Axis Integrated Mental Health

03/16/2026

The same traits that make you a strong endurance athlete can make it harder to recognize when you're not okay.

Ultra-endurance training demands discipline, pushing through discomfort, and showing up even when you don't feel like it.

Those skills build resilience. But they can also make it easy to ignore warning signs that something deeper is wrong.

A 2023 review found that despite the mental health benefits of exercise, ultra-endurance athletes are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and exercise dependence.

The combination of high training volumes, isolation, hormonal disruption from overtraining syndrome and RED-S (relative energy deficiency), and the emotional weight of performance can create a perfect storm.

Rob Krar, two-time Western States and Leadville 100 champion, has been open about his struggles with depression—even at the peak of his career. After a knee injury in 2017, he reached what he called "one of the darkest moments of my life." He said: "I was silent for too long, cycling through denial, anger, and shame."

What changed? He spoke up. He told his wife, Christina. That vulnerability became his lifeline.

Depression in athletes doesn't always look like sadness. It can show up as:

- Persistent low mood
- Loss of interest in training or daily life
- Sleep and appetite disruption
- Deep fatigue
- Feelings of worthlessness

If you're training hard and something feels off, it's not weakness to ask for help. It's the same courage you bring to every hard workout.

Read the full article to understand overtraining syndrome, RED-S, and how to support yourself or a loved one: https://axismh.com/do-endurance-athletes-ignore-signs-of-burnout/

03/14/2026

The question isn't whether antidepressants work. It's: how often do they work, and for whom?

The STAR*D trial, the largest real-world study of antidepressant effectiveness ever conducted, followed over 4,000 people through multiple rounds of treatment.

The results were sobering:
- Only 33% achieved remission after the first medication.
- After four rounds of switching or augmenting medications, about 67% reached remission. That means one in three people didn't find relief even after trying multiple antidepressants.
- On average, antidepressants show effectiveness rates between 38% and 50%.
- For people with severe depression, they're more likely to help. - For mild to moderate depression, the results are inconsistent, and in some cases, the placebo effect accounts for much of the improvement.

This doesn't mean antidepressants don't work. It means they work for some people, sometimes, and finding the right fit often requires trial and error.

The real problem? Most treatment plans follow standardized protocols that treat depression as if it's the same in every person. It's not.

Depression is deeply personal. Your biology, trauma history, lifestyle, and even genetics influence how you respond to medication. A one-size-fits-all approach misses that entirely.

Read the full article to understand what the research really shows about antidepressant effectiveness: https://axismh.com/does-depression-medication-really-work-heres-what-the-research-shows/

03/13/2026

Today, we got a query that took us to this message we got from our patients. The query was 'Can I see a psychiatrist who will work with me on FMLA/medical leave, not just prescribe meds?'

Here's what most people don't realize about taking medical leave for mental health: your psychiatrist needs to actively support that process, not just sign a form. When I approached Axis Integrated Mental Health about needing to step back from work to focus on treatment, they didn't just accommodate it - they helped me navigate the whole thing. They coordinated with my employer's leave administrator, provided detailed documentation, and adjusted my treatment plan knowing I had protected time to actually engage with therapy. They respect that not everyone can afford expensive out-of-pocket treatment, work with insurance, and don't push unnecessary interventions. If you're in Denver or Westminster researching psychiatrists because you need someone who understands the intersection of mental health treatment and employment protections - not just medication management - Axis has the infrastructure and philosophy to actually support that. This is integrated care that considers your whole life, not just your symptoms.

03/12/2026

A firefighter once told us he wasn't afraid of running into burning buildings.

What terrified him most was what came after, the nightmares, the flashbacks, the weight of what he couldn't unseen.

In three months, Denver lost three police officers to su***de. The city's response? Cut mental health funding.

So we made a choice: expand our pro bono TMS program to offer completely free depression and PTSD treatment to Colorado's first responders.

The statistics are devastating:

- First responders are 5X more likely to attempt su***de than civilians
- 1 in 3 firefighters and 1 in 4 police officers suffer from depression or PTSD

These are the people who answer our worst 911 calls. We need to answer theirs.

TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) is FDA-approved, drug-free treatment that uses magnetic pulses to reset the areas of your brain affected by depression and PTSD. It works especially well for people who've tried medications without relief.

No sedation. No side effects like weight gain or brain fog. No hospital stays. And now: no cost for eligible Colorado first responders.

