Private clinic for anxiety & panic

Four months are a long time. For E.F., it was above all a very important period of time during which she learned to deal better with her fears, to discover new resources and stabilize herself. «Because the private clinic MENTALVA in Cazis has a lot of confidence in patients, this supports the recovery process».

E.F. (53) suffers from depression, anxiety disorders, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder. For a while, it always goes well, then, without any warning, everything starts again. These are challenging times that E.F. has gone through. She has given up her job as a human resources manager because of her mental illness. She felt that her mental health problems meant she could no longer do her job properly. This decision was not easy for her, as she gave up a piece of independence, her own income, but above all, an important, satisfying job. At that time, she still felt hopelessness, but since she is a fighter, she knew that she had to do something for herself.

In October 2012, E.F. felt worse again. It was the time when she stopped taking the medication in an attempt to find a way and deal with her fears without those. But that didn't work. She suffered increasingly from insomnia, anxiety, inner restlessness, concentration problems and various psychosomatic complaints. Her psychotherapist recommended a stay at the private clinic MENTALVA.

A good feeling

«The website of the private hospital MENTALVA appealed a lot to me», E.F. remembers this first impression well. «The pictures are so delicate and light. I was particularly impressed by the wide range of offers, including the complementary medical approach. After an initial discussion with the chief physician, Dr. med. Suzanne von Blumenthal, I had a very good feeling. I knew I was going to be in good hands here.»
«Throughout my time here, I have always been impressed by how patients are treated here: with respect, empathy, tolerance.» E.F. greatly appreciates the humanity and respect shown to patients at the private hospital MENTALVA. «This appreciative approach supports patients on their way out of their illness, or to deal with their problems in a better way.»

Good contacts

E.F. experiences contacts with the other patients as positive. «You get to know each other quickly here; you meet for meals, exchange ideas, maybe do something together. We carry each other, support each other and have a lot of understanding for each other. We have many forces in us to help us. It is nice that we can laugh a lot together, even about our own shortcomings.» E.F. feels that the wide range of therapies and the high level of specialist competence of the therapists are exceptional. Although she was afraid of horses, she even does animal-assisted therapy with horses in addition to the other therapies. «I learn to reduce fears, improve body perception and increase confidence in myself. Generally speaking, all offers are actually made for me.... », she laughs.

She likes to laugh. If you didn't know about their mental health problems, you would think there is a happy nature in front of you. She has gone through many lows and dark times; had to experience often what it means when you are having a panic attack in a busy place and start hyperventilating when the body loses its strength, the legs give way and one feels powerless. «In large crowds, I often tried to put on blinkers and just walk through them quickly. In Cazis, I have now come to know other, better methods. I deliberately focus on what is happening. If I stay in the here and now, I can avoid panic and even take on new perspectives. I know there are no universal prescriptions, but at the private clinic MENTALVA, we are treated very individually, and one always find an open ear for concerns and questions of the patients.»

Gain strength

The good spirit that works here is very important to her. «You are seen as a whole person. With our mental illness, we feel very small, out of place, often at the mercy of our mental illness, and helpless. I was very disappointed with myself that I did not manage to get out of this spiral of fear and panic before. But at the MENTALVA, you can recover much faster, partially, because they have confidence in us and trust our abilities. This gives us great inner strength.» During her stay at the clinic, she discovered that she has great resources in her. She now knows: «I can learn a lot through my illness; it helps me to grow as a person. It's also an opportunity. The question is now, where to go from here. I'm sure I'll find a way. At the moment, I still need help and support; but I get all this here.»