Mood Disorders Medication Management in Boulder
Holistic, trauma- and attachment-informed support from a Boulder licensed medical provider
Mood disorders reflect patterns of emotional dysregulation that affect how a person experiences themselves, others, and the world over time. These patterns often involve persistent low mood, emotional reactivity, or difficulty accessing joy, energy, or stability. For many people, mood symptoms are shaped not only by biology, but also by trauma history, chronic stress, and early attachment experiences that disrupted emotional safety or regulation.
While therapy addresses meaning-making, relational repair, and emotional processing, medication can play an important role in stabilizing the nervous system so healing work can unfold with greater support and sustainability.
Our Boulder-based clinic offers mood disorder medication management for individuals seeking a thoughtful, collaborative approach that honors both biological needs and lived experience.
What’s Happening Chemically and Relationally in Mood Disorders?
Mood disorders involve disruptions in emotional regulation systems that help the nervous system maintain balance and flexibility. Key systems include:
Serotonin: mood stability, emotional regulation, resilience
Norepinephrine: energy, motivation, and focus
Dopamine: pleasure, reward, and drive
Stress-response systems: sensitivity to threat, loss, or overwhelm
When trauma or early relational disruption is present, the nervous system may remain oriented toward protection rather than restoration. Emotional numbing, sadness, irritability, or emotional swings can function as adaptations to environments where feelings were unsafe, unacknowledged, or overwhelming.
This can lead to:
Persistent low mood or emotional heaviness
Difficulty experiencing pleasure or connection
Emotional reactivity or irritability
Fatigue or low motivation
Sleep or appetite changes
Feelings of shame, worthlessness, or guilt
Difficulty trusting others or relying on support
Increased sensitivity to stress or relational rupture
Medication works by supporting regulation in these systems so the nervous system can regain flexibility and resilience.
How Medication Helps Mood Disorders
Medication does not bypass emotional work or relational healing. Instead, it helps create stability so those processes can occur with less overwhelm. It can:
Reduce intensity and persistence of depressive symptoms
Improve energy, focus, and motivation
Support emotional regulation
Improve sleep and appetite patterns
Increase resilience to stress
Reduce nervous-system shutdown or overload
Support engagement in therapy and relationships
Help you to tolerate psychotherapy interventions, learning emotional regulation skills, and address underlying contributing factors such as trauma, attachment issues, grief or loss, stress, or other disturbances.
Our collaborative, compassionate, professional provider
Laura Cannon
PMHNP-BC, LPC, MSN, MA — Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
I bring a grounded, heart-centered presence to my work as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. With roots in both nursing and somatic counseling psychology, I take a collaborative, compassionate, and evidence-based approach to mental health care and medication management.
I support clients as they navigate the complexity of human experience with integrative and complementary recommendations, which may include nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle modification, as well as psychiatric medication management. My goal is to empower clients with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to cultivate resilience and well-being from the inside out.
How We Decide If Medication Is Right for You
We use a collaborative decision-making process that considers:
Severity and duration of mood symptoms
Impact on daily functioning and relationships
Trauma history and attachment patterns
Nervous-system responses to stress
Co-occurring anxiety, OCD, ADHD, or bipolar features
Sleep, appetite, and energy changes
Past medication experiences or sensitivities
Your goals, concerns, and preferences
Medication is always introduced with care, consent, and ongoing dialogue.
Mood Disorder Medication Options
SSRIs
(Sertraline, Escitalopram, Fluoxetine, Citalopram)
Support mood stability and emotional regulation.
Pros: often first-line, generally well-tolerated.
Considerations: gradual onset; side effects monitored closely.
SNRIs
(Duloxetine, Venlafaxine, Desvenlafaxine)
Support both mood and energy regulation.
Pros: helpful when low energy or chronic pain are present.
Considerations: require slow tapering if discontinued.
Other Antidepressants
Bupropion: supports energy and motivation
Mirtazapine: supports sleep and appetite
Trazodone: often used for sleep support
Medication selection is guided by symptom pattern, nervous-system sensitivity, and trauma history.
What Mood Disorder Improvement Feels Like
Improvement is often gradual and layered:
Feeling more like yourself again
Less emotional heaviness or volatility
Improved sleep and energy
Greater emotional range
Increased motivation and engagement
Improved relational presence
Greater capacity to tolerate stress and vulnerability
As mood stabilizes, therapy often deepens and becomes more effective.
Common Misconceptions About Mood Disorder Medication
“Medication will change my personality.”
Medication supports regulation — it does not erase identity.
“I’ll need medication forever.”
Many people use medication temporarily. We revisit this regularly.
“I should be able to heal without medication.”
Needing support reflects nervous-system reality, not weakness.
“If one medication doesn’t work, nothing will.”
There are multiple options and approaches; treatment can evolve.
What You Can Do Alongside Medication for Mood Disorders
Mood-focused psychotherapy
Trauma-informed or attachment-based therapy
Somatic emotional processing
Sleep and circadian rhythm support
Gentle movement and exercise
Nutrition support
Journaling or expressive practices
Relational connection and co-regulation
Time in nature and restorative rest
Medication works best as part of an integrated, whole-person approach.
Why People Choose Evolve In Nature
Trauma- and attachment-informed prescriber
Conservative, individualized dosing
Compassionate, unrushed care
Collaboration with your therapist
Respect for pacing, autonomy, and lived experience
Focus on long-term regulation and resilience
Schedule Your Mood Disorder Medication Consultation
If mood symptoms have been impacting your sense of stability, connection, or well-being, we’re here to support you with clarity, compassion, and personalized care.
Schedule a consultation today and explore a balanced, trauma-informed approach to mood support.