Conditions · Depression
Help for depression.
Depression is more than sadness. It is a medical condition that drains your energy, your interest, and your sense of hope, even when nothing is obviously wrong. It is common, and it is treatable. Dr. McDade treats depression by secure video across Texas and California, for ages 12 to 70.
The signs
What depression feels like.
Depression is not just a bad week. It is a heaviness that settles in and does not lift, and it can flatten the things that used to bring you joy. You might notice some of these signs.
- A low or empty mood that will not lift
- Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
- Feeling tired no matter how much you rest
- Sleeping too much, or too little
- Eating more, or less, than usual
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Feeling worthless, or guilty over small things
- Moving or thinking more slowly than normal
- Aches and pains with no clear cause
- Feeling that life is not worth living
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, you deserve support right now. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time, day or night.
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that more than 8 percent of U.S. adults have a major depressive episode in a given year.
When it does not show
You can be depressed and still showing up.
Depression does not always look like staying in bed. Many people keep working, parenting, and performing while feeling empty inside. From the outside you look fine. On the inside you are running on empty, going through the motions, and wondering why everything feels so heavy.
This is sometimes called high-functioning depression. You do not have to fall apart, and you do not have to hit rock bottom, to deserve real care. The gap between how you look and how you feel is reason enough to reach out.
Treatment
How a psychiatrist treats depression.
Treatment starts with an accurate diagnosis. Dr. McDade takes the time to understand what is going on, and rules out other causes such as thyroid problems or a medication side effect. From there, she builds a plan with you. That usually means evidence-based medication management, and a referral to therapy when that will help. Many people feel meaningfully better with the right plan and steady follow-up.
“Depression lies to you. It tells you this is just who you are now. It is not. It is a treatable condition, and you can feel like yourself again.”
Care with Dr. McDade
What your care looks like.
Your first visit is unhurried, and runs 60 to 90 minutes. You talk through your history, your symptoms, and your goals. You leave with a clear diagnosis and a plan you understand.
Follow-up visits keep your care on track as you start to feel better. All of it happens by secure video, from a private, familiar space. Meet Dr. McDade.
Questions, answered
Depression FAQ.
Is it depression, or just stress and burnout?
Stress and burnout come from outside pressure and usually ease when the pressure does. Depression is a medical condition that stays for two weeks or more and affects how you function. A psychiatrist can tell the difference.
Can depression be treated with medication?
Yes. Evidence-based medication can lift the weight of depression so it is easier to function and feel like yourself. Dr. McDade matches the plan to you and follows up to keep it working.
Do I need therapy or medication for depression?
It depends on you. Some people do well with medication, some with therapy, and many with both. Dr. McDade talks through what fits, and can refer you to therapy when that helps.
Can you treat depression online?
Yes. Depression is well suited to telepsychiatry. You get the same careful evaluation and evidence-based treatment by secure video, across Texas and California.
What if I have depression and anxiety?
That is very common. Anxiety and depression often happen together, and Dr. McDade treats both, so your plan fits the whole picture.
When should I get help for depression?
If low mood has lasted two weeks or more and is getting in the way of your life, it is worth talking with a psychiatrist. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 now.
If low mood has lasted two weeks or more and is getting in the way of your life, it is worth talking with a psychiatrist. You do not have to wait until it is unbearable. Health & Harmony Psychiatry does not provide emergency care. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911.
Begin when you are ready
You can feel like yourself again.
Book a private first visit with Dr. McDade, or reach our team with a question. Care is available by secure video across Texas and California.