Understanding depression is the first step in getting the care you need.

Feel better in 12 weeks with a personalized treatment plan including FDA-approved Psychiatry & evidence-based Therapy.

What is depression?

20 million Americans have depression, so know that you’re not alone.

It’s normal to feel sad or have days when you feel down. However, if you feel sad, hopeless, unmotivated, or disinterested in things you once enjoyed for more than two weeks, and when the feelings interfere with daily activities–you may have depression. But don’t worry, depression is a treatable condition, affecting nearly 20 million Americans. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, help is available, and you can get better with the right care.

Kay E.

I started feeling depressed about five years ago, but I couldn’t label the depression. I just felt my energy was low, I was sad a lot of the time. And then I think when I realized it was depression was when I felt that I was not able to get out of bed, that I didn’t want to see people – I realized that this was more than just being sad or being low energy.

The signs & symptoms of depression.

Different people experience depression in distinct ways. Some feel profound sadness, hopelessness, and low self-worth. Many also feel overwhelmed, stressed, and burnt out. And some people feel nothing at all.

The core symptoms of depression include:

Having little interest or pleasure in doing things
Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
Feeling tired or having little energy
Poor appetite or overeating
Feeling bad about yourself or feeling like a failure
Trouble concentrating on things
Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed, or being fidgety/restless
Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or thoughts of hurting yourself

Depression comes in many forms.

Depression can manifest in many forms, requiring a personalized treatment approach. Understanding the type of depression you are experiencing can help you get the care that is right for you.

Common forms of depression include:

Major depressive disorder
Persistent depressive disorder
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Postpartum depression
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

The connection between depression & anxiety.

Depression & anxiety often go hand-in-hand, creating a self-sustaining negative cycle. In fact, it is estimated that 60% of people with depression also suffer from anxiety, and vice versa.

Depression

Anxiety

If you are experiencing signs & symptoms of depression, taking a free online evaluation is a good first step in getting the care you need.

Take Your Free Assessment

Diagnosing depression.

Seeking help is the first step.

Depression is diagnosed by a psychiatric provider looking for the presence of signs and symptoms associated with depression, including the mix and severity of symptoms, context, duration, and life impact. The provider will also want to know about your medical history and family history, as well as current medications you are taking.

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Medication for depression.

Medication can be an effective part of a treatment plan to help you feel better. There is absolutely no shame in taking medication for depression.

The right antidepressant makes all the difference.

Because there are many forms of depression and each individual is unique, getting the best result requires matching each person to the right medication, then fine-tuning treatment based on individual response. At Brightside, we pinpoint your FDA-approved match by leveraging your data points and decades of clinical research.

To get the best results, it’s important to measure progress during treatment–this is known as measurement-based care. This allows you and your Provider to make informed decisions for any adjustment in your treatment. It’s common to adjust your medication when first starting antidepressants to make sure its right for you.

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Commonly prescribed medications.

Medications commonly prescribed as a first line of treatment for depression include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs).
Full list of medications we prescribe:

Amitriptyline / Elavil

Fluvoxamine / Luvox

Aripiprazole / Abilify

Gabapentin / Neurontin

Benztropine / Cogentin

Hydroxyzine / Vistaril

Bupropion / Wellbutrin

Lamotrigine / Lamictal

Buspirone / Buspar

Mirtazapine / Remeron

Citalopram / Celexa

Nortriptyline / Pamelor

Clomipramine / Anafranil

Paroxetine / Paxil

Clonidine / Catapres

Propranolol / Inderal

Divalproex / Depakote

Quetiapine / Seroquel

Doxepin / Silenor

Sertraline / Zoloft

Duloxetine / Cymbalta

Topiramate / Topamax

DXM/BUP / Auvelity

Trazodone / Desyrel

Escitalopram / Lexapro

Venlafaxine / Effexor

Fluoxetine / Prozac

Ziprasidone / Geodon

Plus more

Therapy for depression.

Evidence-based therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), can give you the structure and support to help get through difficult issues, including space to reflect, process challenges, and build skills.

Therapy can help you:

Understand how your thoughts and behaviors contribute to your symptoms and learn ways to change them
Learn how past or current events may have led to the development of unhelpful patterns of thought or behavior that can be maintaining your distress
Develop skills to cope with intense emotions that may be interfering with your ability to live life the way you want
Develop healthy relationship and communication skills
Build confidence in your ability to handle challenging situations

At Brightside, we use only evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you build skills to more effectively help you break the negative cycle of depression.

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Self-care for depression.

A comprehensive approach to care leads to better outcomes. By practicing daily healthy habits and self-care, you can reduce your symptoms of depression.

Smiling man sitting in the grass holding a baseball

These small steps lead to big improvement:

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Get quality anxiety treatment from the comfort of home.

Plans starting as low as
$95 / month.

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Whether you choose Psychiatry, Therapy, or both, our memberships include expert online care designed to help you feel better, faster.

Get access to:

Unlimited messaging with your providers
Video consultations with your psychiatric provider
4 video sessions with your therapist each month
Interactive, skill-building therapy lessons
Regular Progress Tracking

Start With A Free Assessment

We accept insurance

We offer affordable care for everyone and accept most major insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid.

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Start feeling better in 3 simple steps.

Step 1

Fill out our free mental health assessment.

Start with a clinically-proven set of questions to shed light on how you’re feeling. We’ll help you understand your symptoms, then recommend the best treatment plan for you–including Psychiatry, Therapy, or both.