Depression

You may be surprised to learn that depression affects 20% of adolescents and 8% of adults, causing hopelessness, fatigue, and intense symptoms that permeate every aspect of their lives. The experienced team at BrainCare Performance Center offer repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy (MeRT), treatments that are safe, medicine-free, and effective — even if therapy and antidepressants didn’t help. Call the office in Carlsbad, California, to talk with their New Patient Coordinator, or request an appointment online.

Are there different types of depression?

Yes, there are several different types of depression. Here are a few examples.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) often begins in response to a life challenge, such as financial difficulties, losing a job, separating from your partner, or learning you have an illness. 

Postpartum depression can begin during pregnancy or after delivery. The massive physical and hormonal changes often cause such severe depression that you have a hard time caring for your baby.

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) affects children aged 6-18, causing frequent anger, irritability, and extreme temper outbursts.

What depression symptoms will I have?

Depression causes a range of symptoms, varying from mild to severe. You may not have all the following symptoms, but you’ll experience at least several:

• Sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness
• Loss of interest in activities
• Isolation from friends and family
• Insomnia or sleeping too much
• Changes in your appetite
• Mental and/or physical exhaustion
• Agitation, restlessness, and emotional outbursts
• Feeling numb or emotionless
• Short-term memory loss
• Inability to focus and concentrate
• Contemplating past events (especially failures)
• Thinking about or planning suicide

You should seek help from a mental health professional if your symptoms last two weeks or longer.

How is depression treated?

Talk therapy and/or antidepressants help many people feel better. However, up to one-third of all patients fail to improve with antidepressants.

You still have hope at BrainCare Performance Center even if your depression doesn’t improve with conventional treatments. They offer two safe, highly effective treatments: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and magnetic e-resonance therapy (MeRT).

Depression changes your brain, decreasing nerve activity in the areas responsible for regulating your mood. 

MeRT and rTMS use magnetic impulses (TMS) to stimulate the underperforming brain areas and restore normal nerve activity. As your brain function improves, so does your depression.

What happens during my depression treatment?

During your first appointment, your provider does a qualitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) to map your brainwaves and identify dysfunctional areas. They also do an electrocardiogram (EKG) to compare with your qEEG. 

You come back for a second appointment to learn your test results and discuss your treatment. If you decide to have TMS, your provider schedules sessions five days a week for two weeks. They book additional treatments in two-week intervals if your symptoms and brainwave patterns improve.

Call BrainCare Performance Center today or request an appointment online to learn more about rTMS and MeRT for depression.