You might still be showing up for work, answering texts, and getting through the day, but it takes everything you have. Things you used to enjoy feel flat. Mornings are heavy. You may feel tired no matter how much you sleep, and wonder why you can’t just snap out of it.
Common experiences
- Low mood or emptiness that lingers most days
- Losing interest in people or things you used to enjoy
- Feeling drained, even after rest
- Sleeping much more or much less than usual
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Trouble concentrating or making simple decisions
- Feeling guilty, worthless, or like a burden
- Pulling away from friends and family
- Thoughts that life isn’t worth living
Depression is a health condition, not a lack of willpower.
Depression involves real changes in mood, energy, sleep, and thinking. It can follow a loss or a stressful stretch, run in families, show up alongside other health conditions, or arrive with no clear reason at all.
Because it drains the very energy you’d need to fight it, telling yourself to try harder rarely works. Depression is common and treatable, and needing help with it says nothing about your strength.
Your first visit: the full picture of how you’ve been
Your first appointment is a 60-minute psychiatric evaluation. We’ll also ask about safety, gently and directly, because that’s part of good care.
What the evaluation covers
- Your symptoms: how long you’ve felt this way, how deep it goes, and what makes it better or worse
- Your medical and psychiatric history, including thyroid or other health issues that can affect mood
- Antidepressants or other medications you’ve tried, and how they worked
- Sleep, energy, appetite, and how you’re managing at work and at home
- Your personal context: relationships, recent changes, and what you’re hoping for
Your treatment plan may include
- Medication management when clinically appropriate, with time to explain options and side effects
- Education about depression and what recovery can look like
- Regular follow-ups to see what’s helping and adjust at a steady pace
- Referral to therapy when it would add support
Medication is one tool, used with a clear purpose. The goal is to help you feel more like yourself again, not to change who you are.
How care works at Mode Psychiatry
Good psychiatric care takes time, teamwork, and honest explanations. Here is what that looks like for you.
Time to tell the whole story
Your first visit is a full 60 minutes, so we understand your history and what matters to you before recommending anything.
Decisions made together
You set the pace. We talk through the options, and nothing changes in your plan without your input.
Clear answers in plain language
You’ll know what your diagnosis means, why a treatment is suggested, and what to watch for. Ask anything, at any visit.
Care from home, anywhere in Florida.
Every visit happens by secure video, so getting care fits into your life instead of taking it over.
- Secure, HIPAA-compliant video visits from your phone or computer
- Available anywhere in Florida; you just need to be in the state during each visit
- No commute, no waiting room, no time off just to travel
- Consistent 30-minute follow-ups with a provider who knows your history
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if it’s depression or just a hard stretch?
Everyone has low periods. When low mood, exhaustion, or loss of interest last most days for two weeks or more and start getting in the way of daily life, it’s worth an evaluation. You don’t need to be sure before you book.
How long does it take to feel better?
It varies. Some people notice changes within a few weeks of starting treatment; for others, it takes several adjustments. Follow-up visits are how we find what works for you, at a pace that feels manageable.
What if antidepressants haven’t worked for me before?
That’s common, and it’s useful information. We’ll look at what you tried, the dose, how long you took it, and how it went. A medication that didn’t help before doesn’t rule out other options.
What happens at the first appointment?
It’s a 60-minute video visit. We’ll go over your symptoms, medical and psychiatric history, past medications, sleep, and daily life, and talk about what you’d like to be different. Medication may come up, but no decision is forced or rushed. You’ll leave with clear next steps and a follow-up date.
Do you take insurance?
Yes. We’re in network with Aetna, Cigna, Oscar, and UnitedHealthcare through Headway, and self-pay is available ($250 for the 60-minute evaluation, $125 for 30-minute follow-ups). We’ll verify your coverage before your first visit, so you know what to expect.
Is care available in Russian?
Yes. The entire process, from the first evaluation to follow-up visits, can be done in Russian, in English, or switching between the two.
Feeling better can start with one conversation.
You don’t need the right words or a clear plan to reach out. Booking takes a few minutes, and we’ll take it from there.
Written by Nick Dolin, PMHNP-BC. This page is general information, not medical advice.