A Little About Me
Chris Tingey OTR/L , CAIP
Occupational Therapist, Certified Anxiety-Informed Professional + Marriage, Parenting, and Life Coach
I am the only Certified Anxiety- Informed Professional occupational therapist in Northwest Arkansas. Heretofore Anxiety Rehabilitation Service Provider (ARSP)
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When I was 19 years old I was misdiagnosed with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). Several years later, I was more adequately diagnosed with MDD (major depressive disorder) and GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). For well over a decade I have seen doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists, most of whom have done their best to help me on this journey called 'LIFE'. While some were better than others and I'm grateful for the help I have received, I realized a few things when it comes to mental health:
1. It is almost always impossible to get an appointment when you need an appointment. Am I right? I remember calling to find a psychiatrist or to see a new doctor and I would have to wait for months to get in, then to top it off I had to go and tell them my whole life story before they would even consider giving me any sort of medication....which brings me to number 2.
2. Medication. Let me say up front that I am not anti-medication. I believe it has its place and can be a great tool to utilize when needed. However, I do not hesitate to say that medication is not a cure all for our mental wellness. My goal is to explain exactly what is going on with our minds and bodies and how to best handle it. It is to help augment your ability to care for yourself and loved ones with or without medications.
3. It affects not only you but your family and loved ones as well. I have a wonderful wife and beautiful children who have stood by me for almost as long as I have been diagnosed. To say it has been a tumultuous ride would be an understatement. This has been not only a living nightmare for me, but has been at times for my family. (Yet there is hope which I can offer not only to you, but to your loved ones as well).
4. Empathy. I understand, have experience, and I get it. I can EMPATHIZE with you when it comes to mental and emotional distress. It is not easy. It is confusing. It is scary. But I am a safe-zone and I am here to help.
Long story short, you need help and you probably have never thought about occupational therapy as a means for mental health care or for marriage and parental strengthening. The good news is, as an occupational therapist my whole profession is dedicated to help you get to the place you want to be.