I Tried Brain Stimulation… & It Worked

As a mum of two navigating ADHD, a divorce and an unstructured freelance work  life, a cat, a dog with attachment issues and a tank of high-maintenance fish,  it’s no wonder my nervous system is already halfway up the road before I’ve even got my shoes on.

I’ve been pretty forward-thinking about mental health from a young age. With a Mum that always encouraged my sister and I to talk or seek help when we felt overwhelmed and take time out each day for rest and relaxation.

Over the years I’ve tried everything from face tapping to ear seeding to whichever holistic trend was having its moment. But with an already very full schedule over recent years, anything ‘longer term ‘’ needs to be a low maintenance option that easily slots into my  life so it doesn’t turn into yet another task that threatens to tip me over the  edge.

When Dr Marwa, aesthetic doctor at Harrods Wellness Clinic, and a trusted friend, invited me to try the latest wellness innovation promising to support sleep, mental health and gently retune the nervous system in six 30-minute sessions (all while lying down), I jumped at the chance. 

The Experience

I have known Dr Marwa for years; she’s both clinically brilliant and genuinely soothing to be around. Walking into Harrods always feels like a treat, and the calming, luxurious, spacious sanctuary of Harrods Wellness is definitely the perfect place to begin any wellbeing ritual.

The treatment rooms are clinical but cocoon-like, instantly signalling that it’s safe to relax before anything even begins.

The ExoMind device  has a distinctly sci-fi feel, and when I watched the videos back of my treatment, I couldn’t help but laugh as I looked as though I were reclining in an Avatar capsule, attempting contact with UFOs (which actually wouldn’t surprise anyone who knows me).

A lightweight headpiece is fitted gently across the scalp and, once switched on, creates a pattern of light tapping sensations, almost like a fingertip rhythm on the left side of the head. There’s no pain, no pressure, just a delicate, consistent pulse that quickly becomes soothing. For around 30 minutes, the device delivers these soft taps, interacting with areas of the mind linked to emotional balance, concentration and mental resilience. It’s subtle, non-invasive and completely painless, like a power nap for your nervous system.

With the added touches of the soft lighting of a starry ceiling projection and relaxing music playing, it was almost impossible not to switch off. I even nodded off a few times during the session.

The Results

ExoMind is designed as a six-session course, but I started noticing shifts by session three. Coincidental or not, I suddenly found myself meal-prepping, organising my diary and finally tackling the invoices I’d been avoiding for weeks. By session six, I felt calmer and clearer. And whether that was ExoMind or pure timing, the fact I booked a top-up session immediately and have actually stuck to the follow-up treatments , and will continue too (once a month or every other month) says a lot for me. Also Beauty editor friends of mine who tried it reported sleeping better after their sessions, and one even said she believes it helped to reset her mind after a traumatic relationship breakup.

The Clinical Proof 

ExoMind is based on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive form of brain stimulation that has been used in clinical settings for more than 40 years and has been FDA-approved since 2008. The ExoMind device itself is FDA-cleared in the US for depression, and CE-marked in Europe for conditions including depression, anxiety, OCD and binge-eating.

In early clinical trials involving more than 200 patients, 98% reported improved clarity of thought, while 92% experienced better emotional balance. Further independent studies on ExoMind are currently underway, with results expected in 2025. As with any medical device, individual results vary, and it should always be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, but the emerging data suggests a promising new frontier for nervous-system support.

C&TH Key Notes

Tweakment: ExoMind Sensory Neuromodulation

Expert & Clinic: Dr Marwa, Harrods Wellness Clinic

Downtime: None

Best for: Stress, overwhelm, nervous system regulation, mental clarity

Cost: £600

Contact: Dr Marwa Harrods Wellness Clinic