This program is available for police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics, active or retired, at our Aurora, Westminster, and Louisville locations.

You're trained to save others. You shouldn't have to navigate your own breakdown alone.
Learn more about the free TMS program for Colorado first responders: https://axismh.com/free-depression-and-ptsd-treatment-for-first-responders/

03/11/2026

Su***de is the #1 cause of death for 10-14 year olds in Colorado.

While we are celebrating a much-needed overall improvement in youth mental health this year (jumping to 31st from 44th), this data point shows us exactly where the fight is. The fact that 47 of our 64 counties lack a single practicing child psychiatrist is a structural gap we can no longer ignore. We are leaving our rural and mountain communities to fend for themselves.

We are in a crisis of access for our most vulnerable. At Axis, we are committed to closing this gap. Our telehealth services are designed to reach families across the state, and our teams are built to support children and adolescents. Your child does not have to be a statistic.

Read the 'Where does Colorado Rank in Mental Health in 2025' Report: https://axismh.com/where-does-colorado-rank-for-mental-health-2025-update/

03/11/2026

Most people think the hardest part of depression treatment is the medication, the therapy, or the time commitment.

In reality, the hardest step is hope.

Hope means believing things could get better when past attempts have not worked.
Hope means showing up again after disappointment.
Hope means saying out loud, “I need help.”

That is why the patients who shared their stories in this video are incredibly brave.

They allowed us to capture something that is rarely visible from the outside. The quiet courage it takes to keep going when depression has convinced you nothing will change.

What you will see in this video is not a polished story. It is something far more powerful. Real people rediscovering pieces of themselves they thought were gone.

The version of themselves that laughs.
That feels connected again.
That starts imagining a future.

At Axis Integrated Mental Health, moments like these are why our team does this work. They are also why the 266K Project exists. Right now, 266,000 Coloradans are experiencing serious thoughts of su***de. Too many people are suffering silently, convinced they have run out of options.

The truth is that effective treatments and compassionate care can help people find their way back.

But it always begins with one difficult decision: allowing yourself to hope.

To the patients who trusted us with their stories in this video, thank you. Your courage will help more people take that first step.

Watch their stories here:

In this video, patients share what Axis Integrated Mental Health has meant to their recovery from depression.For many people struggling with depression or tr...

03/10/2026

For anyone struggling with an eating disorder or perfectionism, life is a constant battle. It’s a war against your own body. It’s a relentless, punishing cycle of control, shame, and anxiety.

Sarah McLaughlin is here to offer a truce.

She understands that an eating disorder is almost never about food. It’s about control. It’s about anxiety. It’s a symptom of a brain that is trying to cope with a world that feels overwhelming.

Her entire approach is built on this radical idea: stop punishing your body and start healing your brain.

Sarah is an expert in CBT, DBT, and ACT, and she uses these tools to help you find peace. She’s here to help you unpack the "why" behind the disorder and find new, healthier ways to feel safe and in control.

Sarah is treating patients in Denver, Boulder, and Westminster: https://axismh.com/provider/sarah-mclaughlin/

03/09/2026

Esketamine and ketamine are not the same thing—and understanding the difference matters if you're considering treatment for depression.

Ketamine is an anesthetic that's been used off-label for depression for over 20 years. Esketamine (brand name Spravato) is a refined version, essentially one "half" of the ketamine molecule, that's FDA-approved specifically for treatment-resistant depression.

Here's what actually matters when you're deciding between them:
1. Insurance coverage: Spravato is covered by most major insurance plans, including Medicaid. Ketamine infusions are considered off-label and typically not covered, meaning you'll pay $350–$600 per session out of pocket.
2. Cost: With the Spravato With Me Savings Program, many patients pay as little as $10 per treatment. A full course of ketamine infusions can run $3,000–$5,000 or more.
3. Administration: Spravato is a nasal spray administered in a certified clinic with 2 hours of post-treatment monitoring. Ketamine is given via IV infusion, also in a clinical setting.
4. Effectiveness: Recent studies show no significant difference in efficacy between the two. Both have response rates around 50–70% for treatment-resistant depression. One study noted that ketamine infusions may require fewer treatments to achieve remission, but the out-of-pocket cost can make it harder to stay on treatment long-term.
5. Tolerance: You can develop some tolerance to both, but that doesn't mean they stop working. Long-term data on Spravato shows maintained antidepressant effectiveness with no evidence of diminishing response. The psychedelic experience isn't necessary for the treatment to work.

