3 Key Treatments for Depression with Coexisting Conditions

Depression can feel like an uphill battle on its own. But when it overlaps with other mental or physical health conditions, things can become twice as overwhelming. This kind of overlap is referred to as comorbidity, and it’s incredibly common. In fact, many people living with depression are also navigating anxiety disorders, PTSD, OCD, or other conditions at the same time.

At Serenity Mental Health Centers, we specialize in helping individuals who are dealing with more than just one diagnosis. Our patients come to us looking for answers, clarity, and real relief. We’re here to provide that relief.

Whether you're managing multiple conditions or you're still searching for the right diagnosis, our providers are here to offer you personalized care and science-backed treatment options.

What is Depression Comorbidity?

Comorbidity refers to the presence of two or more disorders in the same person at the same time. Most people with major depressive disorder (MDD) are also managing at least one additional condition. These coexisting conditions can affect how depression looks, feels, and responds to treatment.

One of the most important things to know about depression comorbidity is that it isn’t a sign of failure. It doesn’t mean your condition is untreatable or that your symptoms are “too much.” It simply means your treatment plan should be customized to match your unique needs, and that’s exactly what we do at Serenity.

What Conditions Coexist with Depression?

Depression rarely shows up alone. Some of the most common conditions that overlap with MDD include:

• Anxiety disorders – including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and social anxiety
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – which can intensify depressive thoughts and complicate emotional regulation
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – especially in those with a history of trauma
• Chronic depression – also called persistent depressive symptoms, lasting two years or more
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) – a recurring form of depression tied to seasonal changes
• Postpartum depression – impacting people after childbirth, sometimes with anxiety or intrusive thoughts
• Bipolar disorder – individuals may cycle between depressive and manic states
• Medical conditions – including diabetes, cancer, or cardiovascular disease
• Substance use disorders – where alcohol or drugs are used to self-medicate depression symptoms

This overlap of diagnoses means treatment needs to address more than just one thing. A depression treatment center that understands comorbidity is essential for long-term healing.

What Symptoms Might I Feel?

When depression coexists with another condition, symptoms can become more complex and harder to untangle. This is especially the case if symptoms of one condition mimic those of another condition, like depression, that has already been diagnosed.

Take depression and anxiety, for example. They’re two different diagnoses, but they often feed into each other. You may wake up feeling low, sluggish, and hopeless (classic depression symptoms), only to experience a surge of nervous energy and fear a few hours later, triggered by anxious thoughts. In one moment, you’re numb. In the next, your heart is racing.

Those struggling with depression and anxiety may also struggle with:

• Constant worry that something bad will happen
• Emotional numbness or disconnection
• Persistent sadness, low self-esteem, or guilt
• Panic attacks, chest tightness, or shortness of breath
• Insomnia or sleeping too much
• Difficulty concentrating, thinking clearly, or making decisions
• Restlessness combined with exhaustion
• Avoiding social interaction out of fear or lack of interest
• Intrusive thoughts or racing mind
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicidal ideation

If these symptoms sound familiar, you or a loved one may be experiencing depression with anxiety comorbidity. While this may feel overwhelming, this combination is treatable. When you have a care team who sees the full picture, anything is possible. This is why Serenity only staffs world-class, board-certified psychiatrists and care team members that genuinely care about patient success. That being said, you may be wondering…

When Should I Seek Treatment?

You don’t have to wait until things become unbearable to ask for help. Many people delay care because they think “things aren’t that bad yet.” But untreated comorbid conditions can grow more severe over time. They can even develop into treatment-resistant depression, which takes longer to treat and may require more advanced interventions.

If you’re struggling to focus at work, maintain relationships, or simply get through the day, it’s time to seek help. If you’ve already tried antidepressants without success, that’s okay. We’re here to let you know that there are other options.

How Serenity Can Help

We approach depression treatment differently at Serenity. Our first step is always to hear your problems and goals for treatment. We take the time to understand everything you’re dealing with, including your symptoms, past experiences, coexisting diagnoses, and goals for recovery.

We then create a treatment plan built specifically for you. As a leading treatment center for depression, we combine traditional psychiatric methods with groundbreaking therapies to help you find long-term relief.

Let’s look at the three most powerful treatments we offer for patients living with depression and coexisting conditions.

1. Medication Management for Depression

Antidepressants are one of the most common and effective treatments for depression. But not every medication works for every brain, or every condition.

That’s why our psychiatrists specialize in medication management for depression. We look at your full mental health picture, considering how other conditions like OCD, PTSD, or anxiety may influence your symptoms and response to certain medications.

Some antidepressants are more activating and ideal for low energy and fatigue, whereas others are more calming and helpful for those dealing with racing thoughts or insomnia. Our team closely monitors your progress and adjusts as needed, so your treatment evolves as you do.

If you’ve already tried antidepressants and felt little or no improvement, don’t lose hope. We regularly work with individuals who’ve struggled with medication-resistant depression, and we have options beyond prescriptions.

2. TMS for Depression: Lasting Relief

For individuals dealing with treatment-resistant depression, or those seeking a non-medication approach, TMS therapy is a transformative option. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a cutting-edge, FDA-approved depression treatment that uses targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate underactive regions of the brain that are known to be impacted by mental health disorders.

How TMS Works

During a typical session, a small device is placed gently against your scalp. It emits pulses that stimulate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for mood regulation.

This stimulation promotes neuroplasticity, encouraging your brain to create new, healthier connections. Over the course of your TMS sessions, your brain becomes more balanced, and your mood more stable.

TMS is a medication-free brain stimulation therapy. You remain awake, alert, and comfortable. There are no sedatives, no memory loss, and no downtime. You can return to your daily routine immediately after each session.

What TMS Can Help With

At Serenity, we’ve helped thousands of patients with TMS for depression, including those with anxiety, PTSD, and OCD. As a leading TMS therapy clinic, we’ve seen outstanding outcomes:

• Over 80% of patients report measurable improvement
• Over 70% of patients achieve full remission
• TMS is safe to combine with antidepressants or therapy
• Ideal for people who haven’t responded to medication alone

Whether you’ve lived with persistent depressive symptoms for years or you’re looking for a TMS mental health treatment that really works, we’re here to help.

3. Ketamine Therapy for Rapid Results

In severe cases, especially those involving suicidal ideation, emotional numbness, or years of chronic depression, waiting weeks for medication to work may not be an option. That’s where ketamine therapy for depression comes in.

What Makes Ketamine Different?

Ketamine works differently from traditional antidepressants. Rather than targeting serotonin, ketamine activates the brain’s glutamate system, helping rebuild damaged neural pathways and boosting mood rapidly. With ketamine therapy, patients often feel relief after just one or two treatments.

Who Is It For?

Ketamine therapy is especially effective for those with:

• Treatment-resistant depression
• Suicidal thoughts or self-harm behaviors
• Coexisting trauma or PTSD
• Medication-resistant depression
• Emotional numbness or disassociation

Serenity offers ketamine therapy in a safe, supervised setting, with a team that knows how to support you throughout every step of the process.

Click or Call to Get Started

Living with depression is hard. Living with depression and another condition can feel almost impossible. But it is treatable, and you don’t have to go through it alone.

At Serenity Mental Health Centers, we offer personalized care, compassionate providers, and life-changing therapies. From TMS depression treatment and antidepressants to ketamine and talk therapy, we build a path designed specifically for you. You deserve expert care, a team that listens and, most of all, you deserve to get better!

Call one of our on-site patient care coordinators today or click to schedule your consultation.