A Story of Healing: How One Patient Transformed Her Life Through Psychiatric Care in Tempe
Mental health is not about being fixed — it is about being understood.
At Amicus Health & Wellness, we do not view patients as problems to solve.
We walk with people, side by side, to identify strategies that support their emotional wellbeing, daily functioning, relationships, and the life they want to build.
There are many stories that shape this work.
Many lives that have crossed this path.
Each one meaningful.
Each one personal.
This is one of them.
Shared with permission and anonymity to help others who may feel alone.
A Young Woman With a Difficult Start
A young woman came in seeking help after living through a childhood full of trauma.
She experienced physical and emotional abuse early in life.
She grew up in foster care — moving between homes, never fully rooted, never fully supported.
She was resilient and strong.
She did not quit on herself.
She worked.
She tried to maintain relationships.
She showed up.
But something inside always felt heavy.
She described:
• low energy, even when life was stable
• lack of motivation without knowing why
• difficulty functioning at work
• a quiet feeling that something was missing
At the time, she did not understand what was happening.
She wondered if she was just tired.
She wondered if food or sleep could help.
She started smoking marijuana — hoping it would lift her mood — but it never brought her fully back.
She felt like she was living life behind a window.
The First Step Toward Clarity
When she came to Amicus, we sat together and talked — not with the intention of “fixing” her, but to understand her:
• her background
• her childhood experiences
• her coping style
• her stress responses
We evaluated her symptoms carefully.
We ruled out medical causes for depression.
There were no thyroid problems.
No deficiencies.
No chronic illness causing the symptoms.
What she was experiencing was depression — shaped by trauma, shaped by instability, shaped by a life lived without emotional safety.
We discussed treatment options together — medication, therapy, and the importance of a dual approach.
She agreed to try medication.
Finding the Right Treatment
We started a medication many people know: Zoloft.
The generic name is sertraline.
For many, it helps rebalance the brain’s serotonin pathways — slowly, gently, steadily.
We talked about realistic expectations:
it could take four to six weeks before she noticed the effects.
She agreed.
She trusted the process.
She came back for her follow-up appointment four weeks later.
And she smiled.
She said:
“I feel like my energy is coming back.”
“My thoughts are clearer.”
“I feel like I’m smiling again.”
“I’m connecting with people.”
Her boyfriend noticed the difference.
Her job felt exciting again.
She woke up looking forward to the day.
She had hope.
She said thank you — over and over.
But the truth is:
the medication did the work.
She did the work.
Our role was to identify the problem, help her understand it, and guide her to the right support.
She also began therapy — combining both approaches for the best outcome.
Where She Is Today
She is thriving.
She works.
She laughs.
She lives.
Now, she only visits every three months for medication management.
She is stable and doing very well.
This is what psychiatric care can do:
not erase the past, but build a future.
Not change who someone is — but help them feel like themselves again.
Why This Story Matters
If you are experiencing depression, low energy, hopelessness, or feeling disconnected from life, there is help.
You are not alone.
Trauma does not define your limits.
Depression is not a personal failure.
Your brain may simply need support.
Your heart may simply need healing.
Your story may simply need a beginning — not an ending.
If you are ready to take the first step, we are here.
Come see us in Tempe.
Let us walk beside you.
Visit Us
Amicus Health & Wellness
2111 East Baseline Road, Ste C8
Tempe, AZ 85283
Phone: (480) 809-1765
Email: info@amicushw.com
Office Hours: Monday – Saturday
8:30 AM – 5:30 PM