Articles from our clinicians
Written by Stedfast Psychiatry providers and reviewed by Dr. David Husted. No sponsored content.
- How to Choose a Psychiatrist or Psychiatric Provider
Choosing a psychiatrist is easier when you break it into steps. This guide explains how to pin down what you need, how psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners and physician assistants differ, how to confirm insurance and cost before your first visit, what to consider about location and telehealth, how to verify credentials, which questions to ask, and when it makes sense to switch providers.. - Depression and Relationships: How It Affects Love, and What Helps
Depression affects more than mood. It can show up in a relationship as withdrawal, irritability, lower interest in sex and a negative filter that colors everyday moments. - Depression at Work: Signs, Your Options and When to Get Help
Depression often shows up at work as trouble concentrating, slowed thinking, missed deadlines and pulling away from colleagues. This article explains the common signs of depression at work, how it differs from burnout, what to consider before telling your employer, general information about workplace protections, practical steps for getting through the day, and treatment options that can fit around a job, including telehealth and, when needed, Deep TMS or Spravato.. - The Psychiatric Evaluation Before TMS or Spravato: What to Expect
Before you can start Deep TMS or Spravato, a psychiatric clinician needs to confirm your diagnosis, review every treatment you have tried, and screen for safety concerns. This article explains what the evaluation before TMS or Spravato covers, how the screening differs between the two treatments, how your evaluation supports insurance prior authorization, what to bring, and what can happen after the visit, including when neither treatment is the right next step.. - How Medication Management Appointments Work: What to Expect
After your first psychiatric evaluation, most of your care happens in shorter medication management appointments. This article explains what those visits involve: the symptom check, questions about side effects and safety, and the plan your prescriber makes with you. - Anxiety vs Panic Attack: How to Tell the Difference
Anxiety and panic attacks share a lot, but they are not the same experience. Anxiety tends to build gradually around a worry, while a panic attack is a sudden surge of fear with a racing heart, chest pain or shortness of breath. - ADHD in Adults: The Signs That Often Get Missed
Adult ADHD often looks nothing like the hyperactive child most people picture. Instead, it shows up as chronic lateness, unfinished projects, procrastination until the last minute, hyperfocus, lost items, inner restlessness and exhaustion from constantly compensating. - Signs You May Need a Psychiatrist
Wondering whether your symptoms are serious enough to see a psychiatrist? There is no threshold you have to reach. This guide explains the most common signs that a psychiatric evaluation makes sense, from symptoms lasting weeks and slipping daily function to medications that are not working, mood swings and other warning signs that need prompt attention. - Bipolar Depression vs Unipolar Depression: Why the Difference Changes Treatment
A depressive episode looks the same whether it belongs to major depressive disorder or to bipolar disorder, which is why a large share of people with bipolar disorder are first diagnosed with unipolar depression and treated with antidepressants alone. That can fail or make things worse. - OCD Treatment: ERP, Medication and Deep TMS
OCD is one of the more treatable psychiatric conditions when the right treatments are used, and one of the most frustrating when they are not. This article explains the three approaches with solid evidence: exposure and response prevention therapy, SSRIs at doses higher than those used for depression, and Deep TMS with the H7 coil, which the FDA cleared for OCD in 2018. - How Prior Authorization Works for TMS and Spravato
Nearly every insurer, including Medicare Advantage plans, requires prior authorization before covering Deep TMS or Spravato. The criteria are similar across payers: a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, documented failure of a specified number of antidepressant trials, a psychotherapy history, and symptom severity measured on a standard scale. - Self-Pay Psychiatry: What a $185 New-Patient Visit Covers
Paying out of pocket for psychiatry is more common than people assume, and for some patients it is the better choice even when they have insurance. This article explains exactly what the $185 new-patient visit at Stedfast Psychiatry includes, what follow-ups and other services cost, what is not included, how the price compares with typical private-practice rates in Florida and South Carolina, when self-pay makes sense for insured patients, and the privacy and flexibility trade-offs.. - Mental Health Resources for Veterans in the Lowcountry and Midlands
