A Success Story

Mrs. Jones is a 33-year-old woman who is in the office to see her PCP following a recent visit to the ER with complaints of chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. The patient was told that she was experiencing a panic attack. She has a history of addiction and does not want to take medications for panic. The patient is seen by the behavioral health specialist, who educates her about anxiety and helps her to look at her symptoms differently. She is taught diaphragmatic breathing and sensory stimulation practices to help distract her during a panic attack. The motivation for using these techniques is developed by working with Mrs. Jones to identify things she values and looking with her at the ways in which her current strategies are moving her closer to or further from these goals. Again, self-care goals are developed and she is followed by the PCP and behavioral health specialist to see if she is improving or needs more assistance. If she does, she will be referred for therapy. But if her anxiety is improving with these techniques, she is encouraged to continue using them, and the mental health system has one less person on the waiting list.

Blair Bodine is a master’s candidate in Nonprofit/NGO Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania. Yuan Shu is a second-year MBA student at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Recipient of Goldring Fellowships and candidates for the degree of Master of Science in Non-profit/NGO Leadership, School of Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania.