Using Magnetic Fields to Treat Depression and Reclaim Joy. Nearly 17 million adults in the U.S. suffer from a major depressive episode every year. A significant number of patients who seek medical help are found to be treatment-resistant, finding no relief from symptoms using the traditional treatment of antidepressants and talk therapy. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) offers new hope with a safe, noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic fields directed right to the mood center of the brain. The electro-magnetic currents stimulate nerve cells, activating regions of the brain that had become sluggish. Over a period of 4-6 weeks, TMS can rebalance this brain chemistry and vastly improve overall mood, as well as concentration, energy level, and sleep quality.