A Soldiers Journey Through Mental Health, How Effective is TMS, and Intelligence

Link to more articles: https://nicolashubacz.substack.com

A Soldiers Fight for Peace of Mind

Sam J Peterson, MBA - Co-Founder & CEO of The Invictus Project, Former Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team Leader Turned Mental Health Entrepreneur

Tom’s Story?

I never knew what a real home felt like until I joined the Marines. Growing up, my twin brother and I lived in constant fear. Our father's fists were as unpredictable as they were brutal, and our mother's addiction left us starving more often than not. The foster system wasn't much better - just a carousel of strangers' houses, never knowing if we'd have a bed the next week.

When I turned 18, I saw my chance and took it. The Marine Corps became my salvation, my new family. For the first time, I felt like I belonged somewhere. The rigorous training, the camaraderie - it all filled a void I didn't even know I had. I threw myself into becoming a Force Recon Marine, finally finding purpose and brotherhood.

Then came Iraq. Nothing could have prepared me for that day in Tikrit. We were conducting a routine counter-insurgency operation, or so we thought. The moment we breached that door, all hell broke loose. The first man through - my best friend and squad leader- fell instantly. The air filled with gunfire, explosions, and screams. I can still smell the acrid smoke, feel the searing pain of the bullet that tore through my leg.

Somehow, I survived. But the man who walked out of that house wasn't the same one who went in. The physical wounds healed over that grueling year in the hospital, but the scars on my soul? Those seemed permanent.

For fifteen years, I was a prisoner in my own mind. Depression and anxiety were my constant companions, PTSD my relentless tormentor. I turned to substances, desperate to silence the screams that echoed in my head, to blur the vivid flashbacks that ambushed me at every turn. I was losing myself, piece by piece, day by day.

Then I found Patriot PowerUp. At first, I was skeptical. How could any program undo decades of trauma? But from the moment I stepped into their facility, something felt different. The staff didn't just see my symptoms; they saw me - Tom, the person behind the pain.

Their approach was unlike anything I'd experienced before. It wasn't just about managing symptoms; it was about rewiring my brain, repairing the damage at its source. The combination of ketamine infusion therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and transcranial magnetic stimulation felt like magic. For the first time in years, the fog began to lift.

The therapy sessions were intense but transformative. I started to process not just the horrors of war, but the trauma of my childhood. Slowly, I began to feel like myself again - a self I hadn't known in decades.

What amazed me most was the tangible progress. After just 30 days, tests showed my brain's executive functioning had improved by 40%4. It wasn't just in my head - I was actually healing.

Today, I can say without hesitation that Patriot PowerUp saved my life. The nightmares have subsided, the constant anxiety has eased. I can think clearly, feel deeply, and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I'm excited about the future and have found a new career in the Telecom Industry.?

To anyone out there struggling like I was, know that there's hope. The scars of our past don't have to define our future. With the right help, we can heal, grow, and reclaim our lives. I'm living proof of that.

Access To Treatment?

Patriot PowerUp is an inpatient mental health treatment center and a proud part of the VA Community Care Network and offers this comprehensive mental health treatment program at Zero Cost to Veterans, there are even non-profit partners who cover the cost of travel to and from the program.

Can TMS Work for Everyone?

Leonard Lado MD, ABPN, RPh - President & Medical Director at Lado Healing Institute, American Board of Neurology & Psychiatry

If TMS is such an effective procedure, why does it still have a failure rate of about 15%? This is a valid and important question, one that reflects the complexities of treating the human brain. Despite its celebrated success, TMS doesn’t work for everyone, and understanding the reasons behind its limitations helps us appreciate both its strengths and challenges.

The Uniqueness of the Human Brain

One of the most significant factors is the sheer variability of human anatomy. Each person’s brain differs in its structure, and these differences can influence how TMS interacts with neural tissue. For instance, the thickness of the skull, the shape of the cortical folds, or the distance between the scalp and the target brain region all affect the magnetic field’s ability to stimulate the intended area (Sparing et al., 2008; Nieminen et al., 2022).

