Maddy smiled to herself as she cruised down I-95 on her way back to Boca Raton from Lake Worth. She'd just had a promising
interview with an Oregon-based financial institution that had recently
merged with First America Bank. It was hard to fathom that more than
two years had passed since that awful time when she genuinely believed
that her life-for all intents and purposes-was over. Those dark days
had been characterized by abject fear and sorrow as family members,
friends, licensed psychologists, group therapy sessions and prescription
medications had only succeeded in raising her to a passable level of
functionality.
After that fateful morning spent commiserating in bed with her
mother, a battery of tests had ruled out suspected brain abnormalities as
the root cause of Madeline's troubles. Later, a thorough exam and
comprehensive blood work conducted by their family internist had
proclaimed her to be the picture of health, at least physically. From her
low-to-normal blood pressure and acceptable (if not perfect) weight to her
supposedly "in-range" hormonal levels, Dr. Bingham expressed his
delight with Maddy's excellent results and admirable nutritional habits,
particularly her adherence to drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day.
However, the good doctor did give credence to her legitimate physical
symptoms by offering her a "nerve pill" which he swore was nonaddictive.
Madeline gratefully accepted the samples in spite of her
misgivings, planning to take them only as a means of assuaging her
problems long enough to allow for an effective solution and help her get
back into a normal routine. And though Dr. Bingham never verbalized a
name for her malady, she discovered it on the prescription's packaging-
panic and anxiety disorder. Wow! Well at least she now knew what she was
dealing with.
The information packet also touted cognitive and behavioral therapy
and aerobic exercise as viable methods of coping with this miserable
condition. Maddy had already employed the latter via bike riding, brisk
walking and swimming; pursuing the former hadn't even occurred to her
until that very moment. She immediately determined that she would
return to Florida, where she'd seek out professional help and finally put
an end to this painful chapter of her life.
And though her parents harbored real and valid concerns, Madeline
knew that answers she sought were waiting for her in her adoptive state;
as comforting as it was to be around those who loved her, it was time to
deal with this newly defined issue in her own way.