Today I had the pleasure of meeting with Marla in my office at the clinic. She is a 42 year old Hispanic woman that had a well groomed and neat appearance. She also looked very tired and noticeably anxious. I smiled and offered her something to drink while she made herself comfortable. When I returned with her tea, she and I had a conversation that I was able to include the following questions so I could reveal more information about her troubled lifestyle.
How are you doing today?
As Marla took a sip of her tea she said she is very tired from not sleeping well at night. She also stated that she does not like the jumpy feeling she is constantly experiencing when she is at work. She also stated that because of these feelings and lack of sleep she is unable to concentrate which is effecting her work performance as an accountant. Which is starting to annoy her boss.
What has been going on lately to bring you to the office?
Marla told me her mom has been ill recently and she and her siblings all helped to take care of her. She also told me that her mom lives in the same neighborhood where Marla and her siblings were raised. She also added that she feels anxious all the time especially when at work.
What type of neighborhood did you grow up in?
I asked that question because when Marla was talking about her mom she had the look of concern on her face as she answered. Marla went on to tell me that her mom’s neighborhood is not safe for her mom. She said that there was a lot of gang activity there and she fears for her mother’s safety. She further explained that it was always a rough neighborhood even when she was growing up. Marla also told me that she witnessed a shooting when she was a young child. She then added that she doesn’t really remember much detail about the incident as she was so young.
How are your relationships with your family and