South Carolina has one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the country, clustered around Joint Base Charleston, Parris Island, MCAS Beaufort, Fort Jackson and Shaw Air Force Base. Care is spread across the VA, Vet Centers, state programs, nonprofits and private practices, and the system is hard to navigate. - Seasonal Depression in Florida: Yes, It Happens
Seasonal affective disorder is usually associated with northern winters, so Floridians who feel their mood drop on a schedule often assume it must be something else. It is not. - How to Help a Teen Who Refuses Therapy
A teenager who is clearly struggling and flatly refuses help puts parents in an impossible spot. This article explains the common reasons behind the refusal, why pushing harder usually backfires, the approaches that actually get teens through the door, including giving them control over the choice of clinician and format, how a psychiatric evaluation can be a lower-friction first step than therapy, what parents can do on their own, and the warning signs that mean you act regardless of consent.. - Psychiatric Care in Assisted Living Facilities: What Families Should Know
Moving a parent into assisted living does not mean their mental health is being managed. Most facilities have no psychiatrist on staff, and residents with depression, anxiety, dementia-related behaviors or long-standing psychiatric conditions often go months without specialist review. - Geriatric Psychiatry: When to Get Help for an Aging Parent
Adult children often notice something is wrong with a parent long before anyone names it: withdrawal, irritability, new fears, memory slips. Too often it is written off as getting old. - Postpartum Depression vs Baby Blues
Up to 80 percent of new mothers experience the baby blues, a brief period of tearfulness and mood swings that resolves on its own within two weeks. About one in eight develop postpartum depression, which is longer, deeper and does not resolve without help. - What to Do When Your Antidepressant Stops Working
An antidepressant that worked well can seem to stop working after months or years. Sometimes the medication has genuinely lost effect, a phenomenon called tachyphylaxis. - How Long Do Antidepressants Take to Work?
The most common question after a prescription is how long it will take. The honest answer is a range: early changes in sleep, appetite and energy within one to two weeks, mood improvement by weeks two to four, and the full effect at six to eight weeks on an adequate dose. - Anxiety or ADHD? How to Tell the Difference
Trouble focusing, restlessness, forgetfulness and racing thoughts show up in both anxiety disorders and ADHD, which is why so many adults are unsure which one they have. This article compares the two on the features that actually separate them, including the timing of symptoms, what happens when the task is interesting, how the restlessness feels and the childhood history. - Signs of High-Functioning Depression
High-functioning depression describes people who meet their obligations, keep their jobs and look fine from the outside while living with a persistent low mood, exhaustion and a sense that nothing is quite worth it. The term is not an official diagnosis, but the pattern maps closely onto persistent depressive disorder and mild major depression. - Can a Psychiatrist Prescribe ADHD Medication Over Telehealth?
Stimulants like Adderall are controlled substances, and federal law normally requires an in-person exam before they can be prescribed by telemedicine. Pandemic-era flexibilities changed that, and they have been extended repeatedly. - Telepsychiatry in Florida: How It Works and Who It Is Right For
Telepsychiatry has moved from a pandemic workaround to a standard way of receiving psychiatric care in Florida. This guide explains the state's licensing and location rules, what a video visit looks like, which medications can be prescribed remotely, how Florida insurance law and Medicare treat telehealth, the evidence on whether outcomes match in-person care, and the situations where an office visit is still the better choice. - What Happens at Your First Psychiatrist Appointment
Most people are nervous before a first psychiatric appointment because they do not know what will happen in the room. This article describes the visit from the inside: the paperwork and screening forms, the structure of the interview, the questions that surprise people, how the diagnosis is reached, when medication is started at the first visit and when it is not, what happens afterward, and how to prepare so that the hour is spent on what matters to you.. - Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner vs Psychiatrist
Psychiatric nurse practitioners now deliver a large share of outpatient psychiatric care in the United States, and many patients are unsure what the difference is. This article compares training, prescribing authority in Florida and South Carolina, what each clinician typically handles, how supervision works in a group practice, cost and wait-time differences, and the situations where seeing a psychiatrist specifically is worth insisting on. - How to Find a Psychiatrist That Accepts Medicare
