While depression may be common, it’s very serious. Thankfully, there is a new treatment available that has an incredible success rate and no systemic side effects. What is it? Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Read on to learn more about whether TMS might be right for you.
Depression is a common, but very serious medical illness that primarily results in feelings of sadness or loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) causes severe negative symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working”. This often leads to emotional or physical problems that can inhibit your ability to function properly. To be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks.
One form of depression therapy that has proven incredibly useful in the treatment of depression and other mental disorders is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, otherwise known as TMS therapy. This non-invasive procedure works by directing recurring magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in specific areas of the brain that regulate your mood control.
Studies have shown that depressed patients experience reduced communication between the brain’s nerve cells. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation painlessly stimulates the brain in order to promote communication between nerve cells which helps restore regular brain activity. TMS allows patients the option to receive medication free treatment for their depression and experience healthy brain functioning in just a few weeks!
If you are looking for depression treatment in Tampa, you may want to start by learning exactly what depression is first; “Is Depression a disease, illness or disorder?”
The answer to this is slightly complicated. While many professionals argue otherwise, depression is not considered a disease. Instead, the American Psychiatric Association defines depression (major depressive disorder) as a serious medical illness, not as a disease.
If you or a loved one is experiencing depression, you may notice some of the following signs and symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks:
Most people who suffer from depression do not experience every symptom listed above, but typically have experienced many of them. In order to conclude a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, your doctor or health care professional will examine whether or not you have experienced several symptoms for at least two consecutive weeks. Additionally, one of the symptoms experienced must be a low mood or a loss in interest or pleasure in activities for this diagnosis. Everyone is different and so are the severity and symptoms each individual endures. Symptoms also can vary according to the stage of the illness.
These symptoms inhibit the individual’s ability to perform normally in work, school, or daily life, and cannot be explained by outside factors such as a medical condition or substance abuse. The health care professional will classify a disorder as mild, moderate, or severe based on how many of the above symptoms have been experienced.
Anyone who has suffered from depression will likely agree that it is not something you can simply snap yourself out of, or recover from by “not thinking about it.” While experiencing depression, your body demonstrates key physical differences that go hand-in-hand with your mental well-being. Depression is frequently identifiable as a chemical imbalance of the brain. Other studies have also found that the brain’s hippocampus is smaller in individuals with depression.
It’s often hard to pinpoint exactly what is causing your depression, given multiple factors can contribute to the disorder. There are certain aspects, however, that put an individual at a higher risk for developing symptoms of depression. Some examples include:
The hippocampus is the portion of your brain responsible for storing memories and regulating cortisol production, which is a chemical released into your body during periods of high stress or depression. An increased production of cortisol causes key areas in the brain, like the prefrontal cortex, to shrink. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for regulating your emotions, making decisions, and forming memories- It’s no wonder that this area of the brain plays such a crucial role in regulating your mood. Depression can trigger memory loss, immense fatigue or insomnia, anger or irritability, loss of sex drive, frequent headaches, body aches, or pain that does not go away with medication.
Believe it or not, depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, impacting an estimated 1 in 15 adults every single year. While women are usually at a higher risk than men, depression can happen to nearly anyone. As a matter of fact, roughly 1 in 6 individuals will suffer from depression at some point in their lifetime. Fortunately, depression is one of the most treatable mental illnesses and with proper treatment, you can go back to being your best self again in no time!
Before undergoing any form of depression treatment, it is crucial to consult a professional and receive a proper diagnosis of your symptoms. Every individual is unique and will respond differently to each form of depression treatment. Prescription medications are a commonly used method to reduce symptoms of depression, but are also accompanied by a long list of harmful side effects that cause many individuals to simply opt out of treatment all together. Although prescription medications may not be the right fit for you, it does not mean that you are all out of options. Other depression therapy options include talking with a depression therapist, light therapy, or brain stimulation therapies.
