HomeBlogPatientPatient Update: Courtney N. Shares How She Prepares to Go Back to School Patient Update: Courtney N. Shares How She Prepares to Go Back to School This material has been reviewed for accuracy by: Renee Albers, PhD September 25, 2024Blog, Patient TW: Suicidal thoughts Courtney N. loves being a schoolteacher. She gets excited about going back to school, like it’s New Year’s Eve. So, when she had to take a leave from her job because of debilitating anxiety it caused even more emotional stress. Courtney had been struggling with anxiety since she graduated from college more than a decade ago. Medication managed it mostly well, most of the time. After a surgery, she found that her medication was no longer working to keep her anxiety in check. A new provider suggested putting her on an SSRI. While she had her concerns, she tried the medication. Here’s what Courtney said about that experience: “After switching meds, I could not sleep at all, and I was actively suicidal. I tried everything to feel better—mushrooms, reiki, acupuncture. I changed my diet. I exercised. I gave up caffeine and alcohol. Nothing helped. I could not continue my work as a teacher, so I took advantage of the Family and Medical Leave Act to try and get myself well. Even with a loving family, a loving fiancé, and being surrounded with loving people, I felt everything slipping through my fingers. I had two separate in-patient hospitalizations, and one intensive outpatient stint… By this point I was on 6 or 7 different medications and was still not better.” Courtney had been administered the GeneSight test at some point during her crisis, but the results were never reviewed with her. The GeneSight test analyzes how a person’s genes may affect outcomes with certain medications and this type of testing exists for commonly prescribed medications used to treat depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health conditions. This type of testing provides clinicians with information about which medications may require dose adjustments, may be less likely to work, or may have an increased risk of side effects based on a person’s genetic makeup. When her new clinician offered a GeneSight test, Courtney remembered that she had done one and requested the results. After her new clinician reviewed her results, Courtney’s clinician informed her that an SSRI may not have been a good option for her. Courtney is a fast metabolizer, meaning that some medications may not stay in her system long enough to be effective. Courtney’s provider prescribed a new medication and after some time, Courtney began to feel like herself again and she was finally able to return to her job. As Courtney gets ready for a new school year, we checked in with her to see how she is doing and what advice she has for others struggling with their mental health. Myriad: Courtney, thank you so much for taking time to catch up with us. What have you been doing during your school break? CN: I’m working at a summer camp. For me, keeping a schedule is a component of maintaining my positive mental health. Myriad: How are you feeling? CN: I am great! Myriad: How do you mentally prepare yourself for a new school year? CN: As an English teacher, reading for pleasure is a big part of preparing for a new school year. Additionally, I spend time with colleagues collaborating for next year. Myriad: What are you most excited about? CN: I’m most excited about sharing my love of reading and learning with more students. I was awarded a grant in the spring so I will be able to teach more diverse texts in my classroom this year. Myriad: How do you encourage your students—and their parents–to prepare mentally for a new school year? CN: I think parents and students should remember that we all deserve grace. We’re all human, so we will all make mistakes or need some help. It’s not only okay, but it’s important to seek out that help if it’s needed. Myriad: After what you have been through, is there anything that worries you? CN: My biggest worry is a relapse in my mental health. However, I do have a team of people, professionally and personally, who I can turn to if this ever becomes more than a worry. Today, Courtney sometimes wonders what might have been: “What would have happened if I hadn’t taken the GeneSight test? How could my clinician have known about my particular gene-drug interactions? ? How long would it have taken to get to where I am today?” Here she makes a good and important point: Some providers only have a small window of time to spend with each of their patients; if they prescribe an antidepressant, patients may have to take it for several weeks to see how it works, and then come back. If it doesn’t help, they may need to be slowly weaned off before they can start the process again with something else. “That trial-and-error takes so long,” Courtney says, “but what do you do in between that for someone?” She also stresses the importance of being an advocate for yourself. “When you’re struggling with mental health, it is hard, because you know your body, but to get someone to listen and spend the time to understand is all so difficult,” Courtney says. “Ultimately, you need to be the one to make the choices that benefit you,” she adds, “and having all the tools at your disposal can help you and your healthcare provider make the best decisions.” Our articles are for informational purposes only and are reviewed by our Medical Information team, which includes PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider. The GeneSight test must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider who can prescribe medications. As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. The test results are designed to be just one part of a larger, complete patient assessment, which would include proper diagnosis and consideration of your medical history, other medications you may be taking, your family history, and other factors. If you are a healthcare provider and interested in learning more about the GeneSight test, please contact us at 855.891.9415. If you are a patient, please talk with your doctor to see if the GeneSight test may be helpful. Patient 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We’re thrilled to share that 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We're so grateful to the dedicated healthcare providers who... 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Patient 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We’re thrilled to share that 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We're so grateful to the dedicated healthcare providers who... Read more
Patient The Model Minority Myth and Mental Health The model minority myth stereotypes one cultural group, typically Asian Americans, as “intelligent, hard-working, and diligent and therefore more academically, ... Read more
Healthcare Provider How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied Acts of bullying can cause feelings of fear, loneliness and sadness, as well as depressi... Read more
Patient Cyberbullying: Unique Challenges and Impacts ‘We lost our daughter to cyberbullying.’ McKenna Brown was an accomplished hockey player and scholar, known for her kindness, when she became the target of int... Read more
Going Beyond Green, Yellow, Red on the GeneSight Report This blog summarizes key points discussed during the March 2024 GeneSight® Engage webinar Participants: Bernie Ranchero, MD, MS, MBA, medical direc... Read more
Healthcare Provider Top 5 Reasons Patients Stop Their Mood Disorder Treatment Mood disorder treatment for depression can be challenging – and patients may become frustrated when treatments don’t work. In fact, when people with depres... Read more
Patient The Impact of Gratitude on Depression and Anxiety “Say ‘Thank you,” a mother reminds her young kiddo. “T.G.I.F.!” we cheer at the end of a long week. We know it’s important to be thankful. But do we ... Read more
Patient The Silent Thief: The 5 Things Depression Can Steal “Depression is a thief,” writes Abhinav Chaurasia, a marketing automation specialist in an essay on LinkedIn. “It steals your joy, your motivation, and your abi... Read more
Patient How to Talk to Your Doctor about Anxiety Medication “When I was 27, I felt bad all the time,” writes Joanna Goddard on the popular Cup of Jo blog. She describes her initial experience with anxiety in detail. ... Read more
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Healthcare Provider It’s time to talk suicide: addressing stigma around a difficult topic Trigger Warning: This webinar discusses suicide. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. ... Read more
Patient Stress Relief Methods for Family Caregivers Caring for a loved one can be a rewarding and meaningful experience. However, the day in and day out of taking care of someone who is unwell also can be challen... Read more
Healthcare Provider Healthcare Professional Burnout and Links to Depression When Dr. Lorna Breen, an ER doc in Manhattan, died by suicide in April 2020, it opened up a public discussion about the burdens faced by healthcare professi... Read more
Healthcare Provider Antidepressant Withdrawal or Depression Reoccurrence? What Healthcare Providers Should Know People who stop taking antidepressants may do so for many reasons: they may feel like it isn’t working, may feel unable to cope with side effects, or may not fe... Read more