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“Depression fundamentally is a lack of happiness in one's life and I think it is probably the worst disease you can ever have, partially because people can never see it on an X-ray or a cat scan or an MRI. So you never get the physical proof of it.

In terms of family, the biggest thing that happens is withdrawal. The last thing you want to do is deal with people. I would spend so much of my time, energy, and effort putting on a happy face
that basically by the time I got home I didn't feel like I had any energy left. So it's like I put on the face for someone this entire day and then by the time I get home and see my wife Marty, there just wasn't that sense of having any energy left.

There was just being feeling rung out like a dishrag and basically get a bite to eat, watch a little tv and go to bed. When you are in that situation and you've gone through so many of these trials and things that have never really worked all that well for you or the solutions didn’t last.

You get to the point of just being totally discouraged and saying why should I even get my hopes up that something will actually work. That's why TMS is such an important therapy, that without that kind of technology available there really weren't any other alternatives out there that I could identify that I would be

willing to try.

You know, you're talking about a non-drug therapy, you’re talking about something that's non-invasive in nature.
I used to live my life totally within a level of black and white and now I live in a world of Kodachrome and I can see all the different colors. I can see joy, I can see sadness. I can see ecstasy, I can see pain. But I can see all of those things and it gives me the opportunity to actually live my life for the first time. Do not sit there and say “I just have to live this way” because you don't. You don't have to live this way anymore."

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“I took this wonderful test that you take, that I dislike to this day but is a wonderful test that really breaks your heart open and reveals that ugly shameful depression that has you bound and when I took that test I don't know how long I cried but in every single question it was exactly what I had been feeling and I knew then that it was depression. And I was ready to do whatever it took to get that ugly monster to go away

The treatment is not painful, it is a very short treatment. The staff was wonderful. You watch movies, I mean it's the easiest thing I have ever done. My kids didn't even know I was having treatment and they said, something is different about you, something is different about you, and whatever it is we like it. Okay, but in the middle, you may have a slump Desiree that, just, it happens, it's recorded so just expect it and boy did I!

I really hit a low, mid-treatment treatment, but it only lasted a couple of days and after that, I felt wonderful, in fact, you know I think it's common but towards the end of the treatment you're feeling so good, you're yeah, I don't think I need the last whatever, few treatments, but you do. 

I have been in remission for two years from TMS and I probably had depression for fifty-five years. I wake up joyful, I go to bed joyful. I have normal emotions, I still have the normal irritation, you know, teenagers, you have an irritation but the black hole has gone, there is no black hole, it's not been in my life for two years. 

I said, if you're hesitating, don't hesitate to call right now, it's your life and it matters. What I would say to someone who is fearful of making the call, call me, I'll come to you and take you. There is a treatment that is easier than you can imagine. Don't wait. If it's the last thing you do, ask a friend, ask a family member, reach out to somebody to save your own life."

“As a mother with depression, you don't have a whole lot to offer your children so you just make the best of what you have and sometimes that means letting them play in their rooms quietly while you lay on the floor and stare into space that's about all you can offer for that day or it may mean going outside and letting them play at the park but they are begging you to push them on the swing but you really have no desire to push them on the swingI decided to choose TMS treatment after years of dealing with depression and dozens and dozens of antidepressants that I tried and most were not very successful. 

It wasn't like a lightbulb went off. I didn't wake up one morning and just feel like I wasn’t depressed anymore. 

It was a very gradual feeling, almost to the point where I really didn't notice at first, my husband was the one that pointed it out to me at first.

In the course of the TMS treatment, I went back for a follow-up and my doctor was asking me how everything was going and I was reporting to her that obviously it's working because the other day I was taking a shower and my husband came around the corner and kind of peeked in the bathroom.

I just looked at him like ‘yes can I help you’ and he said was that you humming in the shower?

I was thinking well, yeah I guess so, I’m the only person in here and he said, ‘oh ok, I just don't normally hear you humming’ And so I didn’t even realize at the time that it was me humming because depressed people don't hum. 

You know so, it was really exciting to me that I actually was humming and I had no idea I was doing it.

Now that I have had TMS treatment it's much easier for me to wake up in the morning.

I actually look forward to when my children come home from school And not only that but my children don't see me sleeping or taking naps nearly as much as they used to and they really get excited when I suggest that we get out and do things. 

Something as simple as getting out of my house and walking on the waterway makes such a huge difference to me now 

You know, I enjoy taking my son and my dog and going out for a walk and enjoying all the beauty around us.”

“As a patient advocate for people with depression, treatment-resistant depression, I get a lot of emails and sometimes phone calls saying ‘what do I do? What do I do?’

It is so easy for me to say I have hope and it is so difficult for that patient to hear those words and do anything with them. 

Having hope is almost impossible when you are in the depths of depression.

With that said, I believe you’ve got to try everything, leave no stone unturned, find what works for you. For me, it's rTMS, for another person, it might be ECT or medications might work for them.

But as a patient with depression, we all have to own it, we have to own it and we have to be responsible for it. And yes we have to have hope, hard to do but we have to have hope.”

“I thought I was doing good with depression but I think subconsciously I still hold onto a lot of the pain and the fibromyalgia was diagnosed twenty years ago

I have two kids and their families that live close so you're worried about them. I have ten grandkids and so you're worried about them.

It was really helpful to not have that Co-Pay where I wouldn't have to discontinue treatment.

I'm also doing some other additional treatments trying to help with the anxiety I have so it's enabling me to do that without putting a financial burden on me."

