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Adolescence is a time of enormous growth and change, and along with it can come emotional and psychological obstacles that often feel overwhelming. Depression is more common during these years than many parents realize, and while medications and talk therapy can be helpful for youth mental health, they don’t always provide the relief a young person needs.
Enter Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a promising solution for adolescents ages 15 and older. For parents or guardians searching for hope, guidance, and alternatives, TMS offers a new path forward for struggling teens. Read on to learn more about the importance of identifying and treating issues with youth mental health, as well as how TMS therapy for adolescents can make a meaningful difference.
How Do I Know If My Child Is Struggling?
It’s no secret that adolescence comes with its own set of struggles as children grow up in an ever-changing world, which can sometimes make it difficult to determine if they’re experiencing the usual growing pains or a more serious condition. Be on the lookout for sudden or prolonged changes in their behavior, appearance, and habits that may indicate the need for a mental health professional.
Your adolescent may need help if they:
- Seem anxious or worried
- Have unexplained stomach or headaches
- Lost interest in previously enjoyed activities or hobbies
- Are lethargic or have difficulty sleeping
- Avoid spending time with friends or family
- Are irritable or have tantrums/outbursts
- Begin struggling in school
- Engage in harmful behaviors, including thoughts of self-harm
- Have suicidal thoughts or ideations
What Causes Mental Health Issues in Children?
There’s no one cause for struggle, as mental health issues may be tied to biological and genetic factors, environmental considerations, social constructs, cultural influences, and more. The best way to determine how to help your child through their struggles is to encourage open, honest, and compassionate conversations while practicing empathy and active listening. Doing so will not only help them feel safe to share their feelings, but also let you know when professional help is needed.
How to Help Adolescents Struggling with Youth Mental Health
Traditional methods like therapy and medication are just one component of helping the younger generation struggling with their mental health. Parents, caregivers, medical professionals, teachers, family, and friends can and should be part of the healing process as well:
- Create safe, stable, and positive environments that encourage open communication.
- Learn how to recognize signs of distress, trauma, depression, and other issues.
- Pay attention to your adolescent’s behavior, watching for sudden or worrying changes.
- Encourage strong, trusted relationships between adolescents and role models.
- Be a role model for your child, student, or other adolescent figure by showing support and positive behavior.
- Monitor your adolescent’s exposure to violence and harmful materials, including time spent online.
- Know where to find, and provide when necessary, mental health resources geared toward youth.
- Be open to alternative forms of treatment when traditional methods don’t work, such as TMS for adolescents
TMS for Adolescent Mental Health
If your child is struggling and therapy or medication hasn’t worked, TMS may be the solution. TMS was FDA approved in 2008 for the treatment of depression in adults, and FDA approved in 2019 for individuals ages 15 and up. This approval marked a milestone in validating TMS as safe and effective for adolescents while showing lasting improvement in Major Depressive Disorder symptoms. More, it offered renewed hope for younger generations struggling with depression.
What Is TMS Therapy and How Does TMS Work?
TMS is a non-invasive treatment for people who have not found success with medications and/or antidepressants. These individuals are often shown to have reduced electrical activity in areas of the brain associated with mood, and TMS works by delivering targeted electromagnetic pulses via magnetic coils to those areas. The pulses stimulate the affected neurons, in turn releasing neurotransmitters and hormones such as serotonin and dopamine to relieve symptoms of depression. Once stimulated by TMS, neurons continue to release neurotransmitters for a longer period of time compared to other treatments like antidepressants.
Is TMS Safe for Adolescents?
Yes, TMS is proven to be safe for adolescent patients with depression. Most side effects go away after the first few sessions, without altering brain activity or cognition.
Why TMS Works for Adolescents
Dealing with depression is difficult enough for adolescents. Adding traditional medication alongside depression symptoms can wreak havoc on their emotional health, physical health, and even budding social life. TMS offers effective treatment without the usual side effects of antidepressants.
Non-Medication Based
With traditional medication comes traditional side effects: lethargy, emotional numbness, inability to focus, weight gain, and more, all of which can affect a youth’s emotional, physical, and social well-being. TMS treats depression without the need for antidepressants, with minimal and temporary side effects such as slight scalp discomfort, lightheadedness drowsiness, and/or headaches.
Lasting Depression Relief
TMS offers longer-lasting relief from depression symptoms compared to antidepressants upon treatment completion. This relief, in turn, leads to significant improvements in focus, energy, and social interactions in daily life.
Non-Invasive Treatment
As a non-pharmacological option, TMS is a welcome alternative for depression treatment in adolescents. It doesn’t require antidepressants, surgery, or sedation, but uses magnetic fields to stimulate areas of the brain affected by mood, compared to medication that often feels like it affects the entire body.
Relief When Other Options Failed
TMS can be an ideal alternative for adolescents who haven’t responded to standard therapies or antidepressants for treatment-resistant depression
Scheduling TMS Therapy for Adolescents
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy might be the solution for your child if he or she is struggling with depression, especially if traditional therapies or medications aren’t working. To learn more, or to schedule an initial consultation about this non-invasive treatment for depression, contact Mindful Health Solutions today. We look forward to guiding your family toward healing.
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Resources:
Child and Adolescent Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health
FDA Greenlights TMS Therapy for Adolescent Depression
McGovern Medical School
Youth Mental Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
