Army Veteran Shirley Benoit battled depression for over a decade, finding no relief from medications. In 2010, she began Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center in Ohio and experienced significant improvement after just four weeks. TMS, a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate brain areas linked to mood regulation, is often recommended for Veterans who do not respond to traditional therapies. During sessions, patients sit comfortably as a magnetic coil delivers gentle tapping sensations for 20 to 30 minutes, five days a week, for four to six weeks.

Benoit, who has served 17 years in various roles within the Army National Guard and active duty, now continues her maintenance treatments at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida. She praises her care team, led by psychiatrist Dr. Milankumar Nathani, for their professionalism and compassion. TMS not only alleviates symptoms for Veterans like Benoit but also restores hope. Veterans interested in TMS can consult their VA mental health provider to see if the therapy is suitable for them.