Education
Depression isn’t just sadness. It’s fatigue, brain fog, hopelessness, and feeling like you’re drowning in your own life. If you’ve been feeling stuck, you don’t have to face this alone.
What is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?
Common Symptoms Include:
- Persistent sadness or emptiness
- Fatigue or low energy
- Loss of interest in activities
- Changes in sleep and appetite
- Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness
- Trouble concentrating
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
If this sounds familiar, there is help and effective treatment.
TMS Therapy – The Future of Depression Treatment
Tried 2+ antidepressants with no success?
You may qualify for TMS therapy.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an FDA-approved, non-medication treatment for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). It uses magnetic pulses to stimulate underactive areas of the brain, helping restore normal mood regulation.
Why Consider TMS?
- No Medication, No Systemic Side Effects
- Clinically Proven for TRD – Up to 83% of patients report improvement
- Covered by Insurance for MDD & TRD
- Non-Invasive, no physical recovery time – A safe, painless outpatient procedure
Find out if you’re a candidate
Medication Management & Psychiatric Care
For many people, medication can be a powerful tool in depression recovery – but finding the right one can feel like trial and error. Our psychiatric team specializes in personalized medication management to ensure that you get the right balance for your brain chemistry and lifestyle.
What We Offer:
What We Offer: Personalized plans, no rushed appointments.
Fine-Tuning Your Medications. If your current medications aren’t working, we can help optimize them.
Alternative Options. Beyond SSRIs, including novel approaches like TMS.
Did You Know? Many people give up on antidepressants too soon—it often takes 6-8 weeks to see full effects. Don’t lose hope; we’re here to guide you through the process.
Book a psychiatric consult today.
Depression Screening
Take the PHQ-9 Test
If you’re struggling but aren’t sure how serious your depression is, take our quick, clinically validated PHQ-9 Depression Screening.
TMS vs. ECT
Understanding the Differences and Choosing the Right Treatment for Depression
If you’ve been battling major depressive disorder (MDD) and traditional treatments haven’t worked, you’ve likely found yourself researching alternatives. That search has probably led you to two terms: TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy). Both have been proven effective for treatment-resistant depression, but they’re not the same, and understanding their differences can help you make an informed choice about what’s right for you.
Let’s break it down in a way that actually makes sense—without all the confusing medical jargon.
What is ECT?
ECT, or Electroconvulsive Therapy, has been around for decades and is often misunderstood due to outdated stigmas (cue: Hollywood horror movies depicting painful shock therapy—yeah, it’s nothing like that anymore).
Here's how it works:
- Procedure: ECT involves passing small electrical currents through the brain while you’re under general anesthesia, intentionally triggering a controlled seizure.
- How It Works: This process changes brain chemistry and has been shown to be highly effective for severe depression, bipolar disorder, and even catatonia.
- Effectiveness: ECT is often a last resort for those with severe, life-threatening depression who haven’t responded to anything else.
- Side Effects: ECT has a faster response rate than TMS, but it does come with risks, including memory loss, confusion, and cognitive side effects that can last for weeks or even longer.
While ECT can be life-saving, the memory impairment and need for anesthesia make it a tough choice for many people who need long-term depression management.
What is TMS?
Now, let’s talk about TMS – the non-invasive, no-anesthesia-required alternative.
- Procedure: TMS uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood regulation (specifically, the prefrontal cortex). Unlike ECT, there are no seizures, no anesthesia, and no physical recovery time.
- How It Works: TMS activates underactive brain areas linked to depression, helping your brain rewire itself over time.
- Effectiveness: While TMS takes a little longer to show results (usually 4-6 weeks), it has been proven effective for treatment-resistant depression with a high success rate.
- Side Effects: The most common side effect is mild scalp discomfort or headache, but no cognitive issues, memory loss, or systemic effects like ECT.
TMS allows you to drive yourself to and from sessions, continue working, and go about your life without the disruption ECT often brings.
TMS vs. ECT: Which is right for you?
Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison:
Feature
TMS
ECT
Invasiveness
Non-invasive
Requires anesthesia + induces seizure
Procedure
Magnetic pulses to the brain
Electrical stimulation to the brain
Time Commitment
Daily sessions for 4-6 weeks
Usually 2-3 sessions per week for a few weeks
Recovery
No physical recovery time
Requires post-treatment monitoring
Side Effects
Mild headache, scalp discomfort
Memory loss, confusion, cognitive effects
Effectiveness
High success rate for treatment-resistant depression
Rapid relief, especially for severe depression
Feature
TMS
Invasiveness
Non-invasive
Procedure
Magnetic pulses to the brain
Time Commitment
Daily sessions for 4-6 weeks
Recovery
No downtime
Side Effects
Mild headache, scalp discomfort
Effectiveness
High success rate for treatment-resistant depression
Feature
ECT
Invasiveness
Requires anesthesia + induces seizure
Procedure
Electrical stimulation to the brain
Time Commitment
Usually 2-3 sessions per week for a few weeks
Recovery
Requires post-treatment monitoring
Side Effects
Memory loss, confusion, cognitive effects
Effectiveness
Rapid relief, especially for severe depression
Who Should Consider ECT?
- Those experiencing severe, suicidal, or psychotic depression
- People who need fast relief and cannot wait for gradual treatment
- Individuals who haven’t responded to TMS or multiple medication trials
Who Should Consider TMS?
- Those with treatment-resistant depression who haven’t responded to medication
- People who need a non-invasive option that won’t affect memory or require anesthesia
- Anyone looking for a safe, long-term depression treatment with minimal side effects
If you’re dealing with severe, life-threatening depression and need a fast-acting intervention, ECT may be the right path – but be mindful of its cognitive side effects.
If you’re looking for a safe, effective, and non-invasive alternative, TMS is an incredible option for long-term relief without the risks associated with ECT.
At Integrated, we specialize in TMS therapy for individuals struggling with major depressive disorder. If you’re curious about whether TMS could work for you, we’re here to help.
Call us today to schedule a consult and explore your options.
Signs That Your Depression Might Be Treatment-Resistant
If you’re dealing with any of the following, you might be in the TRD category:
- Your antidepressants have stopped working (or never worked at all..)
Some people get initial relief from medication, only to have it stop working a few months later. Others try one med after another, experiencing little to no improvement. If you’ve been on a pharmaceutical merry-go-round with little success, it’s a major red flag for TRD.
- You feel like you’re functioning… But barely
Maybe you can get out of bed and go to work, but you feel like you’re dragging yourself through every single day. You’re surviving, not thriving. If you feel numb, exhausted, and like every little task takes maximum effort, your current treatment might not be cutting it.
- You’re doing “all the right things,” but it’s not budging
You’re going to therapy. You’re taking your medications. Maybe you’ve even tried all the self-help strategies and book – meditation, supplements, yoga, cold plunges, journaling, eating the perfect diet – and you still feel like a shell of yourself.
It’s not because you’re doing it wrong. It’s because your depression might need a different approach.
- Your symptoms go beyond sadness
TRD doesn’t always look like textbook depression. It can show up as:
- Irritability or anger (snapping at loved ones, feeling constantly frustrated)
- Physical symptoms (chronic pain, fatigue, headaches)
- Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
- Feeling emotionally “flat” or disconnected from life, living in a colorless dream state
- Hopelessness that never lifts, no matter what you try
What can you do if you have TRD?
If this is all hitting a little too close to home, the good news is – you still have options.
- Reassess your treatment plan
If you’ve only tried one type of antidepressant, there are still different medication classes to explore. Sometimes, adding a mood stabilizer or atypical antidepressant can make a huge difference. Talk to your psychiatrist about a reassessment.
- Consider TMS Therapy
If medications haven’t worked, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) might be the missing piece. TMS is a non-invasive, FDA-approved treatment for TRD that uses magnetic pulses to reawaken the parts of the brain responsible for mood regulation.
It’s not a quick fix, but over 4-6 weeks of treatment, many people who felt completely stuck in their depression finally start to feel better.
- Look at Other Biological Factors
- Are you sleeping well? Chronic sleep issues can make TRD worse.
- Have you checked your hormones? Low thyroid, estrogen, or testosterone can all play a role.
- Do you have untreated trauma? Sometimes, depression isn’t just chemical – it’s deeply rooted in past experiences that haven’t been fully processed.
If you’ve been battling depression that won’t budge, it’s time to stop blaming yourself and start exploring other solutions. TRD doesn’t mean you’re doomed to feel like this forever – it just means you haven’t found the right treatment yet.
At Integrated, we specialize in TMS therapy and personalized treatment plans for people who feel like they’ve run out of options. You deserve to feel better.