Finding a psychiatrist who accepts Medicare is harder than it should be, and the reasons are structural rather than personal. This guide explains why so many psychiatrists opt out, how to search effectively using Medicare's own tools and your plan's directory, what Part B and Medicare Advantage actually cover for psychiatric visits, medication management, TMS and Spravato, and what you can expect to pay. - ADHD Testing Near Me: What an Evaluation Actually Involves
People who search for ADHD testing often expect a single scan or computer test that gives a yes or no. That is not how ADHD is diagnosed. - Non-Stimulant ADHD Medications Explained
Stimulants are the most effective ADHD medications, but they are not right for everyone, and the non-stimulant options have grown. This guide covers the four FDA-approved non-stimulants for ADHD (atomoxetine, viloxazine, guanfacine ER and clonidine ER) and the commonly used off-label option bupropion: how each works, how long it takes, what side effects to expect, how effectiveness compares with stimulants, and the situations where a non-stimulant is the better first choice.. - Treatment-Resistant Depression: What to Try Next
Treatment-resistant depression is usually defined as depression that has not responded to two adequate antidepressant trials, and it describes roughly a third of people treated for depression. This article explains what the label does and does not mean, why a careful re-evaluation comes before any new treatment, and walks through the evidence-based options in the order a psychiatrist typically considers them: medication optimization and augmentation, Deep TMS, Spravato, ECT and psychotherapy.. - Why Spravato Did Not Work for Some People, and What That Means for You
Search for Spravato and you will find a mix of recovery stories and accounts from people who say it did nothing or made things worse. Both are real. - Spravato Side Effects and Who Should Not Take It
Spravato has a distinctive side-effect profile that is well characterized from the phase 3 trials and the FDA label, and the two-hour monitoring requirement exists precisely because of it. This article explains each of the common session-day effects and how often they occur, the serious risks that lead to the boxed warning, the medical conditions that rule Spravato out entirely, what is known about long-term use, and the symptoms that mean you should call the clinic.. - How Long Does Spravato Take to Work?
Spravato is often described as a fast-acting antidepressant, which is true in comparison with oral medication but can set up unrealistic expectations if taken literally. This article lays out what the phase 3 trials showed about timing, how a typical response unfolds week by week through the induction phase, why some patients respond at the first dose and others not until week four, how to judge whether it is working, and when a psychiatrist should reassess.. - What Does a Spravato Session Feel Like?
Knowing what a Spravato session actually feels like removes much of the anxiety about starting. This article walks through a session from check-in to discharge: the pre-dose checks, how the nasal spray is taken, what the dissociative effects feel like in patients' own descriptions, how the two-hour monitoring works, what the clinic room is like, how you feel the rest of the day, and how the experience changes across the first weeks of treatment.. - Does Medicare Cover Spravato?
Medicare covers Spravato, but the way it is covered surprises many patients: it falls under Part B as a clinic-administered drug rather than under Part D prescription coverage, which changes what you pay and how approval works. This guide explains the Part B rules, the medical criteria Medicare applies, how Medigap and Medicare Advantage change your cost, why manufacturer copay cards do not apply, and what to expect at a REMS-certified clinic that accepts Medicare.. - How Much Does Spravato Cost?
Spravato is one of the more expensive psychiatric treatments on paper, and one of the more accessible ones in practice because insurance coverage is broad. This article explains the components of Spravato cost, what the drug and the monitoring visit each cost, what commercial insurance and Medicare pay, how the manufacturer copay program works, realistic examples of patient cost over an induction month and a year of maintenance, and the questions to ask before you start.. - Spravato vs Ketamine Infusions: An Honest Comparison
Spravato and intravenous ketamine infusions are related treatments for depression that has not responded to standard medication, and they are frequently confused. This comparison explains what each one is chemically and legally, how they differ in evidence, FDA status, insurance coverage, cost, session experience and safety monitoring, and lays out who tends to be a better fit for each so you can have an informed conversation with your psychiatrist.. - How Long Do TMS Results Last?
