Integrative Psychiatry for Chronic Illness
If you’ve struggled with an invisible illness (to others, at least) like chronic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), POTS, MCAS, EDS, or fibromyalgia, you’re probably exasperated with the lack of support and answers you’ve gotten thus far.
My patients come to me saying:
I was labeled as being “psychosomatic”
I’ve seen so many specialists and tried so many medications that I can’t even keep track of it anymore.
When I’m having a flare-up or explaining my symptoms, my own doctors think I’m making it up
I avoid going to the doctor and/or I don’t trust the medical system because of how I’ve been treated
I want to be able to do normal, everyday things and I just can’t.
We understand, and we want to help.
Information about Chronic Fatigue
Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) overlaps with similar conditions like fibromyalgia, adrenal fatigue, POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome), Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome, and psychiatric conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression. There is also a lot of overlap with the autistic neurotype and some of these conditions. These are debilitating, but treatable, syndromes that result from a variety of root causes.
Infections (e.g. lyme), viruses (e.g., COVID), cancer or cancer treatment, mental/emotional trauma, or physical trauma can be the catalyst. They can overload the body’s energy systems similar to how an electric circuit can become overloaded when too many things are in use at once. As a result, the circuit shuts off to protect itself. The body’s energy and metabolic systems do something similar in the case of chronic fatigue.
The resulting symptoms - brain fog, symptom flares, unpredictable allergic responses, low energy, chronic pain, gut/digestive issues, poor sleep, and others - can improve with an integrative approach that blends medication, lab testing, supplements, behavioral strategies, and ongoing support & referral to specialists.
How We Work with Chronic Illness
-
1. Initial Assessment and Consultation
Treatment begins with a 2 hour initial consultation where you tell us your story. We want to know how your symptoms are getting in the way of you living the life you want to live, and make sure we are being thorough in addressing the concerns that brought you here.
We will come up with a comprehensive plan of treatment that may include lab tests, medication, nutrition recommendations, and behavioral treatments specifically designed to address your unique goals and challenges.
-
2. Ongoing Follow-Up Care
Typically, we will meet at least monthly to check in on your progress. We want to be a trusted partner in your well-being, and work together to track improvements, milestones, and adjust the treatment as needed.
It can take time to feel better, but if we both put in the work, oftentimes patients feel a major improvement in the first 3-6 months, and after a year of treatment, they can hardly believe how far they’ve come.
We also partner with folks in the community who know how to advocate for specialist care you may need, when we live in a medical system that often doesn’t recognize the severity of some of these conditions on quality of life.
The process starts whenever you’re ready. Click the link below to schedule your free phone consultation.