All throughout undergrad I struggled with what would be described as depression and anxiety. Being a young minority woman, I did not know this was a mental health issue. In my family we did not talk of emotions or acknowledge stress. Instead, we pushed down our feelings and kept moving forward. Self-care was not a thing as well. I do not speak for all minority individuals, but that is how it was in my family. I was seen as weak if I would break down and hole up in my room.

BREAKING THE CYCLE

Like many individuals, there is intergenerational trauma. Meaning, I inherently took on certain coping mechanisms to deal with everything. When everything seemed to get to a point where it was disrupting my daily activities (sleep, focus, interpersonal relationships), that is when I knew I needed to seek help. Just seeking help, was the first step towards breaking the cycle that was so ingrained in my family.

One of the first steps I took on my journey to heal, was therapy. My therapist worked with me to process my emotions in a non-judgmental environment. I was able to work through years of coping mechanisms that were no longer needed. From my therapist, I was directed to a psychiatric nurse practitioner to bring on board pharmaceutical medications to help manage my symptoms. This was to help bring my overall feeling of grief and anxiety to a controllable level where I could do the necessary therapy work.

Overall, I am appreciative of my therapist and psychiatric nurse practitioner. However, there are things that can also contribute to mental health that I was unaware of.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF CARE

Who would have known that mental health is multifactorial and therefore you need an overall wellness approach? I certainly had no idea. It was not until I was in medical school at Bastyr University that I found this out. I found practitioners who listened to my story, asked me questions about my habits, ran labs that had not been drawn before, and used bodywork. This was all very new to me. I even was directed to acupuncture and that was extremely helpful overall.

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

When someone comes to me searching for help regarding their mental health, you can expect to have a thorough first appointment. Besides the obvious health history questions, I will ask you about your sleep, your nutritional intake, your stress levels, your coping mechanisms, and much more. I will order labs that are relevant and specific to you. This may include the “normal” panel like complete blood count (CBC) and thyroid labs (TSH), but may also include vitamins, hormones, and iron to name a few. As a trained naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist, our sessions together might be mixed. The visit might include a check-in and some bodywork or needle placement or a naturopathic adjustment. The beauty of naturopathic medicine is that there is no shortage of modalities. Together we will work together to come up with a plan that works for you to help your overall mental health and well-being.This is a journey, and I am here with you.