Illustrating idiosyncratic meaning, the PMHNP responds with:
During a therapy session the patient is asked how she currently deals with stress, and she says, “Well, I don’t. I just let it build and build.” The PMHNP responds by asking how well this has been working out for her. The patient states, “Well, to be honest, it just feels like I’m drowning, you know what I mean.” Illustrating idiosyncratic meaning, the PMHNP responds with:
| A. | “Would you say you feel like you are suffocating?” | |
| B. | “No, I am not sure what you are saying. Can you please explain?” | |
| C. | “Sort of like a fish out of water?” | |
| D. | “When you say, ‘I just can’t breathe,’ you do understand, that is a form of anxiety?” |