For some people, the decision is very clear. They haven't responded at all to their medications, or they haven't been able to tolerate any medication trials. For others, the situation can be somewhat murkier. They are better than they were before they began treatment, but something still doesn't feel right.

It is a funny thing, in the English language, the word "better" can mean two things: it can mean all better, or it can mean somewhat better. In psychiatry this makes all the difference. This is why we like to use terms like "response" and "remission." Response means things are somewhat better, but not completely better, whereas remission means the condition is completely resolved.

Someone who has responded but is not in remission may still feel lingering symptoms of depression. These could include sadness, sleep problems, appetite problems, difficulties with energy, interest, or motivation. People may still not feel like socializing and may not feel like they can fully enjoy themselves. Certainly, if there are any lingering suicidal feelings or thoughts along the lines of "it would be better if I were dead," then this is a sign that this person is not in remission.

When we treat people for depression, our goal is always to try as hard as we can to get them into full remission. We do not like to stop at "a little better."

This is a common reason for trying TMS. Many people have been on a variety of medications over the years and still have a lingering sense that they could feel better than this. Many people remember a time when they felt better than they do now.

Sometimes even their prescribers seem satisfied with the partial response, but we don't. Even if you have tried every medication, you haven't tried TMS, which is so different that maybe it will work where medications haven't. In fact, by the time you have failed two medication trials, TMS is already more likely to work than a third medication trial, and even more so a fourth or tenth.

Fortunately, insurance companies usually recognize that a partial response, but not full remission, is enough of a reason to approve a course of TMS.

When People Start Considering TMS Brockton

Everyone is different, but some common scenarios that may mean TMS is appropriate for you include:

• A medication helps just enough to get by, but not to feel well
• Switching prescriptions without real progress
• Avoiding dose increases due to side effects
• Functioning day-to-day, but feeling consistently drained or disconnected

At that point, it becomes less about pushing through and more about asking whether a different approach makes sense.

What You Don’t Need to Do

You don’t need to:

• Keep trying medications indefinitely
• Wait until things get worse
• Figure out on your own whether you “qualify”

If you’ve been thinking, “Maybe I should try one more medication,” for a while, that’s often a sign it’s time to reassess, not repeat the same cycle.

What an Evaluation Can Clarify

A consultation helps answer:

• Have my past treatments been adequate?
• Am I earlier or further along than I think?
• What are my realistic next steps?

Instead of guessing, you get a clearer picture of where you stand and what options make sense.

What We Offer at Southeastern Psychiatric Associates TMS Center

We provide multiple FDA-cleared TMS options, allowing treatment to be tailored to your needs, schedule, and clinical history.

Standard TMS

• Traditional FDA-cleared protocol
• Sessions typically last about 15 minutes or less
• 36 treatments over 9 weeks
• Uses repetitive magnetic stimulation targeting mood-regulating brain circuits
• Backed by extensive long-term research

Theta Burst TMS (iTBS)

• FDA-cleared and a form of TMS
• Approximately 3-minute sessions
• 36 treatments over 9 weeks
• Uses patterned, high-frequency bursts that mimic natural brain rhythms (theta waves)
• Designed to deliver comparable therapeutic stimulation in a shorter timeframe

Accelerated Protocol

• FDA-cleared accelerated approach
• Approximately 9-minute sessions
• 50 Theta Burst treatments completed over 5 days
• Uses the same patterned stimulation to rapidly deliver treatment in a condensed schedule

Each approach is designed to meet patients where they are, whether the priority is efficiency, flexibility, or a more traditional treatment structure.

The Bottom Line

If you’re asking whether you’ve “tried enough,” something likely isn’t working the way you hoped. That doesn’t mean you need to keep pushing through the same approach. It may be time to step back, look at your treatment history more clearly, and consider what comes next.

Exploring TMS isn’t about proving severity. It’s about finding a path that actually works.

BOOK A CONSULTATION NOW

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with our TMS team to discuss your treatment history, insurance questions, and whether TMS may be an appropriate next step for you.