I’ve managed anxiety and depression for years, but became overwhelmed during the COVID-19 pandemic. I began experiencing panic attacks, racing thoughts and difficulty focusing. I couldn’t regulate my emotions and often had traumatic flashbacks from my work at a fire department.
I sought help at the Sage Health and Wellness Center as part of my Marathon Health benefits through the City of Grand Junction. There, I met Marathon Health Counselor Kim Deitzler, as well as Physician Assistant Eric Becker.
Eric prescribed, managed and adjusted my medications, while Kim taught me coping skills through cognitive processing and behavioral therapies. I also improved my diet and became more physically active. Therapy helped me realize that some of life’s experiences are beyond my control. I learned to positively manage the hand I’d been dealt.
The combination of medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes has helped me feel less overwhelmed, my panic attacks have stopped, and I enjoy normal activities again.
Kim and Eric are the first medical team who worked together to balance both my mind and body. Their collaborative efforts led to a total-body wellness approach. It was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. The health care provided by the Sage Health and Wellness Center was top-notch.
Today, I’m happy, healthy, and successfully balancing my mental and physical health. I’m honestly in one of the best places in my life I’ve ever been. I’m able to set and accomplish goals, personally and professionally, without my mental health sidetracking or holding back my progress toward the things that matter most to me. — Member Leah Thompson-Ellis
