Mary’s story: How TMS therapy helped her persevere
- kalinmckean
- 28 minutes ago
- 3 min read
At 62 years old, Mary has a lot to be grateful for: A beautiful family, supportive friends, a meaningful, 38 year career as a CNA and memories from a recent trip to North Carolina she will cherish forever.
But Mary has also experienced her own set of challenges.
For the past 25 years, Mary has lived with anxiety and depression that at times have left her feeling hopeless.
Mary first recalls experiencing depression and anxiety in 2001 during one of the hardest years of her life. During this time, Mary and her husband got a divorce and both of her parents were diagnosed with terminal illnesses. And – despite all she was experiencing – she still needed to show up for her two young children.
“Everything seemed like it was falling apart around me,” Mary remembers. “I was just feeling lost. I knew there were people around me who loved me but I wasn’t feeling it myself. When you have depression, you feel like you are grabbing for strings – any strings that will help you pull your head above water. And I just wasn’t finding any strings at that time. It was a very difficult time in my life.”
After first experiencing anxiety and depression in 2001, Mary tried different treatment options over the years, and although they helped at times, it was not until she tried Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy at Ascension St. Elizabeth last summer, she started feeling real change.
TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses repetitive magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to help with symptoms of depression and other mental health conditions. It is a therapy used when other treatment methods have not been successful.
Mary first learned about TMS therapy at Ascension St. Elizabeth last year when her daughter’s friend shared information about the treatment on social media. The post reached Mary exactly when she needed it. At the time, she was struggling to cope with challenges and changes in her life, including five surgeries in five months, and her daughter’s move to North Carolina.
Mary had not heard of TMS before then, but after reading more about it, she knew it was something she needed to try, and so she did.
“I can’t say enough good things about the TMS program. My nurses Emilia and Courtnee were awesome. They answered all the questions I had and made me feel comfortable.”
Mary started noticing a change halfway through her treatments. She felt more energized and focused, and less anxious when leaving her house or talking to others. But Mary knew the true test of whether or not TMS effectively helped treat her depression and anxiety was her trip to North Carolina in November.
The trip promised sunshine, beach trips and quality time with her family after months spent apart. There was just one major obstacle standing in her way. In order to get to North Carolina, she needed to travel there alone.
If you would have asked Mary this time last year if she could do it, she would have told you no, but she did, largely thanks to TMS.
Unfortunately, for Mary, her day of travel was traumatic. While at the airport, her vertigo and neuropathy – side effects from last year’s surgeries – caused her to fall not once, but twice. While lying on the ground after her second fall, Mary had an important decision to make. To go home and cancel her trip to see her daughter, or to get up and persevere. She chose the latter, and is happy that she did.
“It was the worst experience. It was so traumatic for me, but I made it,” Mary shared. “I got myself up, with help. I carried on. It was a huge lightbulb moment for me where I saw that the treatments really did help me. I pushed forward and I don’t think I would have been able to do that had I not had those TMS treatments.”
Mary’s life has challenged her in unimaginable ways, and some days are harder than others. Yet, despite her struggles, she continues to persevere. Mary hopes that by sharing her story, she could help raise awareness about TMS so that more people struggling with anxiety and depression know it’s a valuable resource:
“I want more people to know that the TMS program is there. If you are like me and are grasping for strings, TMS is one of the strings you need to grasp. Whatever strings are there for you, you need to reach out and grab for them. Give it a shot. You need to access all the resources available to you for help because your life is worth it. You are worth it.”
If you are interested in learning more about TMS, or are in need of other mental health resources, please click here.