Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Depression is one of those diagnoses that is complicated and many times improperly defined, to say the least. There are many different types of depression that often get inadequately intertwined with each other.
The reason for so much confusion and negative connotation lies in one main fact…misunder-
standing. Because depression affects every human being at one time or another, understanding the signs of clinical depression are imperative for interpretation of the disease and for deciphering treatment options.
Clinical Depression Signs and Symptoms
• Continuous feelings of sadness for two weeks or longer
• A sense of worthlessness
• Crying
• Loss of interest in life and activities
• Feeling lethargic
• No energy
The symptoms of depression are often confused or misdiagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder. Bi-Polar Disorder was known for many years as Manic Depression. The name changed to suit the disease more appropriately. Because individuals suffering from Bi-Polar disorder have bouts of depression, many times psychiatrists don’t discover the manic side of the patient until further delving into their history and getting to know the patient on a deeper level.
The manic side of the disorder shows signs of euphoria and hyperactivity. In fact, many people that are diagnosed with ADHD may actually have a form of bipolar disorder. This confusion lies within the hyperactive symptoms of the disease.
Manic Signs and Symptoms
• Feeling overly happy, excited
• Extreme sense of confidence
• Racing thoughts
• Thinking of yourself as overly important and special
• Making poor judgments (gambling, sexual behavior, financial)
• Aggressive behavior
• Quickly irritated
• Risky behavior
In patients with depression, various regions of the brain are made dormant. Individuals with depression and manic-depressive behavioral issues show signs of the prefrontal cortex as the central area in the brain with deteriorated neurotransmitter activity.
The typical treatment options for depression are antidepressant medications and counseling therapy. The widely known antidepressant drugs, like Prozac, Zoloft, and Cymbalta play a role in how the neurotransmitters affect the mood by lessening anxiety levels and creating a more peaceful, cheerful spirit.
While the treatment options mentioned above are helpful for some people, the problem lies in two distinct categories. Number one, depression is just a simple label that is placed over a very complicated, in-depth, disease with countless causes. And numbers two, a vast majority of patients do not respond well to the medications prescribed. The good news is that there is an alternative that has helped a myriad of patients, and even better, this alternative therapy is non-invasive with absolutely no negative side effects.
This non-invasive therapy that helps to improve the symptoms of depression through magnetic stimulation in the brain is called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This procedure uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain.
In patients with depression, the prefrontal cortex in the brain is often atypical, showing patterns of abnormality. The TMS device uses magnetic stimulation in the brain’s area that controls emotions. This is achieved through magnets that are implanted inside of the cranial device that adheres to the patient’s scalp. The magnetic therapy generates a micro-electrical current, which stimulates the brain.
Patients are fully awake and aware during their treatment, as TMS therapy requires no anesthesia or sedation, and it is completely non-invasive. This 40-minute therapy immediately gets the brain stimulated and essentially kicks it into a non-
depressed state. Many patients report a euphoric feeling after just one treatment.
The typical initial treatment course consists of at least 5 treatments per week over a 4-6 week period, for an average of 20-30 total treatments. Each treatment session lasts approximately 40 minutes.
Cognizant Health is experienced in providing services to persons in emotional distress. Their treatment approaches are tailored to meet the needs of the individual client, whether child, adolescent, adult or senior. They are dedicated to their profession and their clients.
At Cognizant Health, Dr. Hagstrom offers Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), an FDA-
cleared treatment for patients who have not found relief from prior medication therapy for depression. In his experience treating clinically depressed patients, Dr. Hagstrom understands that this illness is a debilitating condition, which can affect every area of the individual’s life and that of the people around them. This new and non-invasive therapy is a safe and effective option for the treatment of depression.
To find out more about TMS therapy or Cognizant Health’s other therapeutic options, please visit their website at TMSofNaples.com, or call their office at (239) 404-3379.
