CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Teens suffering with depression now have another resource for relief. A new FDA-approved treatment is among the first of its kind designed for teens with the disorder.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, is a non-invasive treatment that involves using a magnetic coil to influence the brain's natural electrical activity.

Research by Neurostar shows the therapy has reduced depressive symptoms by 78% in 1,169 patients who underwent the process.

Chrissy Zavala, is one of those patients. She has struggled with depression since she was 10 years old.

“It was really hard for me because I see all the kids my age doing stuff that they liked and I was just sitting there like, you know, why am I not doing that stuff?” Zavala said.

Zavala said her life became a regimen of pills and doctor visits.

“I was tired all the time and I was just in this like, black hole that I cannot get out of," Zavala explained.

There were times where she felt defeated, until she said a new therapy restored hope.

At first, the idea of transcranial magnetic stimulation intimidated Zavala. The name alone seemed foreign and the machinery didn’t put her at ease.

For 36 weeks, every single day, she sat in a chair and repeated the process.

"I was really nervous. I didn't know what to expect, but when I did it, it wasn't as bad. It was only 20 minutes. and it went by so quickly," Zavala said.

Visit after visit, she started to feel like herself again and picked up hobbies she did prior to depression changing her motivation.

She said it saved her from taking her own life. “This treatment has really saved my life,” Zavala said.

Zavala isn't the only one seeing the benefits of the treatment. Those who facilitate them see it too.

“While they're getting treatment, you're also understanding the impact that you are making and how far they're coming along. So the neatest part is when treatment starts to work, we see it as treaters and we see it in their eyes," said Neurostar technician Sarah Debaerien. "It's like their eyes are brighter and they might not notice, but we notice how they're walking differently. They're speaking differently. They're talking about goals.”

As new patients come in and reclaim their lives, Debaerien is proud to be part of it.

"It's very rewarding for us because we're seeing all these amazing changes and we're part of it," Debaerien said.

To learn more about the treatment and how to get involved, click here.