College Student and MMA Fighter Conquers Panic Attack
September 23, 2024
Thomas Pender received the follow-up mental health care he needed to move past a severe panic attack at Urgent Care with Behavioral Health in Neptune, NJ.
Thomas Pender was used to a hectic and fast-paced day. As a 21-year-old junior in college majoring in mechanical engineering, and an avid enthusiast of Muay Thai and student of martial arts in his spare time, juggling a busy schedule and multiple priorities are part of his everyday life.
During his summer break from college, Thomas had a full-time internship at a financial services firm in New York City that required daily travel to and from Manhattan by train.
Thomas had experienced what he described as mild and periodic panic attacks that he was managing on his own in the past. On a train ride home one night, he experienced a much different level of panic attack on a particularly stressful day—a day in which he lost his wallet before boarding the train, and things spiraled from there.
It was just a few stops into the final train line home when Thomas was found unresponsive in his seat. He was experiencing a severe panic attack that left him alert, but unable to speak or move. Thomas was removed from the train and emergency services transported him by ambulance to the nearest hospital, Hackensack Meridian JFK University Medical Center.
According to Thomas, “I was fully alert, but knew this panic attack was much different than anything I experienced before, and the best thing that could have happened was that I was brought to JFK University Medical Center.”
Walk-in Behavioral Health Care Allows for Fast Follow Up
After a thorough medical exam, Thomas was kept overnight for observation and discharged. Knowing that Thomas needed aftercare from a mental health professional to develop a follow-up plan, the care team at JFK recommended that Thomas go to the Hackensack Meridian Urgent Care with Behavioral Health located in Neptune, NJ.
According to Eric Alcera, M.D., vice president and central regional chair of behavioral health: “Thomas was treated in our emergency department to assess and stabilize his condition. Once stabilized for discharge the next day, our care team knew it would be best for him to see a mental health professional right away to develop a care plan and get answers.” He added:
“The Urgent Care with Behavioral Health provides walk-in access every day of the year to speak with behavioral health professionals and have a virtual consultation with a psychiatrist. Something that may take weeks or longer to schedule, we can provide as a walk-in service.”
Neptune’s clinic combines traditional medical urgent care services with behavioral health services for minor mental, behavioral or mood-related concerns, such as depression, stress and anxiety, which allows the medical team to do a complete medical workup to rule out any underlying conditions that could be the cause.
“Stress and anxiety can happen to anybody—and these are normal reactions to life’s stressful times that most of us navigate successfully on a daily basis,” Dr. Alcera said. “ But when symptoms or concerns linger or persist, just like if you need to go to urgent care for a broken arm or bumps and bruises, you can walk into Neptune’s behavioral health with urgent care clinic and talk to someone and get some relief in a safe, ideal space, until you can see your regular counselor or set up behavioral or mental health treatment with a new provider.”
Getting Help and Finding Answers
When Thomas arrived at Neptune’s clinic, he had a virtual meeting with psychiatrist Eric Berger, M.D. “A panic attack can be very devastating to the point where you feel you’re literally frozen in fear,” Berger said. “It’s a scary and disorienting feeling at the acute severity experienced by Thomas on the train.”
Dr. Berger continued: “Like many young men, males in particular, Thomas had been trying to deal with these symptoms on his own, as he may have felt that he didn’t have time to seek care (having to make an appointment in his busy schedule), or that there is a stigma of being perceived as not being able to handle stress. After experiencing these severe symptoms on the train, Thomas didn’t have a choice but to seek care for the panic attack. He realized he needed professional help, and our walk-in behavioral health urgent care model (offering both medical and mental health services in one location) provided immediate access to care, answers, comfort and specific interventions to address his needs.”
Dr. Berger prescribed medication to help calm Thomas and coordinated follow-up care to check on his status and progress. Thomas is doing great and did not need a follow-up appointment, but Hackensack Meridian has “bridge care” services for individuals who visit the urgent care and do need follow-up appointments.
According to Thomas: “As a practitioner of MMA and Muay Thai, I know and use relaxation and other techniques to stay calm and centered. In this situation, I am grateful to the team at both JFK University Medical Center and the Hackensack Meridian Urgent Care with Behavioral Health for helping me deal with something I had not experienced before, and making it a comfortable and welcoming experience. I would encourage anyone experiencing mental health challenges to talk to someone; there are really extraordinary people who will listen and help.”
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our sources: Eric Alcera, M.D. and Eric Berger, M.D.
- Learn more about Hackensack Meridian Urgent Care with Behavioral Health
- To make an appointment with a behavioral health specialist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
- Learn more about behavioral health at Hackensack Meridian Health.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