A course of TMS ends after six to nine weeks, which raises the obvious question of what happens afterward. This article reviews the follow-up studies on TMS durability, explains why roughly two thirds of responders remain well at one year, describes the factors that predict a lasting response, and lays out how maintenance sessions and re-treatment courses work for people whose depression begins to return.. - Is TMS Covered by Medicare?
Medicare covers TMS for major depressive disorder in every state, but coverage comes with specific medical criteria and your out-of-pocket cost depends on whether you have Original Medicare, a Medigap supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan. This guide walks through the coverage rules, the documentation required, what each type of Medicare pays, realistic cost examples and how Stedfast Psychiatry handles the process for Medicare patients.. - TMS vs ECT: Comparing Two Brain Stimulation Treatments
TMS and electroconvulsive therapy are both brain stimulation treatments for depression, and they are often confused with each other. They differ in almost every practical respect: how they work, how effective they are for severe illness, whether anesthesia is involved, what the side effects are, and how treatment fits into daily life. - Deep TMS vs NeuroStar: What the Difference Means for You
BrainsWay Deep TMS and NeuroStar are the two most widely used TMS systems in the United States, and patients regularly ask which one is better. This comparison covers how the coils differ, how deep and wide each one stimulates, what each is FDA-cleared to treat, how session length and courses compare, what the head-to-head and indirect evidence shows, and how to decide which matters for your situation.. - TMS Side Effects: What Is Normal and What Is Not
TMS is one of the best-tolerated treatments in psychiatry, but it is not free of side effects, and patients deserve a clear account of them. This article separates the common and expected effects such as scalp discomfort and headache from the rare but serious ones such as seizure, explains what we screen for before treatment, addresses worries about memory, hearing and long-term effects, and tells you exactly when to call the clinic.. - How Much Does TMS Cost With and Without Insurance?
TMS is one of the more expensive outpatient psychiatric treatments if you pay cash, and one of the most affordable if your insurance approves it. This article breaks down per-session and full-course prices, what commercial insurance and Medicare typically pay, the criteria insurers use to approve coverage, how deductibles and copays play out across a 36-session course, and the practical ways patients bring the number down.. - Does TMS Work? What the Evidence Shows
TMS has been studied in randomized sham-controlled trials, large multi-site registries and head-to-head comparisons for nearly two decades. This article reviews what that evidence shows for depression, OCD and anxious depression, explains response and remission rates in plain numbers, identifies who tends to do best, addresses the "is TMS a hoax" question directly, and is honest about the conditions where evidence remains limited.. - What Is TMS Therapy? A Plain-English Guide
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, is an FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate underactive brain circuits in depression and other conditions. This guide explains what TMS is in plain terms, how a session works, the difference between standard rTMS and Deep TMS, who qualifies, what a typical course involves, and how it compares with medication and other options.. - How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD as an Adult
Getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult is more straightforward than most people expect, but it does require a proper clinical evaluation rather than an online quiz. This guide covers who can diagnose adult ADHD, what the evaluation includes, how childhood history is handled when you have no records, what conditions must be ruled out, what it costs, and what treatment looks like once the diagnosis is made.. - Hurricane Season Anxiety: Coping Before, During and After the Storm
From June through November, residents of Florida and coastal South Carolina live with a hum of dread that rises every time a cone appears on the news. For those who have been through Ian, Michael, Irma or Matthew, it can become a cycle of compulsive forecast-checking, sleeplessness and panic that lasts half the year. - Psychiatrist vs Psychologist: Which One Do You Need?
Psychiatrists and psychologists both treat mental health conditions, but their training, tools and typical roles differ. This guide explains what each one does, when medication or therapy is the right starting point, how the two work together, and what to do if you are not sure which door to walk through first.
You do not have to figure it out alone.
Tell us how to reach you and our scheduling team will help you explore appointment options. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks, in person or by video. Medicare and most plans accepted; self-pay new-patient visits are $185.