Neither can be used at home. Both require clinical supervision for safety.

The question isn't which is "better." It's which fits your needs—insurance coverage, cost, treatment structure, and long-term accessibility.

Read the full comparison to understand the pros, cons, and which option might be right for you: https://axismh.com/esketamine-vs-ketamine-are-they-the-same-thing/

03/07/2026

PTSD doesn't just live in your mind. It lives in your body.

Chronic fatigue, muscle tension, headaches, jaw pain, digestive issues, inflammation, these aren't just side effects. They're signs that trauma has taken up residence in your nervous system.

When trauma occurs, your body activates the fight-or-flight response. Stress hormones flood your system. For most people, these effects subside.

But in PTSD, your body can remain stuck in a high-alert state, sometimes for years. This chronic activation causes real physiological changes:

- The amygdala becomes overactive, making you more reactive to perceived threats.
- The hippocampus may shrink, affecting memory and emotional regulation.
- The prefrontal cortex becomes underactive, making it harder to think clearly under stress.

These changes affect your sleep, digestion, immune system, and heart health. That's why movement matters.

Exercise isn't just good for your muscles. It's a natural reset for your nervous system. You don't need to run marathons. Research shows that low-impact movement is especially effective for trauma survivors:

- Walking – Rhythmic and grounding
- Tai Chi – Meditative and calming
- Yoga – Increases body awareness and reduces hyperarousal

Healing doesn't have to be complex. Sometimes it starts with one simple step forward.
Read the full article to understand how movement heals PTSD: https://axismh.com/how-movement-heals-ptsd-a-science-backed-path-to-recovery/

03/06/2026

The love just keeps pouring week-after-week. Thanks "L" for this message, "I've avoided therapy for years because medical offices make my anxiety worse, not better. That sterile, rushed, "you're just another appointment" vibe? I can't do it. When I finally called Axis Integrated Mental Health in Denver, I was honest about this concern during scheduling. They got it. The office space in their Denver location feels more like a thoughtfully designed living room than a clinic. My psychiatrist spends real time with me - not 15-minute med checks where I barely get two sentences in. We're also finally dialing in my medications after years of "let's try this and see" at other practices. If you're in Denver or Boulder and the thought of cold, impersonal psychiatric appointments has kept you from getting help, Axis does something fundamentally different with their environment and approach. It's the difference between dreading appointments and actually showing up consistently."

03/05/2026

PTSD doesn't just impact veterans or first responders. It affects people from all walks of life, about 12 million adults struggle with it in any given year.

A car accident. An assault. A natural disaster. Prolonged childhood trauma.

PTSD affects how your brain processes fear and memory, leading to flashbacks, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, and avoidance behaviors that disrupt daily life.

A PTSD treatment plan is more than a list of appointments. It's a personalized roadmap that outlines specific goals, therapeutic approaches, and tracking methods to guide recovery.

Each plan includes measurable objectives and interventions that adapt as you progress. Evidence-based therapies for PTSD include:

- Trauma-Focused CBT – Targets distorted thinking patterns
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) – Reframes trauma-related beliefs
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) – Safely desensitizes triggers
- EMDR – Reduces emotional intensity of memories
- DBT – Enhances emotion regulation and distress tolerance

For people with Complex PTSD (CPTSD) or treatment-resistant symptoms, therapy alone may not be enough. That's where psychiatry, medication management, and innovative treatments like Deep TMS and Spravato come in, promoting neuroplasticity and unlocking healing when traditional approaches plateau.

Read the full article to see a sample PTSD treatment plan and understand what effective trauma care looks like: https://axismh.com/sample-treatment-plan-for-ptsd-interventions-local-options-in-denver-westminster-boulder/

03/04/2026

For every 11 new mothers you see at Target, in the park, or on your feed, at least one is struggling with postpartum depression or anxiety (PPD/PPA).

This is an incredibly common and treatable medical condition. Yet so many women suffer in silence, terrified that these feelings make them a "bad mom."

Let us be perfectly clear: You are not a bad mom. You are a great mom who is having a normal (but awful) human response. You are recovering from a major medical event while being sleep-deprived and flooded with hormone changes.

We are here to help. Read the 'Where does Colorado Rank in Mental Health in 2025' report: https://axismh.com/where-does-colorado-rank-for-mental-health-2025-update/