What Does TMS Feel Like? An Honest Answer From a Clinician

It’s no secret that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a unique mental health treatment, both in terms of its effectiveness and how it feels. If you’ve ever looked into this treatment and wondered, “What does TMS feel like?,” you’re not alone. While the TMS may look intimidating, the actual physical sensations are much less significant that you may think.

Quick answers

• Many people experience an uncomfortable tapping sensation on their scalp during TMS sessions. 
• Some people also report some scalp discomfort, forehead or jaw twitching during treatment, but few describe this non-invasive treatment as painful. 

What a TMS session feels like

Jennifer Ramsey, PMHNP, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Radial, mentions that when many patients arrive for their first TMS session, they’re usually nervous. “After the first session they realize what it's about,” reflects Ramsey, “and it's typically a breeze from there.”

During the actual session you may experience a tapping sensation, and the TMS machine makes a loud clicking noise, which is why a TMS clinic will provide earplugs before the first season. 

Occasionally, people report symptoms, like scalp discomfort and TMS headaches during early treatment sessions. These side effects usually go away after the TMS mapping session (the term for someone’s first TMS appointment) or after the initial few sessions, says Ramsey.

Does TMS hurt?

The majority of people wouldn’t describe TMS as painful. However, there is sometimes discomfort on the scalp, right around where the treatment coil is placed. “For some people, TMS can be somewhat uncomfortable but it's usually quite tolerable,” says Ramsey. 

If someone is experiencing pain or discomfort, Ramsey advises that they should tell the attending provider because there are ways to fix it. “We can adjust the helmet or how strong the treatment is,” explains Ramsey, adding that usually any discomfort goes away once someone gets used to TMS or after the provider adjusts treatment. In fact,the stimulus intensity is titrated to comfort, to ensure that it's tolerable.

Is it normal to cry during TMS?

TMS’ magnetic pulses are powerful, but there’s no sedation, meaning patients are  awake the entire time. As a result, some people experience strong emotions during or right after treatment, although this is rare. This means crying isn’t out of the question, though Ramsey says, “Some people feel overwhelmed, but I haven’t seen anyone break down in tears.” 

Ramsey has, however, seen patients with happy tears when they are reflecting on their TMS experience. For her patients, the feeling of relief and  improved mental health is what they remember most.

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