Careful, Unhurried Medication Guidance from a Holistic Psychiatrist

You've been on medication for a while, but you're not sure it's actually working. Or you've been handed prescriptions at every appointment without much explanation, and now you're on three or four things and still don't feel right. Or you're not on anything yet, and you're trying to figure out whether you should be.

Psychiatric medication management at Green Door Vitality & Wellness in downtown Raleigh, NC is provided by Dr. Amie Sharrits, MD, a licensed holistic psychiatrist working with adults and adolescents 13 and older. Dr. Sharrits works with anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, sleep problems, and mood concerns. She evaluates your full history before prescribing anything, gives each medication a complete trial before making changes, and integrates acupuncture into every session to support nervous system regulation alongside medication care. Sessions are in person. The practice is private pay at $280 per session.

When the Medications Haven't Added Up

Psychiatric care has moved fast in recent years. Appointments are short. Prescriptions come quickly. When one medication doesn't work, another gets added.

Most people who come here aren't opposed to medication. They just want it used carefully, by someone who has actually looked at the full picture.

Dr. Amie Sharrits, MD is a holistic psychiatrist practicing in downtown Raleigh who integrates medication management with acupuncture and psychotherapy rather than treating them as separate tracks.

The question of is medication right for trauma and anxiety doesn't have a universal answer. It depends on symptom severity, trauma history, and what other forms of support are already in place.

One Medication at a Time, Given a Real Chance to Work

This practice does not layer medications. It does not switch prematurely. The approach is to start with a full evaluation, choose one medication when one is warranted, give it adequate time, and monitor carefully.

The phrase holistic psychiatrist gets used loosely, but in practice, it means evaluating sleep, stress physiology, trauma history, and physical health before making any medication decision, not just reviewing a symptom checklist.

Some people come in wanting to simplify what they're already on. That's a reasonable goal, and one Dr. Sharrits works toward directly.

Acupuncture as Part of Every Session

Each medication management session includes acupuncture. Auricular acupuncture supports nervous system regulation, reduces anxiety, and improves sleep. For some people, this means less medication is needed to achieve the same relief. Many people notice a drop in physical tension within the first few minutes.

Anxiety that hasn't responded to standard treatments is one of the most common reasons people seek medication management for anxiety with a psychiatrist who also understands how the nervous system holds onto stress.

When Trauma Is Part of What's Driving the Symptoms

Trauma history changes what medications are appropriate, at what dose, and how carefully the process needs to move. A history of early or repeated trauma affects how the nervous system responds to both stress and treatment.

Depression that co-occurs with trauma history often requires a different medication approach than depression in isolation, which is something a psychiatrist for trauma and depression is specifically positioned to assess.

For people whose anxiety or depression is rooted in unprocessed trauma, medication alone rarely resolves the underlying pattern, which is why trauma therapy and PTSD treatment is often part of the same conversation here.

Stress physiology and pain signals are closely linked, and people seeking chronic pain treatment here often find that nervous system regulation through acupuncture addresses both at once.

What to Expect at Your First Appointment

Your first appointment is a 60-minute psychiatric evaluation. Dr. Sharrits reviews your symptom history, previous medication experiences, sleep patterns, stress load, and what's most disruptive to your daily life right now.

Many people arrive uncertain about what to expect from a psychiatric evaluation, particularly if past appointments felt rushed or didn't leave room for questions.

Psychiatry has increasingly moved toward complex medication combinations. Psychiatric medication management at Green Door Vitality takes a more analytic and judicious approach, where medication is one tool among several rather than the default answer

Follow-up appointments are also 60 minutes and include both medication review and acupuncture. Between sessions, you can reach Dr. Sharrits by text on her business line.

All sessions are in person at 704 Glenwood Ave in downtown Raleigh. No controlled substances are prescribed without a medication contract in place.

Who This Works Well For

This is likely a good fit if you:

• Want a psychiatrist who evaluates before prescribing anything
• Have had confusing or frustrating experiences with psychiatric medications
• Are on multiple medications and unsure whether all of them are necessary
• Have a trauma history that feels connected to your mental health symptoms
• Want acupuncture as part of your psychiatric care
• Prefer a steady, structured approach over frequent medication changes

Dr. Sharrits works with adolescents (13+) through older adults across anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, depression, sleep problems, mood concerns, and stress.

Frequently Asked Questions

I've been on the same medications for years and they've stopped working. What can a psychiatrist actually do at this point? A full re-evaluation can identify whether your current medications are still the right fit, whether something has shifted in your symptom picture, and whether a different approach makes more sense. Medications sometimes get continued out of habit rather than evidence. Dr. Sharrits reviews your full history, including trauma, nervous system patterns, and sleep, before making any recommendations.

I had a really bad experience with medication before. Is it worth trying again? Yes, for most people, but the details of what went wrong matter. A previous bad experience changes what Dr. Sharrits would consider, at what dose, and how cautiously to move. That history is clinical information, not something to push past.

Do I need a diagnosis before I can come in? No. The evaluation is how a diagnosis gets clarified, not a prerequisite for it. You can come in with a list of symptoms, a prior diagnosis you're not sure fits, or no label at all.

Can I come specifically to get off some of the medications I'm already taking? Yes. Simplifying an existing medication plan is a common reason people seek care here. Dr. Sharrits reviews what you're taking, what each medication is supposed to be doing, and whether tapering or eliminating something makes sense given your current symptoms and history.

A Starting Point, Not a Commitment

A first appointment is a 60-minute conversation. Nothing gets decided before Dr. Sharrits has a clear picture of what's actually going on.

Book an appointment at Green Door Vitality & Wellness in downtown Raleigh.