Most estimates of the percentage of the U.S. population that suffers from anxiety and depression hover right around 20%. And even worse, these conditions are often linked to more severe pathologies, including addiction. Sadly, the vast majority of people who need help with depression and addiction will not get it. This is partly because they — often wrongly — assume that they cannot afford treatment, don’t feel that they have a problem, or simply don’t know where to begin. Taking the first steps is difficult for most people. But by identifying and admitting to yourself that you are struggling, you can get the help you need. And the clinical staff at GIA Miami are here to help.
The causes of depression can be difficult to identify, but so can the symptoms of the condition. The most common signs that you may be clinically depressed include:
This list is by no means exhaustive. But if you are worried that you may be suffering from depression, the programs at GIA Miami are an excellent place to start.
The connection between addiction and depression is well known. If you are struggling with addiction, a center like GIA Miami that offers treatment of co-occurring disorders — a process sometimes referred to as “dual diagnosis” — should be a priority. The theory behind treating a co-occurring disorder is that instead of focusing exclusively on treating the addiction, a program should address any underlying mental issues fueling that addiction. Addiction specialists have known for a long time that people suffering from depression are significantly more likely to develop a drug or alcohol habit. And at GIA, we believe that treating the addiction without addressing the mental condition — like depression — that underlies it is both counterintuitive and counterproductive. Unfortunately, however, this aspect of addiction treatment is too often ignored.
Each year, millions of Americans are diagnosed with co-occurring disorders. But most rehab centers and mental health facilities don’t approach depression in this way. This is why if you have been asking yourself if you need depression treatment, the time to reach out to a top-quality program like the one at GIA Miami is now.
At GIA, one of the methods that we regularly utilize to treat both depression and addiction is called “transcranial magnetic stimulation” or “TMS” therapy. TMS therapy can be a powerful weapon in the war against depression, primarily when used in conjunction with other treatment modalities. Additionally, the executive director of GIA, Dr. Antonello Bonci, has been working for years to bring TMS into the mainstream as a treatment for addiction. And his work has been met with much success.
TMS therapy is an FDA-approved treatment for medication-resistant depression and has a proven track record in treating this and other conditions. And when it comes to addiction, TMS therapy works in two ways. First, depression is, as we have mentioned above, often co-occurring with addiction, which makes both conditions that much more difficult to treat. Second, Dr. Bonci and the GIA Miami team are also exploring how TMS therapy can be used to treat addictive behaviors directly. And these treatments have proven to be very effective.
To learn more about depression treatment, co-occurring disorders, and TMS therapy, contact GIA Miami online or call 833.713.0828.
