Depression is a miserable illness. It is the consummate mind/body interface and an illness which has many fathers. Fifty years ago, the debate was whether depression rose from nature or nurture, environment or biology. Those who claimed depression was a result of both possibilities, were criticized for not taking a stand. Today we know the illness is the epitome of one involving both emotional and physical symptoms.

A threshold symptom of depression is that of a sad, morose or depressed mood.  One of the problems of understanding depression is that it is more than just a mood and, in fact, we use the same term for three different processes.  First, we describe transient moods of unhappiness as depression, such as when Auburn loses to Alabama in football, or Carolina loses to Duke in basketball. It hits you in the stomach, you feel irritable, food does not taste good and you often do not want to be around people.

Second, depression used to describe a mood or a symptom with an emotional sense of sadness, guilt or remorse, which persists longer than the depressed feeling, and this description of depression is often the mood or symptom for making the diagnosis of a medical illness.

Third, is the illness of Depression, which is described in this initial discussion as a combination of physiological and psychological pain.  By using the same word for a feeling, mood or symptom, as well as for an actual illness, it is not surprising why great misunderstanding and poor communication exists with regard to depression.

The illness of Depression has the strong sense of a depressed mood.  It is also accompanied by physiological symptoms such as low energy, low motivation, poor concentration, poor appetite, disrupted sleep, low libido or interest in sex, and a lack of enjoyment of the activities one previously enjoyed. In order to receive a medical diagnosis of depression, a patient must be experiencing a depressed mood, as well as five additional symptoms.  One notices immediately that a depressed mood is only one of multiple symptoms of depression, with the others being physiological in nature, and each side will increase the other.

This is also the basis for the insidiousness of depression as it feeds on itself and becomes self-perpetuating.  When a patient is depressed, he does not feel like doing his normal activities. He does not feel like working, seeing friends, shopping, gardening and will often cease doing some, if not all, of these activities.  This lack of activity and failure to engage in normal activities, is derived from a lack of interest in doing these activities as there is little energy or motivation to do them.  When a patient does press through and engage in an activity, there is often a significant lack of enjoyment in actually doing the activity, therefore reducing the likelihood the patient will want to participate in the activity again.

For many people, psychotherapy is an effective means of treating depression, particularly milder forms of depression.  There have been many studies which show a combination of psychotherapy and medication can be better than either treatment modality on its own, although there are some individuals for whom medication is clearly needed above and beyond psychotherapy.  Finally, there are patients for whom medications do not work and TMS is now providing another option for them to feel better, which has not existed in the past. For more information, please refer to the medical blog on this site.

In Summary

We’re excited about TMS Therapy, ??ranscranial Magnetic Stimulation??(TMS), because it is about giving people their lives back. TMS Solutions utilizes patented, FDA cleared, NeuroStar TMS Therapy? to provide a proven, successful approach to achieving remission from depression (not just manage symptoms!). There are many insurance companies that cover TMS therapy including Medicare, Blue Cross (most states), Humana and the VA– are all covering  this process. In addition to treating depression, it is also proving helpful in treating anxiety, PTSD, Tinnitus and Postpartum depression.

• TMS efficacy is showing better results than traditional medication, with far fewer, less severe side effects
• TMS Therapy has provided relief for over 24,000 depression sufferers to date.
• Approximately 1 out of 3 people have experienced complete remission from depression.
• 50% of patients have drastic reductions in their symptoms.
• TMS therapy is bringing new hope to patients and families every day.

We’re on a mission to help and educate people suffering from depression. Please Like & Share these articles to get the word out. This is life changing technology without all of the side effects of medication.

Patients have been heard to say, “”The gray is gone“”!

To learn more about TMS Therapy, TMS clinical trials and studies, or for more information about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and where to get help for depression, call TMS Solutions at 1-970-697-1020 or visit the web site at www.tmssolutions.com or click the button below to start a conversation.