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Helping Your Loved One with Depression
Depression is an incredibly difficult condition, not just for the person experiencing it but also for the people who care for them. Although medications and therapy can help, 30-40% of people don’t respond to these approaches.
When depression becomes treatment-resistant depression (TRD), the burden can feel even heavier for everyone involved.
At Breakthru Psychiatric Solutions in Sandy Springs and Alpharetta, we specialize in advanced treatments for TRD. Whether you’re a spouse, parent, sibling, or friend, we’re here to help guide you in supporting your loved one and introducing them to impactful, innovative solutions.
What is treatment-resistant depression?
TRD is depression that doesn’t improve after trying multiple therapies or medications. Standard treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or antidepressants can work well for many, but they don’t work for everyone.
If your loved one has struggled with finding relief and feels trapped in a cycle of failed treatments, they may be dealing with TRD. Depression can stem from a complex combination of genetics, traumatic life events, or chronic health conditions, making it complicated to treat despite a person’s best efforts to address their symptoms
How can you help someone with TRD?
Supporting a loved one with TRD is a delicate balance between understanding their struggles and encouraging them to seek additional help. Here are some ways you can offer support:
Listen without judgment
One of the best and most meaningful ways to support your loved one is by truly listening. Avoid offering clichés or trying to fix how they feel. Instead, provide a safe space where they feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and emotions.
Educate yourself about TRD
Learning about TRD and its complexities can give you deeper insight into what your loved one is experiencing. It can also prepare you to explore newer, less conventional treatment options available.
Encourage professional treatment
Suggesting professional help is a big step, but it’s crucial. At Breakthru Psychiatric Solutions, we offer several cutting-edge options for TRD that might succeed when traditional treatments haven’t.
Advanced treatment options for TRD
Understanding these innovative therapies can help you guide your loved one toward the support they need. Here’s a look at some of the groundbreaking treatments helping our TRD patients.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
TMS is a noninvasive treatment that stimulates areas of the brain responsible for mood regulation using magnetic pulses. It’s painless, requires no downtime, and often shows noticeable results by the fourth week of treatment.
At Breakthru, we also offer accelerated TMS, which produces faster results by condensing sessions into a two-week program.
IV ketamine therapy
IV ketamine delivers fast-acting relief to individuals with severe depression or suicidal ideation. Unlike traditional antidepressants, which can take weeks to work, ketamine often provides mood improvement within hours.
Spravato® (esketamine nasal spray)
Approved by the FDA, Spravato is explicitly designed for TRD. This esketamine-based nasal spray offers quick relief and works in conjunction with antidepressants. Patients self-administer the dose in our office under supervision.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)
VNS therapy involves the implantation of a small device that stimulates the vagus nerve, directly affecting mood and relieving depression symptoms. It’s especially effective as a long-term solution when other treatments haven’t worked.
How to introduce advanced treatments to your loved one
Discussing a new treatment can be a touchy subject, especially if your loved one is already exhausted from their battle with depression. Here’s how you can approach the conversation thoughtfully:
1. Start with empathy
Acknowledge their struggles and validate their feelings without rushing into suggestions.
2. Present options positively
Share what you’ve learned about innovative treatments, emphasizing that these are breakthroughs designed for people like them.
3. Offer to accompany them
Whether it’s to gather more information or to attend their first appointment, offering to go with them can ease their anxiety.
Assure your loved one that at Breakthru Psychiatric Solutions, we take the time to understand their unique needs and create individualized treatment plans tailored to their circumstances while providing support every step of the way
Connect with Breakthru Psychiatric Solutions
The path to recovery from treatment-resistant depression isn’t easy, but your loved one doesn’t have to walk it alone.
To learn more about how Dr. Karen Giles and Dr. Cecilia Kwong can help, encourage your loved one to request an appointment at either our Sandy Springs or Alpharetta office today.