What is depression?
Also known as major depressive disorder, depression is a common mood disorder that can have devastating effects on the individuals and loved ones affected.
People of all ages and backgrounds can suffer from depression. About 17 million adults in the United States had at least one depressive episode in the past year.
What are the symptoms of depression?
You may have depression if you experience some of the following signs and symptoms for most of the day, almost every day, for a period of two weeks or longer:
- Feelings of sadness, anxiety, or hopelessness
- Irritability or anger outbursts
- Loss of interest in hobbies and pleasurable activities
- Sleeping too much or not enough
- Decreased energy
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering
- Restlessness or trouble sitting still
- Thoughts of death or suicide
You may also experience aches and pains, such as headaches and digestive issues, that have no clear underlying cause and don’t improve with treatment.
The frequency and severity of depression symptoms vary from person to person. You may experience only a few symptoms or many. If you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
How is depression treated?
Depression can be crippling, but it’s treatable. Even if your condition is severe and past attempts at treatment have failed, Dr. Ghelber can help you get depression under control.
Prescription medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of both are common treatments for depression. If these treatments don’t reduce or relieve your symptoms, Dr. Ghelber may recommend an innovative treatment, such as:
TMS therapy
Dr. Ghelber is certified in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy, a new, FDA-cleared treatment for depression.
This noninvasive treatment delivers focused magnetic impulses to targeted regions of your brain through a coil placed on your head. The magnetic fields are similar to what you would experience in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
Ketamine infusion therapy
Ketamine is an anesthetic drug that acts on the same part of your brain that’s implicated in depression and chronic pain. Multiple clinical studies show that ketamine has a strong, persistent, and fast-acting antidepressant effect.
If your depression is severe or difficult to treat, call the Institute for Advanced Psychiatry today.
