There’s a version of this conversation most of us have had in our heads. Something’s been off for a while. You’re not sleeping great, you’ve lost interest in things you used to love, getting through the day feels like pushing a boulder uphill. And still, somehow, you talk yourself out of calling anyone. It’s not bad enough yet. Other people have it worse. I’ll figure it out.

Dr. Chaston Ellis hears that a lot.

Ellis is a psychiatrist at Monument Health Behavioral Health in Rapid City, and he recently sat down to talk openly about anxiety, depression, and what actually getting help looks like. He moved here from Idaho last summer, but he’s already noticed something: people are starting to show up.

Anxiety Isn’t New. It’s Just Louder Now.

Ellis has seen the social media effect play out in his office, especially with younger patients whose worlds quietly shrank during COVID and never fully reopened.

“I’m starting to see some of those kids in my office now,” he said. “They’re eighteen and nineteen and they want to go to college or they want to enter the workforce and they feel like, I can’t do that now. My world has become much smaller.”

But he was quick to point out that anxiety itself isn’t new. What’s changed is the comparison trap social media creates, where everyone else’s highlight reel runs on a loop while you’re sitting with your actual life. He referenced the idea that we’ve been sold a version of life where happiness is the default setting. It isn’t. Frustration, dread, boredom, those are all part of being human too. When you forget that, scrolling past someone’s perfect vacation photos starts to feel like evidence that something’s wrong with you. It isn’t.

So When Is It Time to Call Someone?

Ellis is looking for patterns, not rock bottom. Are you still finding joy in things you used to love? Are you sleeping? Can you concentrate? Have you lost motivation to the point where basic responsibilities are slipping?

If those symptoms have been showing up more often than not for at least two weeks, he says it’s time to come in.

“Some people, it’s bad enough they’re not showing up to work and their relationships are being affected,” he said. “And this is going on for more than two weeks. Yeah. Come in. Let’s get some help.”

He’s also clear that medication isn’t automatically the answer. The old idea that depression is simply a chemical deficiency has been largely walked back in the field. Therapy, lifestyle changes, and medication all have their place, and the right combination depends entirely on the person.

You Can Bring Someone With You

This part might surprise you. You don’t have to walk into a psychiatrist’s office alone. Friends come with patients. Family members sit in the room. If sensitive information comes up, Ellis will ask for a moment of privacy, but your support person can come right back in.

“I’ve had people who come in and they’ll go, I’m more comfortable with this person here,” he said.

For anyone quietly dreading that first appointment, knowing that changes things a little.

Monument Health Just Made It Much Easier to Get In

Monument Health recently expanded its psychiatric team in a significant way. Ellis joined alongside Dr. Stephanie Bennington and Dr. Kyle Siefers, effectively doubling the number of psychiatrists available in the area. The result is availability that Ellis himself calls unusual.

“We have a lot of availability,” he said. “We’re able to get people in almost same day or next day right now.”

If you’ve ever been told the next available appointment is four months out, you know exactly how significant that is.

Showing Up Is Already Something

Ellis grew up watching his sister struggle to find mental health care. His wife is a therapist. He didn’t stumble into this field. He was pulled toward it by people he loved who needed help and couldn’t always find it.

When someone finally makes it to his office, he tries to honor that.

“When somebody makes it there, I say, hey, you’ve got some momentum going for you,” he said. “You have hope in your corner already, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.”

Calling is hard. Scheduling is hard. Sitting in a waiting room is hard. By the time you’re across from him, you’ve already done something brave. The rest is a conversation.

Monument Health Behavioral Health is currently accepting new patients, with same-day and next-day appointments available.