Depression
Depression is more than a bad week. It's a real medical condition that changes how you feel, think, and function — and it's treatable, even when it hasn't responded to treatment before.
What is depression?
Major depressive disorder is a common and serious mood condition. It brings a persistent low mood or a loss of interest and pleasure in things you used to enjoy, lasting most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks — and often much longer without treatment.
Depression is not a character flaw, a lack of willpower, or something you can simply push through. It involves real changes in the brain and body, and it can affect anyone — including teenagers, new parents, and people whose lives look fine from the outside.
Common signs and symptoms
- Feeling sad, empty, hopeless, or numb most of the time
- Losing interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
- Sleeping much more or much less than usual
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Low energy and fatigue, even after rest
- Trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Feeling worthless or excessively guilty
- Moving or speaking more slowly, or feeling restless and agitated
- Thoughts of death, or that others would be better off without you
In teenagers, depression can also look like irritability, withdrawal from friends, slipping grades, or losing interest in activities they used to care about.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you're having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — free, confidential, and available 24/7. You don't have to be in crisis to call.
How is depression treated?
Every patient starts with a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. We look at your symptoms, medical history, medications, and life circumstances — and we screen carefully for conditions that can be mistaken for depression, such as bipolar disorder or thyroid problems. Then we build a personalized treatment plan with you.
Your plan may include:
- Therapy — evidence-based talk therapy helps you work through the thoughts, patterns, and circumstances that feed depression, and builds skills that last beyond treatment.
- Medication management — antidepressants can help restore energy, sleep, and mood. Our providers monitor you closely and adjust thoughtfully rather than settling for "good enough."
- Telehealth — when getting out of the house feels impossible, being seen by secure video from anywhere in Tennessee removes one more barrier to care.
When depression hasn't responded to treatment
Some people try multiple antidepressants without enough relief. This is called treatment-resistant depression, and it does not mean you are out of options. Shrinkty offers Spravato® (esketamine), an FDA-approved nasal spray treatment for treatment-resistant depression, administered under supervision in our office. We also offer GeneSight® genetic testing, a simple cheek swab that can give your provider insight into how your body may process certain medications — useful information when past medications haven't worked or caused difficult side effects.
When to reach out
If low mood, exhaustion, or loss of interest has lasted more than a couple of weeks — or if people who care about you have noticed you're not yourself — it's worth talking with a professional. Depression tends to deepen when it goes untreated, and many people find meaningful relief once they start care. We treat patients ages 13 and up. Fill out our new patient form or call 615-716-8255 to get started.