Rethinking how we talk about mental health treatment
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
I did everything I was told to do.
I took the medications.I showed up to the appointments.I followed the plans that were supposed to help me feel better.
And still… something was missing.
Not dramatically. Not in a way that others could easily see.But enough for me to know—deep down—that I wasn’t where I needed to be.
What I didn’t expect was that the answer wouldn’t come from another prescription…It would come from a conversation inside my own veteran community.
And what I really didn’t expect?
That I had never even heard of the treatment that would change everything.
The Treatment No One Talks About
It wasn’t until I connected with a doctor through my VFW network that I was introduced to something called Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS).
I remember thinking:How have I never heard of this?
dTMS is a non-invasive, FDA-cleared therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain responsible for mood regulation. It’s used to treat conditions like:
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Anxious depression
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Smoking addiction
But here’s the part that stayed with me:
Why aren’t we talking about this more?
Why is the conversation around mental health so often limited to medication and traditional therapy—when there are other options available?
I had spent years trying to find balance…And it took a chance connection in my own community to even learn this existed.
What the Experience Actually Looked Like
I began treatment at Katie’s Way Plus, not fully knowing what to expect—but knowing I needed something more.
Each session was simple in structure:
I sat in a chair
A specialized helmet (called an H-coil) was placed on my head
The device delivered electromagnetic pulses to targeted areas of my brain
The sensation felt like a rhythmic tapping—unfamiliar at first, but manageable.
Each session lasted about 20 minutes, and there was no downtime. No anesthesia. No recovery period. I could walk out and continue my day.
Consistency Over Quick Fixes
This isn’t a one-time solution.
dTMS requires commitment:
Daily sessions (Monday–Friday)
4 to 6 weeks of treatment
And I’ll be honest—there were days it felt like a lot.
But healing rarely happens in convenience. It happens in consistency.
The Unexpected Breakthrough: Understanding Myself
What surprised me the most wasn’t just the emotional shifts—it was the clarity.
As I progressed through different levels of treatment, I experienced different responses each time. Some subtle. Some more noticeable.
But the biggest shift came in understanding.
Through this process, I began learning more about bipolar disorder—and how it had been quietly shaping my experiences in ways I hadn’t fully recognized before.
That realization didn’t break me.
It grounded me.
For the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of peace—not because everything was suddenly perfect, but because things finally started to make sense.
What Was Missing Before
Medication has its place. It can be necessary. It can be life-saving.
But for me, it wasn’t the full picture.
dTMS filled in the gaps.
It helped me:
Regulate emotions more effectively
Feel more connected to myself
Take an active role in my healing—not just manage symptoms
It reminded me that mental health treatment shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all.
Why Aren’t We Talking About This?
This is the question I keep coming back to.
Why don’t more people know about dTMS?Why aren’t alternative treatments part of the standard conversation?
It shouldn’t take:
A chance meeting
A personal connection
Or being deep into your own struggle
…to discover that other options exist.
We need to do better—not just in treating mental health, but in educating people about what’s available.
Because someone out there is sitting where I once sat…Thinking they’ve tried everything.
When they haven’t.
What You Should Know Before Considering dTMS
Like any treatment, it’s important to be informed:
Common side effects: Mild headaches or scalp discomfort
Rare risks: Seizures (extremely uncommon)
Not suitable for: Individuals with certain metal implants or seizure disorders
For me, the side effects were minimal—and far more manageable than many medications I had tried.
A Message to Those Still Searching
If you feel like something is missing…If you’ve done everything you were told and still don’t feel like yourself…If you’re quietly wondering, “Is this really it?”
I want you to know:
There may be more options out there.
dTMS may not be for everyone—but it might be the missing piece for someone.
It was for me.
The Bottom Line
I didn’t find dTMS because it was widely talked about.I found it because of community.
Because of connection.Because someone was willing to share something different.
And now I’m doing the same.
Because the more we talk about these options…The more people we give a chance to finally feel better.
We deserve more than just surviving.We deserve to understand, to heal, and to find peace.
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