What Are Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (NPs)?
A psychiatric NP is someone who specializes in psychiatric medication. They have the knowledge, skills, training, and experience to help an individual find the right medication for them, based on their illness and specific symptoms. Duties of psychiatric NPs include:
- Evaluating their client’s symptoms and needs
- Finding a medication that meets their client’s needs
- Continually monitoring their client’s use of their medication
- Adjusting the client’s medication as needed
An online psychiatric NP conducts their work online! Now, there are certain instances in which one might need to go into the office for an evaluation or check-up, but primarily speaking, the psychiatric NPs at Thriveworks Newport News can provide their clients with medication management services virtually.
What Mental Disorders Might Need Medication?
Psychiatric medication can help to treat many different mental illnesses by alleviating certain symptoms. Here are a few specific examples of the mental illnesses that medication might help to relieve:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD surfaces after one experiences a traumatic or disturbing event, such as physical abuse, mental abuse, military combat, a natural disaster, or even the death of a loved one. Symptoms of PTSD include:
- Hypervigilance
- Anxiety
- Loneliness and social isolation
- Loss of interest in day-to-day
- Emotional detachment
Fortunately, PTSD is highly treatable and both therapy and medication prove effective. If you’re experiencing symptoms of PTSD, our providers can provide you with therapy and/or help you find a medication that will help.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is a very serious type of depression, which new moms (as well as soon-to-be moms) might experience. Symptoms of postpartum depression include:
- Depressive thoughts and feelings
- Reduced interest in day-to-day
- Thoughts of harming herself or her baby
- Fatigue
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Changes in appetite/weight
- Severe mood swings
Again, postpartum depression is a treatable mental health condition, and both therapy and medication prove beneficial. To be more specific, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can alleviate symptoms of postpartum depression.
Schedule Psychiatry at Thriveworks Newport News
Are you experiencing new symptoms of a mental illness? Are you looking for medication management help? Thriveworks Newport News is here for you. As we mentioned earlier, we have many different mental health professionals who might prove beneficial to your journey. We have online psychiatric NPs who can provide you with medication management.
To begin working with any of our providers, you can contact us right now. We’ll get you scheduled for your first appointment, which you might even have the same or next day! We’ll work to get you in at your earliest convenience.
