TMS THERAPY
FDA-cleared, non-medication depression treatment
Don't Avoid Medical Care Because of COVID-19
Laurence Lippsett
COVID-19 has consumed our thoughts and kept us quarantined, triggering another medical crisis. Many people are avoiding medical care because they fear leaving the safety of their homes and getting COVID-19. Some might wait too long before seeking urgent lifesaving treatments for heart attack, stroke, or appendicitis, or they might postpone regular vaccinations or cancer screening.
Others might put off getting essential therapies and medications for chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and asthma, causing their health to deteriorate. Many people aren't seeking therapy for mental health problems as well, even though the rates of COVID-19 and depression have both been rising.
A study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) showed that an estimated 41 percent of adults in the United States had delayed or avoided emergency or routine medical care because of concerns about COVID-19. According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, avoiding medical care because of COVID-19 could claim tens of thousands of lives indirectly "through delayed care for acute emergencies, exacerbations of chronic diseases, and psychological distress (e.g, drug overdoses)."
Don't Stay Home If You Require Health Care
Early in the pandemic, visits to hospital emergency rooms across the country declined 23 percent for heart attacks and 20 percent for strokes, according to a CDC study. For potentially life-threatening conditions such as these, "the sooner emergency care begins, the better are the chances for survival," the CDC report said. Fearing exposure to COVID-19, some parents have put off measles, polio, and other routine vaccinations for their children. Doctors say that these delays put families and their neighbors at risk of contracting other debilitating and deadly diseases.
A study of 20 institutions found that in the first four months of last year, screenings for breast cancer and colon cancer both fell by more than 85 percent. As another study put it, "While residents have taken to social distancing, cancer does not pause." Patients whose cancers aren't caught early usually need more intensive treatment and are more likely to die of the condition.
Heart disease, cancer, and stroke are on the long list of chronic diseases that six of 10 Americans suffer from. Other conditions on the list include hypertension, diabetes, Alzheimer's, chronic lung disease, obesity, and cerebral palsy. Without consistent care, treatment, and medications, all of these chronic illnesses can quickly worsen, which might also cause or increase symptoms of depression.
Not seeking treatment for an underlying condition is just one factor linking COVID-19 and depression. The stress and social isolation caused by the pandemic can also have a considerable impact on a person's mental health. In fact,
more than 40 percent of people surveyed by the CDC reported struggling with mental health between April and June 2020. Additionally, the
annual Gallup Poll assessing Americans' mental health showed that Americans believe their mental health is at the lowest point since the survey began in 2001.
Avoiding Health Care Could Increase Your Risk of Contracting COVID-19
Having an acute or chronic illness, such as depression, can increase a person's risk of contracting a worse—and perhaps fatal—case of COVID-19. If you are sick, you can't afford to sit back and wait for the condition to subside on its own. You need to act now and seek the medical treatment you require to remain well and spare yourself from additional suffering or death.
Health care providers are intensely aware of how important it is to take care of their patients. Despite the challenges caused by COVID-19, hospitals and health clinics have implemented safeguards to minimize their patients' risk of exposure to the virus. These precautions include stringent disinfecting protocols, procedures to maintain physical distancing, and telehealth services.
In this time when mental health treatment is so urgently needed, Greenbrook TMS NeuroHealth Centers offers another option for relieving symptoms of depression: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This non-invasive, non-drug treatment uses gentle magnetic pulses to improve brain signaling and support better mood regulation. Greenbrook strives to make it as easy as possible for you to schedule appointments in our private centers, providing face-to-face and telehealth consultations. To discuss whether transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy may be right for you, consider scheduling a no-cost consultation.
Let's see if we might be a good fit
Take our 6 question quiz to see if TMS therapy could be right for you
Share this post
We're Better Together
Subscribe for mental health, self-care, and TMS therapy updates for those affected by treatment-resistant depression or OCD.
Contact Us
By providing your email address, you are consenting to receive blog updates from Greenbrook TMS Inc. You may unsubscribe from these alerts at any time by following the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of email alerts. At Greenbrook TMS Inc. we take the privacy and security of your personal information seriously. To learn more about how we protect your personal information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
You might also like
You may feel isolated and alone when you have clinical depression, and depression also affects your relationships with family and friends. While the primary focus of your treatment is to improve your mental health, it’s also essential to understand your loved ones may experience their own issues as they try to support you. An understanding of how depression affects relationships can help everyone maintain healthy connections and navigate problems. Here are some of the ways depression may affect the people in your support network.
Our free mental health calendar for 2023 includes mental health awareness events, holidays, self-care activities, and a monthly 30 second mental health checkup!