TMS therapy allows patients the opportunity to receive medication-free treatment for their depression and to experience healthy brain function in just a few weeks! Antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can cause numerous side effects. Although magnetic stimulation may initially sound intimidating, TMS therapy can be completed without the risk of harmful side effects associated with other treatment methods. Just sit back, relax, and let the magnet work its magic to treat your depression. Unlike ECT, TMS does not require sedation, post-therapy downtime and comes without any memory or cognition side effects. TMS is a great option for someone worried about the possible side effects that come along with antidepressant medications.
TMS therapy is FDA cleared and covered by most major insurance companies, meaning treatment could come at no cost at all! If you live in the Tampa area and want help with your depression, reach out to the professionals at NeuroSpa TMS® in Tampa, Florida for more information on how TMS therapy can bring you back to your best self once again.
TMS Plus™ came about from NeuroSpa TMS®’s extensive experience in treating patients with TMS Therapy, a medication-free treatment, FDA cleared, insurance covered depression treatment. We’ve become one of Florida’s leading TMS Therapy providers and we’ve managed to achieve outstanding remission and improvement rates, 53% and 81% respectively. After years of seeing patients conquer their depression with TMS therapy alone, and beating national standards in both remission and improvement rates, the NeuroSpa TMS® medical team discovered that patients had a higher chance of remission when additional treatments were performed in conjunction to their TMS treatment. For this reason, TMS Plus™ was born: a program that introduces additional treatments in combination with TMS therapy to improve the life of those seeking depression recovery. These additional treatments, which are performed in tandem with TMS, include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Nutrition Counseling, Blood Work, Sleep Evaluation and Functional MRI Targeting. We invite you to take part in the state’s most well-rounded program to help you get back to living your best life.
STEP 1: Your Evaluation
As a NeuroSpa patient, you’ll begin with a full, insurance-covered psychiatric evaluation to assess your mental health issues and to recommend the best course of action to get you back into a healthy state.
STEP 2: Your Customized Plan
NeuroSpa is committed to providing you with everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Whether it’s traditional routes like talk therapy and medication management, advanced alternatives like TMS and ketamine therapy, or a combination of treatments, you’ll received a fully customized plan to ensure the best possible results.
STEP 3: Your Continuous Improvement
Throughout the course of your care regimen, our team will continuously monitor your response to ensure continuous improvement and make treatment adjustments as needed.
Dr. William Nathan Upshaw is the Medical Director of Neurospa TMS®. Ever since his first encounter with a TMS chair in 2010, Dr. Upshaw was not only inspired by its remarkable potential but insatiably determined to provide this breakthrough therapy to as many people as possible. Dr. Upshaw has received advanced training in psychodynamic psychotherapy at the Tampa Bay Institute for Psychodynamic Studies, and has received official certification in TMS and ECT therapy from the MUSC Health Institute of Psychiatry. Today, Dr. Upshaw’s holistic experience in the field has transformed him into one of Florida’s leading advocates for widespread accessibility to TMS therapy.
At NeuroSpa TMS®, comfort and patient satisfaction through treatment is our number one priority. TMS Therapy is an alternative treatment without the use of medication and no proven systemic side effects.
From the moment you enter our office, you will feel the difference. Our welcoming staff and soothing atmosphere feels more similar to a spa than a clinic. Treatment rooms are outfitted with relaxing lights and your choice of music, making your 19-minute treatment a peaceful, welcoming escape.
When your treatment concludes, your healing process is well underway. Go back to work, pick up your kids from school, or head to the gym- normal activities can be resumed immediately after treatment with no downtime at all.
At Neurospa, we believe in a holistic, integrative approach that identifies and addresses not just the neurological, but also physical, root causes of a mental health condition. Our aim is to promote the best practices to increase the chances of faster, more pronounced and longer-lasting depression and anxiety relief—that’s why we encourage our patients to learn more about incorporating supplemental vitamins and minerals into their primary therapy under the close administration and observation of our certified clinicians.
We’ve partnered with WholeScripts to bring you a range of 8 essential supplements to help you get the most out of your treatment.”
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