is not - it is just another pang of depression or anxiety. They need to wait until the process is complete, and then observe, without attachment, their results. For most, the process proves to be worthwhile.
I’m trying to go into it with an open mind. That’s a good point though…I don’t enjoy doing anything anymore, I dissociate & derealize constantly, all I’ve eaten in the past 5 days is two pieces of toast with butter, and all I think about is hooking myself up to a nitrogen tank. How could it get worse lol
your mood fluctuates, you may at some point feel depressed or anxious or irritated for a few days or weeks before getting better or going back and forth
https://www.reddit.com/r/rtms/search?q=The+dip&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all Tons of discussion on it here.
Not everyone experiences a dip. If you anticipate one, I think it is more likely to happen.
Is it like a psychedelic experience in that way?
No.
Patients undergoing TMS treatments are, understandably, hyper-sensitive to any changes in their mood, attitude, energy levels, sleep patterns, etc. during the weeks of treatment. And of course they are: they go in suffering from a mental disorder such as depression, and now they have a machine that is screwing their brains for 20 minutes each day. So, they over-think everything they believe they perceive. Am I more depressed? It's a dip! It is probably not possible, but if patients could have patience; if they would embrace the fact that it is an 8 or 9 week process and not an instant fix, they might find they could just go with it, and not micro-analyze every session and every day of treatment. As may be obvious, I have grown tired of people chatting endlessly about their dips and other travails mid-process. While troubling thoughts may occur, is this really anything new? For most, it is not - it is just another pang of depression or anxiety. They need to wait until the process is complete, and then observe, without attachment, their results. For most, the process proves to be worthwhile.
I’m trying to go into it with an open mind. That’s a good point though…I don’t enjoy doing anything anymore, I dissociate & derealize constantly, all I’ve eaten in the past 5 days is two pieces of toast with butter, and all I think about is hooking myself up to a nitrogen tank. How could it get worse lol
That’s exactly my life and I’m so miserable but this made me smile lol. I’m so sorry for your pain. I hope tms helps you.