Depression Treatments

When can you start feeling better?

Explore the differences between electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Learn which treatment is right for you.

The history of antidepressants began, by chance, in the 1950s. Chemists developing a new treatment for tuberculosis tested the drug iproniazid on patients at Seaview Hospital on Staten Island. It was a crucial step in the history of depression treatment, as these patients experienced a dramatic change in well-being. Formerly lethargic and sad, they now reported better mood, increased appetite, and improved sleep. Life magazine even sent a photographer to document this remarkable story .

These last couple of months, the pressures of everyday life have increased dramatically. From the pandemic to politics, the constant barrage of ever-changing and uncertain news coverage makes it easy to become overwhelmed, concerned, and disheartened by the state of the world. If you’ve noticed sustained, yet subtle, feelings of hopelessness, sadness, or other depression symptoms, it’s possible that you’re experiencing low-grade depression.

You’ve started taking a new antidepressant. You’re hopeful that your depression symptoms will improve, and you’re waiting to feel better. But if it’s been weeks and you don’t notice any improvements in your mood, energy, or sleep, what’s next? Here are 4 things you should know when your depression medications aren’t working.

Do you often lose track of where you left your keys or your phone? Do you find it difficult to recall what you've just read? Do you occasionally forget to take your medications?

It is understandable to feel frustrated if the symptoms of depression that you're experiencing haven't responded to medication or counseling. However, it's not uncommon to have depression that doesn't respond to first-line treatments like medication. In fact, about one in three people with depression experience symptoms that do not respond to medication.