For many people, Christmas is associated with joy, celebration and togetherness. However, for those living with depression, anxiety, PTSD or other mental health conditions, the festive season can feel overwhelming rather than uplifting. At Smart TMS, we recognise that Christmas can intensify emotional difficulties — and that access to effective, evidence-based mental health care is more important than ever.
If you’re searching for TMS for depression, TMS for mental health, or alternatives to medication that actually work, you are not alone — and support is available.
The festive period brings unique pressures that can negatively affect mental wellbeing, including:
Increased expectations to feel happy and grateful
Financial stress from gifts and social commitments
Loneliness, grief, or reminders of loss
Family tensions or difficult relationships
Disrupted routines, sleep, and diet
Reduced daylight, which can worsen Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
These challenges can worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety, even for people who usually cope well. Struggling with your mental health at Christmas does not mean you are failing — it means you are human.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive, evidence-based treatment used for a range of mental health conditions. TMS works by delivering focused magnetic pulses to specific areas of the brain involved in mood regulation.
Unlike medication, TMS therapy does not affect the whole body and does not require anaesthesia or sedation. Treatment is delivered on an outpatient basis, and most people can return to normal activities immediately after sessions.
At Smart TMS, we offer personalised assessments to determine whether TMS for mental health may be suitable for you. TMS has strong evidence for:
TMS for depression, including treatment-resistant depression
For individuals who have not found relief from antidepressants or talking therapies alone, TMS for depression can offer renewed hope.
The festive season can be a particularly difficult time to manage medication side effects or emotional instability. TMS may be especially helpful at Christmas because:
It is non-systemic, with no medication-related side effects
Sessions are short and outpatient-based
There is no emotional blunting, weight gain, or sedation
Many patients report gradual improvements in mood, motivation, and energy
Starting TMS therapy before or during Christmas can help individuals feel more supported and emotionally grounded heading into the New Year.
Alongside professional support, small steps can make a meaningful difference:
Lower expectations — Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect
Set boundaries around social and family commitments
Maintain regular sleep and meal routines
Limit alcohol, which can worsen anxiety and low mood
Stay connected, even with brief check-ins
Ask for help early if symptoms worsen
Your wellbeing matters more than meeting festive expectations.
Smart TMS provides compassionate, personalised care for people seeking TMS for depression and other mental health conditions. Our experienced clinical team will guide you through:
A comprehensive mental health assessment
Whether TMS is appropriate for your symptoms
The most suitable TMS protocol for you
What to expect from treatment and outcomes
We support you every step of the way — not just at Christmas, but all year round.
If you or a loved one are struggling this Christmas, contact Smart TMS for a confidential consultation about TMS therapy and personalised mental health support.
NICE – Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg542
NICE – Depression in Adults: Treatment and Management (NG222)
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng222
FDA – TMS Approval for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-permits-marketing-transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-treatment-obsessive-compulsive-disorder
2024 Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis on TMS for Mental Disorders
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11112448/
2024 Meta-Analysis on Theta Burst Stimulation (Depression)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-024-02630-5
UCLH NHS – Patient Information on rTMS for Depression
https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/patient-information-pages/repetitive-transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-rtms-depression