What is depression?
Everyone experiences occasional bouts of sadness, which is part of the human condition. Depression is different in that it permeates multiple aspects of your life. Depression is a medical illness that not only affects the way you feel but also how you act.
Some of the symptoms of depression include:
- Persistent feelings of sadness
- Changes in appetite
- Loss of interest in things that once gave you pleasure
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Problems concentrating, thinking clearly, or making decisions
- Lack of energy or increased fatigue
- Slowed speech or movement or increased purposeless physical activities
- Thoughts of death or suicide
If a combination of these symptoms persists for more than two weeks, you may have depression. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and you might experience only a couple or many of these changes.
Am I at risk for depression?
Anyone can develop depression, but there are risk factors that can make you more likely to experience this mental disorder. Understanding your risk level can motivate you to remain on guard for symptoms and to take action to get help if needed.
Some of the risk factors for depression include:
- Genetic predisposition, or a family history of depression
- Biochemistry, or differences in your brain chemicals
- Personality, or predisposition to pessimism, low self-esteem, or feeling overwhelmed by stress
- Environmental factors, or exposure to neglect, violence, poverty, or abuse
A professional diagnosis from Brandon TMS and Psychiatry involves an evaluation of these and other risk factors, as well as a detailed discussion of your emotional health and recent changes in mood or behavior.
The next step involves creating a customized treatment plan that might include elements of traditional psychiatric care as well as innovative transcranial magnetic stimulation.
How can transcranial magnetic stimulation help with depression?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive treatment for depression that uses carefully controlled magnetic fields to stimulate the nerve cells within your brain.
Advanced imaging technology has shown a distinct difference between healthy brains and those impaired with depression.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation seeks to improve depression by stimulating the nerve cells that facilitate mood control.
By encouraging more healthy activity in those areas of your brain, TMS is thought to improve brain function without relying on surgery or pharmaceutical intervention.
Some insurance plans cover TMS for treatment-resistant depression. To learn more about this treatment approach, insurance coverage, or other treatment options for depression, call or schedule an appointment online today with Brandon TMS and Psychiatry.
