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Depression

Depression services offered in Irvine Spectrum, Irvine, CA

Antidepressant medications are one of the first treatments for depression. Unfortunately, they don’t help everyone, and depression only gets deeper and more debilitating for some patients despite taking medication. If you still struggle, it’s time to consider treatment at Even Better Mood Clinic in Irvine, California. George Tun, MD and his team provide personalized cutting-edge care, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a therapy that’s FDA-cleared to treat Major Depressive Disorder. No matter how you feel today, you still have hope to fully heal from depression. To learn more about depression or TMS, call one of the offices or book an appointment online.

What symptoms develop due to depression?

Sometimes, it’s hard to tell the difference between the blues and true depression. Learning the difference is essential, however, because the blues will lift on their own, but clinical depression seldom improves without professional help.

If you’re depressed, you may:

  • Feel worthless
  • Feel hopeless
  • Feel fatigued
  • Lose interest in your favorite activities
  • Gain or lose weight
  • Sleep more or less than normal
  • Find it hard to concentrate
  • Lose your appetite
  • Feel restless
  • Have thoughts of suicide

Depression causes several of these symptoms nearly every day for at least two weeks.

How is depression treated?

Depression is treated with psychotherapy and antidepressant medications. Many patients find that antidepressants do a great job of healing their depression. 

However, medication doesn’t help 10-30% of all patients with clinical depression, a condition called treatment-resistant or refractory depression.

If you have refractory depression, the team at Even Better Mood Clinic can help with TMS therapy.

How does TMS therapy relieve treatment-resistant depression?

TMS is a revolutionary treatment that uses a magnetic field to stimulate electrical activity in your brain. When areas of the brain associated with depression are stimulated, neurotransmitter levels increase, improving your depression without medication.

The TMS machine has an electromagnetic coil that produces magnetic pulses. The coil is placed next to your head, where the pulses can safely go through your skull to reach a specific area of your brain.

What should I expect during TMS therapy for depression?

Your provider carefully calculates the level of TMS you need, determines exactly where to position the TMS coil and programs that information into the TMS computer so your treatment is precisely replicated at every session.

You don’t need to do anything but relax in the treatment chair while the TMS performs your treatment. You hear clicking as the magnetic pulses are produced. Most patients also feel some sensations, such as light tapping. But TMS therapy should never be painful.

Your initial treatment consists of frequent sessions for an extended time because that’s the key to longer-lasting results. Most patients have TMS therapy five times each week for 4-6 weeks. Each session only takes 20-30 minutes, and then you can get back to your daily routine. 

Effective help for depression is available at Even Better Mood Clinic. Call one of the offices or book an appointment online today.