May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We caught up with Milestone Award winner, Isabel Gibson, to highlight her growth in managing her Anxiety Disorder.
Isabel is a busy person with a lot of things she enjoys doing. If she isn’t swimming, going for walks or enjoying her community, you may be able to see her listening to music as she cooks. A lover of music from 1999-early 2000’s pop, her favorite song is “Angel” by Shaggy. She even asked the day program music volunteer who plays the piano to learn the song for her.
Isabel started coming to the Iowa City Day Program in 2022 after graduating from high school. In school, Isabel had a tough time emotionally regulating which unfortunately got in the way of her making friends and accomplishing her goals. The high school staff relied on a food reward system which did not work for her. It hindered her mental and physical health which exacerbated the problem. Once she started to come to Employment Systems, the Day Program staff created a predictable schedule that she seemed to enjoy. This included many of the things she likes to do and she began to earn money by shredding paper once a week.
Her schedule really helped Isabel to feel safer in her environment. In 2024, Isabel started to take medication that assisted with furthering relieving her anxiety. With Day Program staff support, she is now able to identify when she is feeling anxious and uses coping strategies daily. With not using food as a reward system, she has lost a significant amount of weight this past year.
For all of this hard work, Isabel received a Milestone Award at our Awards Ceremony on May 2. Her ES Coordinator Mallory Moore stated, “I am so proud of Isabel and all she has accomplished.” Isabel currently lives with her family but dreams of moving out into her own home with housemates. It will be exciting to see where her next steps take her.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health diagnosis, according to the World Health Organization. People dealing with anxiety have reported a variety of things that can assist them include meditation, therapy, consistent movement, set sleep schedules and a healthy diet. If you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety to the point it is disrupting daily life, it is recommended to seek professional assistance. To learn more, visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
