Not feeling right after coming home
Many service members describe the same thing: they made it home safe, but they do not feel like themselves. Sleep is off, patience is short, and the things that used to matter feel flat. Others hit a wall after leaving the military, when structure and purpose suddenly disappear. Spouses may crash after holding everything together through a deployment.
Depression is a medical condition, not a failure of toughness. It is treatable.
Signs of depression
- Feeling numb, flat, or hopeless
- Losing interest in hiking Garden of the Gods, family, or friends
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Exhaustion and trouble concentrating
- Drinking more or taking risks
- Pulling away from people
- Thoughts of death or suicide
If you are thinking about suicide, call or text 988 now and press 1 if you are a veteran or service member, or call 911.
Military culture and mental health
Many service members fear that getting help will hurt their career. Confidentiality matters here; you choose what, if anything, goes to your unit or employer. Treating depression often restores the focus, judgment, and energy that service demands.
Veterans in the Springs
Thousands of veterans have made Colorado Springs home. Chronic pain, head injuries, trauma, and the loss of military identity can all contribute to depression. Your provider will take your full history into account when planning treatment.
Your first appointment, step by step
1. We start with what brought you in and how long it has been going on.
2. We walk through sleep, appetite, energy, drinking, pain, and any head injuries.
3. We ask about trauma symptoms and past highs, so we can rule out bipolar disorder.
4. You fill out the PHQ-9, which gives us a score to beat at each visit.
5. If needed, we order labs for thyroid or vitamin problems.
Then we agree on a plan together. More detail lives on our psychiatric evaluation.
Why we might pick one medicine over another
Service and first-responder work shapes the choice. If you need to stay sharp on shift, we avoid sedating options during the day. If chronic pain from training or injury rides along with low mood, duloxetine may help both. If energy and motivation are gone, bupropion is a common fit. If nightmares and broken sleep are central, an SSRI and sometimes a sleep-focused medicine may be combined. Every antidepressant needs about a month or two to show its full effect, and we adjust along the way. Staying on treatment for months after recovery keeps the gains.
Firearms and safety
Firearms are common in military and veteran households. During a depressive episode, storing firearms away from home or with a trusted person temporarily can save lives. This is a recommended safety step, not a judgment.
First responders
Firefighters, police, and paramedics face repeated exposure to trauma and long shifts. Depression and burnout are common. We welcome first responders and work around shift schedules.
Athletes and the Olympic City
Colorado Springs hosts the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and a training center where elite athletes chase their goals. Injuries, missed teams, and retirement from sport can all trigger depression, especially when identity is built around performance. If you are an athlete or coach who feels lost, we understand the stakes and the pressure.
Spouses at Fort Carson and the bases
Military spouses in the Springs often move here with little notice, leave careers behind, and manage households alone during deployments. Depression in spouses is common and frequently overlooked. Your wellbeing deserves its own care plan.
Teens and young adults
Teens from 15 and cadet-age young adults are welcome. Under-25 patients starting an antidepressant get extra early check-ins, matching the FDA's boxed warning.
Extra tools
When a couple of antidepressants have missed, GeneSight testing adds genetic data to the next choice, and regular medication management keeps adjustments on schedule.
When to reach out between visits
Call us sooner if you notice new thoughts of self-harm, side effects that worry you, or a sudden surge of energy with little need for sleep. Those are reasons to adjust the plan quickly rather than wait.
Downtown Colorado Springs
We are at 102 S Tejon St, serving Old Colorado City, Briargate, Fountain, Falcon, Security-Widefield, and the Pikes Peak region. No referral required. Become a patient today.
Why Choose Colorado Springs Psychiatry and Mental Health?
- Board-certified psychiatric providers serving Colorado Springs and all of Colorado
- Research-backed treatment protocols
- Full documentation for all evaluations
- Coordinated care with your other providers across the region