If you are experiencing depression, you are not alone. Major Depressive Disorder affects an estimated 280 million people worldwide, including 21 million adults in the United States, accounting for approximately 8.3% of the adult population. Depression can occur at any point in life — sometimes, it is short or conditional, a natural part of the human experience. Other times, it lasts for weeks or months at a time, affecting the way you think, feel and act.
Many integrative approaches to depression include non-drug and drug therapies, such as psychotherapy and psychiatry. Anyone who deals with depression that lasts two weeks or more and regularly interferes with their daily life should seek professional treatment. At the Yang Institute of Integrative Medicine, we aim to provide integrative medicine for depression without medication through an approach that considers every treatment available.
Symptoms of Depression
The World Health Organization classifies depression as a condition that includes a depressed mood and a loss of pleasure or interest in activities that lasts for a long time. It often includes other symptoms, such as:
- Reduced energy, attention and concentration
- Loss of self-confidence and esteem
- Feeling guilty, helpless and unworthy
- Inability to sleep and lack of appetite
- Lack of interest or pessimistic view of the future
- Thoughts of self-harm and suicide
Treatments for Depression
When you have depression, you are not the only one who suffers. Your friends, family and loved ones see you and want to help. The good news is that there are many effective treatments for mild to severe depression, and the Yang Institute specializes in integrative solutions for treatment-resistant depression.
In some cases, patients may be resistant to psychotherapy and traditionally used antidepressants or wary of side effects of medication, such as weight gain and decreased sex drive. At the Yang Institute, we understand that some people want to treat depression without medication and offer an integrative approach to depression care.
Our alternative, non-drug therapies include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This noninvasive treatment uses a medical device to activate parts of the brain to produce neurotransmitters like serotonin, one of the chemicals that most affect depression. Another option is Spravato, a nasal spray that combats treatment-resistant depression. Treatments take just minutes, and many people start feeling the results within a few weeks. If these options are new to you, you can learn more about them when you connect with the Yang Institute.
Find Integrative Care for Depression at the Yang Institute
Traditional Chinese medicine can be a highly impactful addition to depression treatment, especially if it is resistant to other solutions. If your antidepressants haven’t worked for you, contact the Yang Institute for an appointment to find out if TMS alternative therapy or any of our other integrative medicines for depression might work for you. Our practitioners have worked with clients like you for years and will work tirelessly to help you move forward following your diagnosis. Join us today and start looking forward to your future.