From the death of a loved one to losing a job, countless events can disrupt life and leave you wrestling with grief. But when those feelings linger, worsen, and affect your daily life, you may have depression.
You might think that the only option for depression is medication or therapy, but now there’s another way to address your mental health problems.
Here, our team of experts at US Neuropathy Centers takes a closer look at depression and your treatment options.
Depression (or major depressive disorder) is a medical condition that negatively affects your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It causes pervasive feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities, and other mental, emotional, and physical health problems, including:
In the most severe cases, depression can trigger thoughts of death or suicide. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person.
When those symptoms last more than two weeks and cause a change in your previous level of functioning, you may be suffering from more than just sadness. You may have clinical depression.
Depression is not unique to certain demographics, but there are a variety of risk factors, ranging from personality to environmental influences.
There’s also a strong correlation between depression and biochemistry. A malfunction in the way your brain communicates can cause depression.
Treatment for depression also varies and often includes medication, talk therapy, and other interventions. Here we offer state-of-the-art technology known as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
TMS is a noninvasive therapy that uses a magnetic field to stimulate healthy nerve activity in the regions of your brain that regulate your mood.
We place an electromagnetic coil against your scalp near your forehead. Then it painlessly delivers targeted magnetic pulses that facilitate nerve activity, alleviate your symptoms, and improve your mood.
During your first appointment, we download your exact measurements into the CloudTMS machine. This allows us to automatically program coils when you arrive for your next appointment.
We recommend TMS for severe cases of depression and for depression that hasn’t responded to other treatments. You’re also a candidate if you’re over 18 and don’t have metal in your head or neck (except for cavity fillings).
If TMS is right for you, you likely need a series of treatments — typically five days a week for several weeks. To maximize TMS, we encourage you to follow your regular treatment program, including taking your prescription medication and attending therapy.
Other things you can do to support your TMS sessions are:
These lifestyle changes, combined with targeted TMS sessions, can help you conquer your depression.
If you’re ready to get started, or if you’d just like more information, call or click to request an appointment at our Marietta, Georgia, office today.
