Shelby Pinkham is a Chicanx, bipolar poet from California’s Central Valley. They earned an MFA at Fresno State, where they taught composition and poetry. In 2022, they were selected for Lambda Literary’s Emerge Editorial Scholarship and fellowship at the Writer’s Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices. Additionally, their book, Rx / suppressor, was named a semifinalist in Noemi’s 2022 Poetry Prize. Their writing has appeared in ANMLY, ctrl + v, Huizache, and Honey Literary.

ENUMERATE

"Treatment for Mood Disorders" and "Because I No Longer Want to Die"

By SHELBY PINKHAM

After starting your medications, it may take two to six weeks before you begin to notice a change in your symptoms. Mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder may recur or be ongoing and therefore may require long-term or lifetime treatment.