Healing The Brain Through TMSHealing The Brain Through TMS
I Love Being Sober
Tim Westbrook and Dr Robbie Westerman talk through how Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation works, comparing it with medications and ketamine for mood and trauma issues in recovery. The conversation focuses on TMS as a practical option for people struggling with depression, anxiety and PTSD, especially those who have not found relief from standard treatments.
37:34•11 Nov 2025
Healing Minds with Magnets: TMS, Recovery, and Feeling Again
Episode Overview
- TMS uses magnetic pulses to fire and rebalance neurotransmitters without relying on precise diagnoses or medication metabolism.
- Traditional antidepressant treatment can involve years of trial-and-error because of varied depression types and genetic differences.
- TMS helps reduce constant fight-or-flight responses, allowing people to experience emotions in real time instead of through a depressive or anxious lens.
- For people early in recovery, TMS may be a safer option than ketamine, which can be addictive and has been linked with relapse.
- Insurance companies and the VA increasingly cover TMS, suggesting strong outcomes and reduced long-term costs compared with medication alone.
“We don't want to build crappy roads and then make more of them.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This episode of *I Love Being Sober* zeroes in on a cutting-edge treatment for depression and anxiety: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Hosted by Tim Westbrook, the conversation centres on psychiatrist Dr Robbie Westerman, who lays out TMS in plain language for people in recovery, their families, and anyone worn out by years of trial-and-error with antidepressants.
You’ll hear how traditional medication depends on getting the "right" diagnosis, the "right" drug class, and the "right" genetic profile—all things that can leave someone cycling through pills for decades. In contrast, TMS uses magnetic pulses to fire and rebalance neurotransmitters directly, without needing perfect labels or enzyme matches. Dr Robbie explains different forms of depression, the role of fight-or-flight in PTSD and trauma, and why he cares more about symptoms than diagnoses.
He shares that many patients report a shift around 20 sessions, with their families often noticing changes first. With humour and honesty, he compares TMS to a "hard reset" for the brain’s wiring, helping people feel emotions in real time rather than through a constant lens of anxiety or low mood. A big focus is on how TMS fits into recovery from alcohol and other substances.
Tim notes that ketamine can trigger relapse for some people early in sobriety, while Robbie describes TMS as a safer starting point that helps the brain stabilise before more intensive therapies. They also talk about insurance coverage, why the VA is quietly supportive, and why TMS still isn’t on every hospital floor despite strong results.
If you’re sober, sober-curious, or supporting someone who’s struggling with mood and trauma, this episode offers a grounded look at TMS as a practical, hopeful option. Could this kind of "brain reset" be the missing piece in your recovery toolkit?
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