? Why does this matter? It’s a reminder that TMS is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Anatomical variability means that for some individuals, the magnetic field may not reach its intended target effectively.

The Challenge of Precise Targeting

TMS relies heavily on accurately targeting specific brain areas. For depression, the focus is often the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, but hitting the exact spot consistently can be challenging. Even small errors in coil placement or orientation can significantly reduce efficacy. While advanced neuronavigation systems help, they are not foolproof (Richter et al., 2013; Shin et al., 2023).

? What does this tell us? Precise targeting is critical for success, yet the variability in how TMS is administered can contribute to failure. This highlights the need for continued innovation, such as robotic systems to improve consistency (Shin et al., 2023).

Diagnosis-Specific Factors

The effectiveness of TMS also depends on the nature of the condition being treated. Depression, for example, is a highly heterogeneous disorder, with different underlying neurobiological causes across individuals. Some forms of depression may respond better to TMS than others, especially if the targeted brain region is not the primary driver of the disorder (Ekhtiari et al., 2019; Zibman et al., 2021).

? Why does this lead to failure? If the neurobiological root of the disorder lies outside the area being stimulated, the treatment might not have the desired effect. This underscores the importance of better diagnostic tools to tailor treatment to each patient’s specific needs.

Technical and Stimulation Limitations

The effectiveness of TMS depends on the strength and depth of the stimulation. Some conditions require deeper brain engagement than current TMS devices can achieve. Moreover, the protocols for stimulation—such as frequency, intensity, and session duration—vary across studies and practices, leading to inconsistencies in outcomes (Davis et al., 2022; Rossi et al., 2021).

? What does this show us? TMS is powerful but not perfect. Continued research is needed to refine stimulation protocols and ensure they are optimized for each patient.

Psychological and Cognitive Factors

Lastly, patient engagement and belief in the treatment can also influence outcomes. Studies suggest that patients who are more optimistic about TMS may experience better results, though this doesn’t mean the treatment is purely placebo-driven. Additionally, individuals with severe cognitive impairments or emotional dysregulation may respond less well (George et al., 2003; Burke et al., 2019).

? What does this mean? The interaction between mind and body is complex, and factors like mindset and underlying psychological challenges can play a role in treatment outcomes.

The Bigger Picture

So why does TMS have a failure rate? It’s not a flaw in the procedure itself but rather a reflection of the complexity and diversity of the human brain. From anatomical variability and targeting challenges to the nuances of individual diagnoses, TMS success depends on aligning the treatment with the unique needs of each patient.

This understanding isn’t just theoretical. Innovations such as improved imaging, personalized stimulation protocols, and robotic assistance are already addressing these limitations and hold promise for reducing the failure rate in the future.

Intelligence Lies In Brain-Wide Networks

Nicolas Hubacz, M.S. - Business Development Manager at Magstim and Founder of NH Sponsorships

Intelligence has long been linked to specific brain areas, like the prefrontal cortex. But new research from the University of Würzburg challenges this view, offering a broader perspective: intelligence isn’t confined to localized brain regions—it’s a global property of the entire brain.

Using fMRI data from over 800 individuals, the study mapped connections across the brain and predicted fluid, crystallized, and general intelligence scores. The findings? Intelligence stems from distributed, brain-wide connections rather than specific regions, with general intelligence showing the strongest predictive accuracy.

This research pushes the boundaries of traditional theories, demonstrating that complementary connections outside of well-studied regions improve predictive models. It underscores the complexity of intelligence, hinting at unexplored neural mechanisms behind cognitive abilities.

?? Key Takeaways:

- Global Intelligence: Intelligence arises from distributed brain-wide connections.

- Types of Predictions: General intelligence was predicted best, followed by crystallized and fluid intelligence.

- Enhanced Models: Adding underexplored connections to established theories improved predictions.

This study opens new pathways for understanding human cognition, moving us closer to decoding the intricate “neural code” of intelligence. Source: University of Würzburg, PNAS Nexus

A Big Thank You to Our Founding Member Subscribers: Joshua N. | Peter Michiels | Darby Kramer