Three weeks in: symptoms started to lift

65-year-old male patient: After trying six different drugs with almost no results, I was ready to take Sooma’s direct current stimulation therapy (tDCS), suggested by my doctor. Before the treatment period, I was a little skeptical about whether the very small current from a battery-powered device could help with depression. However, I decided to try the treatment with an open mind, especially since it could be done at home.

I assumed that a single stimulation session would not have a very big effect on me when there would be a total of 20 sessions in the treatment period. The stimulations met my expectations very well. I learned how to use the device in one go, and I had no problems during the treatment.

The treatments didn’t cause me any special sensations except for a slight tingling sensation at the electrodes during stimulation. On the first day of the treatment period, I got a slight headache after the stimulation. However, it soon passed, and the pain didn’t occur again after that, so I’m not sure if the stimulation caused the headache or something else. I had no other side effects from the treatment.

During the first week of treatment, the most significant change was seen in my appetite, which was not as good as before the start of the period. Of course, it could have been a normal change. I also noticed a momentary change in the quality of sleep for the worse. I hadn’t noticed any changes in mood or activity at this point.

The second treatment week went without any changes, although on one day, there was a faintly noticeable increase in mood.

At the beginning of the third week, I had what felt like the best day of the treatment period so far. I could take on things that had previously been behind work and pain. By the end of the week, I was also a little more cheerful than the previous days.

At the beginning of the fourth week, there was a clear change in my mood for the better. My sleep pattern had also changed. In fact, the change had already started at the end of the previous week, but I realized it only now. When I had previously stayed up late in the evenings, I hadn’t really been tired much. Ultimately, I just had to go to bed and try to fall asleep, which I usually managed quite easily.

With the change, tiredness came by eleven, and I fell asleep right away after getting to bed. I took it as a good sign and a change for the better. My need for sleep had also decreased. I felt refreshed, even though I woke up earlier in the morning. In addition, naps were completely eliminated, and I noticed how much a good night’s sleep affected my mood.

Finally, one more thing worth mentioning. I have been doing crossword puzzles for years and often did them in connection with treatments. During the last week of treatment, I unexpectedly noticed that I remembered synonyms and associations easier and faster than before. For this reason, even difficult grids were no longer so laborious.

Before the episode started, my diagnosis was moderate depression. After the treatment period, my mood had improved, and my daily activity increased. At the end of the session, I filled out the BDI questionnaire, from which I got eight (8) points, which, according to the test, is below the lower limit for depression. The result corresponded well to my feelings at the end of the episode.