Jovana’s Story: Healing from the Inside Out with TMS Therapy

At 56 years old, Jovana had spent too many years feeling like she was barely making it through the day. Living in Arizona, she faced a storm of challenges: anxiety, depression, ADD, and addiction. Her world felt chaotic, overwhelming, and endlessly frustrating. Like many struggling with a mental health condition, she found herself stuck in survival mode… until she discovered a different path at Serenity Mental Health Centers.

“I was annoyed with everything and everyone,” she recalls. “I couldn’t think clearly, I couldn’t focus, and I didn’t feel like I was making any progress at all.”

That all changed when she began TMS treatment at Serenity, which turned out to be a decision that would help her reclaim her peace of mind, her sense of purpose, and her future.

When the Mind Won’t Slow Down

Before starting treatment, Jovana described her mind as constantly racing. “I couldn’t even breathe. That’s how busy my mind was. I felt like I was suffocating.”

It’s a familiar experience for many patients with anxiety, ADHD, and depression. There is a feeling of mental overload that just won’t shut off. Traditional medications had offered little relief for Jovana. What she needed was something different. Something deeper. That’s when a Serenity psychiatrist recommended TMS therapy.

The Science Behind TMS Therapy

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a cutting-edge, medication-free brain stimulation technique that targets specific areas of the brain responsible for mood regulation, focus, and impulse control. For Jovana, who had battled symptoms of addiction, depression, and ADD, the results were life-changing.

Using magnetic pulses, TMS therapy stimulates the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain often underactive in patients with depression. By enhancing activity in this area, TMS helps restore balance to the brain’s neural pathways and promote the release of critical neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. These are the chemicals responsible for stabilizing mood, reducing anxiety, and increasing motivation.

In cases of TMS for addiction, this stimulation also reduces cravings and impulsive behaviors by regulating reward pathways that are often disrupted in individuals struggling with substance abuse.

For Jovana, it meant she could finally breathe again. Her thoughts slowed, her emotions steadied, and she began to feel grounded in her own mind.

A TMS Treatment Center That Offers More Than a Machine

At Serenity’s Arizona-based TMS treatment center, Jovana received far more than just sessions in a treatment chair. Her psychiatrist helped her develop practical tools and personalized strategies that complemented the effects of TMS therapy.

“I was taught how to calm my mind, how to focus on what I want to say, and how to express what I want,” she shared. “I’m no longer frustrated. I’ve turned my life around.”

Alongside her TMS treatment, Jovana also received ketamine therapy, emotional coaching, and encouragement to take charge of her recovery. This well-rounded, patient-first approach to psychiatry made all the difference.

The Power of Progress

Today, Jovana is no longer surviving; she’s thriving. Her focus has sharpened, her mood is steady, and her relationships are stronger. The symptoms of her anxiety, depression, and addiction no longer control her life. She’s setting goals and chasing them, including her dream of going back to school.

“I want to finish my degree and help people,” she said. “I’m still learning and growing every day.”

She credits her progress to the consistency of the care she received and the transformational effects of TMS therapy for addiction and mood disorders.

“I breathe in confidence and exhale fear,” she said. “And I speak positive affirmations into my life every single day.”

Lasting Tools for Long-Term Mental Wellness

Even though she has completed her TMS sessions, Jovana continues to apply the coping strategies she learned from her care team. These tools, including structured gratitude, daily affirmations, and emotional regulation, remain part of her routine and continue to support her healing to this day.

“I’ll never stop using what I learned at Serenity,” she said. “It’s how I stay on track.”

Jovana’s experience highlights the importance of a mental health care team that understands the neuroscience behind treatments like TMS and knows how to pair those treatments with personalized, human-centered support. Her journey reminds us that real healing comes from both science and compassion. At Serenity, patients are given the best of both.

A New Future Is Possible

Patients like Jovana receive innovative, evidence-based treatments from expert psychiatrists who believe in their potential at Serenity locations across the country. Whether you're struggling with addiction, anxiety, or depression, you don’t have to bear it alone. There’s a place where science meets hope, and where real healing begins.

If you're feeling stuck in survival mode, know this: you deserve more; you deserve to thrive. Schedule your consultation now to learn how you can benefit from any of our treatment methods, including TMS therapy, medication management, or ketamine therapy. We can’t wait to hear from you, and help you find yourself again!