We’ve all heard the common health-related misconceptions or myths-- chocolate causes acne, carrots will improve your night vision, and cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis. Subscribing to these particular myths is relatively harmless, but other health-related misconceptions can have far more serious consequences. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. Because untreated depression can have a serious physical and psychological impact, it’s imperative to have the right information in order to make the best decisions for yourself and for your health. Here are 5 common misconceptions about depression, and the facts behind them:
Starting any medical treatment for the first time can leave you with questions, especially if you’re looking forward to the benefits it may bring. It’s no different when you’re preparing for your nasal esketamine treatment. Your previous mental health treatments may have consisted solely of taking antidepressants at home or visiting a therapist’s office for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), so nasal esketamine is probably a new treatment experience for you. If you're wondering what it's like to start nasal esketamine and get ready for your first session, keep reading. Getting Started with the Nasal Esketamine Treatment As with any new treatment, you’ll first talk to your primary care provider or psychiatrist about whether nasal esketamine is a good fit for you. Alternatively, you can schedule your esketamine nasal spray consultation with a treatment center (such as Greenbrook) that has certification by the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). At Greenbrook's REMS-certified nasal esketamine treatment centers, our Greenbrook-affiliated psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners will review your medical history and also conduct our own assessment to help determine whether nasal esketamine treatment is right for you. Certain conditions, including blood vessel disease and a history of psychosis, may make treatment a risk for you. Make sure you discuss all previous and present conditions with your doctor or nasal esketamine provider before beginning treatment. If the medication is deemed a good fit, you’ll receive your prescription from the Greenbrook-affiliated provider. Your Greenbrook Care Team will put together a personalized care plan for the weeks and months to follow. Keep in mind that you will need to take a standard (oral) antidepressant along with your nasal esketamine treatment. There are two important regulations to note when it comes to preparing for treatment: Each treatment is followed by a mandatory two-hour observation period. This means you will need to plan to stay at the center for at least two hours following your self-administration of the esketamine nasal spray. You cannot drive during the rest of the day after treatment and must arrange for transportation. These regulations are mandatory. It may be helpful to sit down and plan out several weeks’ worth of transportation once you know your treatment schedule. In addition, if you’re wondering what to bring for the treatment, we recommend entertainment such as an audiobook or playlist of favorite songs and a pair of headphones. You may want them during the two-hour observation period. What to Expect During Nasal Esketamine Treatment On the day of treatment, you’ll need to stop eating any food two hours before your appointment and stop drinking all fluids 30 minutes before you come in. Your Greenbrook Care Team will confirm that you are prepared for the two-hour observation period and that you have a ride home. You’ll get the opportunity to practice using a “trainer sprayer” that mimics the real nasal esketamine sprayer but does not release any medication. The Care Team will encourage you to use the restroom and set up your preferred environment in your private treatment bay or room. Some patients like reduced lighting, for example, while others don’t request light adjustments. You’ll complete a depression scale before each treatment session. Your Greenbrook provider will confirm that the dose kit is yours, show you how to administer it, and then hand it to you. Each sprayer contained 28mg of Spravato esketamine nasal spray. Patients usually start with two sprayers (56mg) and soon increase to 84mg (three sprayers) per treatment. But, your dosage maybe vary. Should you be left with a metallic taste by the spray, the Care Team will offer suckers to help make the flavor dissipate. After your dose, you’ll be encouraged to lie back in your comfortable recliner. While most patients enjoy a quiet setting, Greenbrook is prepared to accommodate patients with a more animated reaction to the medication. You may feel sleepy, dizzy, mildly dissociated, and/or nauseated during treatment. Greenbrook's Care Team is readily available if you need assistance. How to Prepare for after your Nasal Esketamine Treatment Most side effects begin to wane in the second hour of observation, but if you’re wondering, “Is it safe to drive immediately after nasal esketamine treatment?” the answer is a resounding no. In addition to the mandatory ride home, you will need to block off time to rest and let side effects fully dissipate. This extended rest period is especially important in the first weeks of treatment when you’ll have treatment twice a week. Do not drive or operate machinery of any kind until the day after treatment. Just take it easy, relax, and take care of yourself. If you’re unsure what activities you can do or should avoid during this time, talk to your Care Team for more information. While side effects tend to dissipate completely after a good night’s sleep, many nasal esketamine patients begin feeling relief from depression symptoms within hours of their treatment. Other Tips in Preparing for Your Nasal Esketamine Treatment At Greenbrook, we make every effort to schedule your treatment in the afternoons or whenever it is most convenient for you. We encourage you to see each treatment session as an opportunity to relax and take care of your mental health. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your doctor or the Greenbrook Care Team. At Greenbrook, we’ll help you feel at ease when preparing for each treatment session. Schedule A Free Consultation To get started with nasal esketamine, schedule your free consultation today.
Greenbrook TMS supports an accessible internet. If you have any questions about our accessibility features, please contact us at
866.928.6076 and/or info@greenbrooktms.com.
TMS THERAPY
RESOURCES
OUR COMPANY