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“I have had severe depression, bad anxiety, and chronic pain for over a decade now. I recently started seeing Dr. Bowarshi for medication mgmt (specifically anti-depressants).

After talking with him, I immediately felt a sense of empathy and understanding from him regarding my daily issues and suffering and therapy needs... He asked great follow-up questions and seemed to really care about improving my condition. I followed the medication plan and improved tremendously; but after a few months, I plateaued out... It was a repeat of the same old story for me whenever I had used anti-depressants in the past: Improvement to the level of becoming functional but then a plateau that never got me to true and full recovery from depression.

I then found out that he is licensed for and uses this new treatment technology called TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). Essentially, my understanding of it is this: In patients with severe depression who have failed to recover via medication and talk therapy (all of which I have tried many times), in other words, patients who have treatment-resistant depression (which is exactly what I would describe myself as having), TMS stimulates the neurologically depressed parts of the brain, basically jumpstarting them and bringing them back to normal function. Or at least that's putting it in my own words and how I understood it.

I said heck yes, let's do TMS. I am now 40 and was willing to do anything after over a decade in my prime years of fighting and losing this horrible depression battle. TMS is definitely a commitment as it calls for 30 sessions over 6 weeks at one a day, or an accelerated plan of 30 sessions in one week where I am in the clinic full time for a week. I tried the latter as I am out of state.

So right now, I am at the end of my TMS therapy and am hesitant to say how well I improved, as I have simply become extremely cautious of improvements over the years (and I don't want to jinx it), but I let's just say that I'm starting to feel really great already! I have started feeling and doing things that I haven't felt or done in YEARS; enjoyable and functional "life" things that have just disappeared from my "able to do" list due to the weight of depression... All I have to say is this has been an amazing journey! I pray that this will last and continue. And I will update this review in the future after weeks or months to let you all know how things turn out. In the meantime, I am cautiously optimistic and am a believer that this TMS therapy WORKS! And even if things revert, I'm just going to keep doing TMS again...

As for Dr. Bowarshi and his staff, I seriously cannot put into words how amazing they all are and have been!!! Friendly, caring, professional, educated and knowledgeable, flexible and just really cool! For anyone who is looking for a new therapist or looking to try something new, I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Bowarshi and the Florida TMS Clinic. I just can't say enough about how great they all are. The facility (and equipment) is gorgeous, modern, relaxing super clean, brand new and state of the art. I am actually from out of state, but I will definitely be coming back for any and all maintenance and therapy sessions! Thank you all for all your help and God Bless.

UPDATE Sept 18, 2020:

So it has now been about 6 months since I wrote the original review above, and I wanted to update you all as I stated. If you're still not a believer in TMS, take it from me: It works! My motivation level over the past 6 months has been great. My dependence on emergency use of benzodiazepines has gone way down. And my mood and depression has been much more stable and reduced. I will say that my depression has been incredibly difficult over the years, so this is a huge improvement. I feel like if I get one more course of TMS or even a few more "maintenance" treatments, I could honestly see myself getting back to a level where I won't need any more antidepressants."

“I’ve been diagnosed with chronic PTSD with symptoms of depression and anxiety for around 15 years. I’ve also suffered from recurrent night terrors since my early teen years. Since starting TMS treatment, my depression has improved significantly, my anxiety is down and I haven’t had a single nightmare or night terror since around the second week of treatment!!!

I’ve spent years feeling like a guinea pig medication wise cause NOTHING has worked for me. I’ve literally tried every medication out there. I tried seeing a therapist on multiple occasions and therapy only made my symptoms worse.

TMS therapy has been the only treatment that has made any sort of difference in my life. I wish I knew about it sooner!

Dr. Bowarshi is amazing. He’s patient, compassionate, and sympathetic. He takes the time to explain everything to you and makes sure you are involved in every step of your treatment. He’s literally the best psychiatrist I’ve ever seen."

“I have clinical depression for nearly 40 years. I was excited to learn about TMS but was a bit Leary. Knowing I always get side effects from meds and they have not been effective, I went in with the attitude I have nothing to lose. Just finished week six and feel fantastic. The therapy itself was fine. I watched Tv during treatments and felt minuscule of an annoying feeling like someone was tapping me on the head. I experienced no headaches or pain. Around week three I felt the dark cloud coming back and I was extremely emotional. Dr. B informed me previously that this could happen. The cloud was gone within a week. I am amazed at how I am feeling and how well I am handling things. TMS worked for me.

The Actual TMS was a PART of my recovery. The staff made a big difference. Alexis, Johanna, and Dr. B worked seamlessly together I was always treated with kindness, compassion, and respect. The friendly staff actually got to know me during the intensive frequency of treatments. Whenever I had a concern or question they were great. Dr. B Kept up with my progress with appointments every two weeks, but also saw me the same day I had concerns about the grey cloud and was in during treatment as often as needed to make any adjustments. I am pleased that after my next three weeks of tapering that I have a fantastic Doctor and medical assistants who will continue to follow my progress and if appropriate, work with me on decreasing psychotropic medications."

“After years of living under a daily depressing dark cloud. And after trying a dozen different antidepressant medications I was skeptical that there wasn't anything out there that would ever make my life enjoyable again. I decided to try TMS as a last resort.

After my 15th session, I wasn't feeling much better. But I stuck with it. Suddenly after my 18th session, I felt more energized and hopeful as I felt the dark cloud lift. I just finished my 23rd session and my mood is brighter than it has been in years. I highly recommend this treatment to anyone who has been in my situation. The staff at the Florida TMS Clinic are outstanding. Always friendly and caring of your needs."

Read more Florida TMS Clinic reviews here ➜