(To protect patient privacy, names have been changed.)
At the age of 17, Gary*, now 41, first encountered the profound challenges of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and anxiety following a traumatic experience of sexual abuse.
In his late teens, Gary turned to cannabis to manage his PTSD symptoms, eventually escalating to regular weekend use of ecstasy, amphetamines, cocaine, and alcohol, often leading to blackouts. Over time, Gary successfully overcame his substance use, yet his mental health struggles persisted, causing him to fluctuate between moments of feeling 'normal' and episodes of paranoia, with his peace of mind easily disrupted by external factors.
At his lowest, while navigating the stress of purchasing a new home, Gary's PTSD was severely triggered, impacting his ability to function at work—he would forget instructions immediately after receiving them—and leading him to withdraw from loved ones, neglect personal care, and lose his zest for life.
During this difficult period, his partner of 16 years reached out to Dr. Leigh Neal, a trusted family contact, who suggested Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a treatment option. Shortly thereafter, Gary began his journey at the Smart TMS clinic in Manchester, experiencing a remarkable improvement within just three days.
He describes a renewed sense of joy, with a smile replacing the long-standing sadness, and a gradual enhancement of his well-being. For the first time in 24 years, Gary feels significantly revitalized, rediscovering passions like playing guitar and enjoying the outdoors, and claims that his "brain feels alive!"
Notes from Dr Leigh Neal
"Gary suffers with a condition that is recognized by many psychiatrists as complex PTSD.
It is difficult to treat conventionally with psychological interventions and medication and many patients will remain chronically disabled by this condition for the majority of their lives.
It is well established that rTMS is effective for depression and there is also now increasing evidence that it can help patients with PTSD. However, I was astonished to see the remarkable global recovery in Gary’s symptoms over the course of 30 sessions, such that he is now in full remission.
This will require further research to properly establish its effectiveness in complex PTSD, but following my experience treating Gary, I would now have no hesitation in recommending rTMS to any patient with complex PTSD who has exhausted all the conventional recommended forms of psychiatric and psychological treatment.
We now intend to keep Gary well with maintenance treatment once a month."
Dr Leigh Neal
Medical Director and Consultant in Psychiatry & Neuromodulation , Smart TMS
Not sure if TMS is right for you?
Make an informed choice about TMS treatment with our free TMS Info Guide
