Hello Diane, Good question to ask! I’ve been using it since 6/30/22 and to be honest I was not using it regularly at the beginning so if I was not receiving full benefit, it was due to “user error”…and user resistance, not wanting to admit I needed to try such a contraption.😐 But, I really want to try everything non-med before going back to trying meds.
I first was using it just once per day (before bed), as this is the recommended use for insomnia. The longest sleep I’ve had since starting it was 7 hours straight, a huge win for me since I had been getting like 0-2 hours per night for 3 months straight so I am desperate. Some nights since using it,, I do not feel any relief and sleep maybe 2 hours. This week, since I’ve experienced more depression, I’ve switched to using it twice a day, once in morning and once at night (following instructions for depression and/or anxiety). Last night I slept 5.5 hours straight and I feel great this morning! Am actually going on a day trip today and am feeling motivated and hopeful. Once I switched to twice a day, it took 2 days for more regular sleep to kick in. Yesterday I also had a great massage in the afternoon so I think that also helped me sleep better.
I fought ordering and using the FW Stimulator because it does seem odd (to me) to use electrical impulses on your brain outside of a clinical setting but I did a lot of research to calm my concerns. The biggest issue to me is ensuring to use it regularly and consistently. Every day I have to remember to set aside the 20 minutes twice a day for each session. Fortunately I have a supportive partner who reminds me to not forget!
I purchased it on the $299 sale price and used PayPal credit which allows 6 month payoff with no interest, so I have not paid anything yet. I’m still in the 30 day trial period so I can still send it back and get a refund. To be fair, the company does say that you need to use it a while to gauge if you are getting the full benefit, so I’m really only into this trial for about 2 weeks now and only this week in earnest (consistently twice a day). My depression has seen incremental improvement, which I am extremely grateful for. Please write if you have any further questions. I’m 55 years old and have suffered mild to concerning anxiety on and off for decades.