With support from Monarch’s Tailored Care Management program, Kristine Maher is managing anxiety, building independence and reconnecting with the people, pets and creativity that bring meaning to her life.
There was a time when leaving home felt almost impossible for Kristine Maher.
Living in Greensboro, Kristine often carried a stuffed teddy bear with her everywhere she went. It was small enough to hold close, but meaningful enough to help her feel safe during moments when anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms made the world outside feel too big, too crowded or too unpredictable.
For Kristine, getting support was never about pretending those challenges were not there. It was about learning how to face them with the right help beside her.
That support came through Monarch’s Tailored Care Management (TCM) program, where Kristine was paired with Care Manager Angelique Graham.
Finding Mental Health Support Through Tailored Care Management
Tailored Care Management helps eligible people with mental health needs, substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities or other complex needs connect with care, services and community resources that fit their lives.
For Kristine, TCM has meant having someone to help her work toward her goals, manage her mental health and build confidence in everyday situations.
And for her, everyday situations mattered.
For years, panic attacks shaped what Kristine felt able to do. Going into public places could feel overwhelming. Crowds felt especially difficult. Even simple errands could come with a wave of fear.
With Angelique’s support, Kristine began facing those fears in small, manageable steps.
“She’s really good at helping me face my fears,” Kristine said. “When I was afraid to go out among crowds, she’d be like, ‘We’ll do 10 minutes at a time, and if that’s not too much for you, we’ll do a longer time next time.’”
Kristine compares the process to learning how to swim. You do not start in the deep end. You start where you can stand, breathe and try again.
“She gradually got me there,” Kristine said.
Building Coping Skills One Step at a Time
Over time, those small steps added up to something much bigger.
Kristine became more comfortable going into social settings that once felt chaotic. She began using public transportation on her own to attend appointments and run errands. She learned how to recognize panic when it started and use coping skills before it took over.
“I used to have really bad panic attacks, and I don’t have those now,” Kristine said. “When I do have a mild panic attack, I know how to manage it.”
One of her proudest accomplishments may sound simple to someone else, but for Kristine, it shows just how far she has come.
“Now I’m not even afraid to go out in a Christmas crowd,” she said. “That’s a major accomplishment.”
The stuffed teddy bear that once went everywhere with her now spends more time at home. These days, Kristine carries a Tom & Jerry key chain instead. It is smaller, more subtle yet still comforting.
One of her proudest accomplishments may sound simple to someone else, but for Kristine, it shows just how far she has come.
“Now I’m not even afraid to go out in a Christmas crowd,” she said. “That’s a major accomplishment.”
Gaining Independence and Purpose
At home, Kristine cares for her emotional-support cat, Henry, and her hamster, Lucy. Their companionship gives her comfort, but caring for them also gives her a sense of purpose.
“It lets me know that my pets need me, that it’s not just about me,” Kristine said. “If I ever felt really down and I was having really dark thoughts, I know to call and talk to somebody. Henry and Lucy depend on me. I maybe wouldn’t take such good care of myself for me, but I do for them.”
That purpose is an important part of Kristine’s mental health recovery. With the right support, she is not only managing difficult moments. She is also building a life that includes responsibility, creativity, connection and joy.
Her love for animals also shows up in her art.
Since 2013, Kristine has been creating a cartoon series called Speedy Cashier: The Adventures of Juan the Rat. Set in a grocery store, the comic began as a way to brighten the day of her brother-in-law, who worked at a local Harris Teeter.
Before long, Juan the Rat was making appearances in the employee break room, bringing humor and a little unexpected joy to the people who read his adventures.
For Kristine, creating cartoons is more than a hobby. It is a way to share something cheerful with others. It is also a reminder that healing is not only about reducing symptoms. Sometimes, it is about making room for personality, humor, pets, art and the parts of life that make someone feel like themselves again.
Continuing Care With Monarch
Kristine and Angelique continue to work together through Monarch’s Behavioral Health Outpatient Office in Guilford County. Their ongoing relationship gives Kristine a steady source of support as she continues building coping skills, managing her mental health and working toward her personal goals.
“Since I’ve been working with her, she has shown improved coping skills and greater willingness to engage with anxiety-provoking situations,” Angelique said. “She has shown comfort in expressing her wants, needs, thoughts and emotions, and she’s a very kind and appreciative person.”
Kristine knows progress is not always a straight line. Some days are easier than others. Some steps take longer than expected. But she also knows she is not where she started.
Her advice to others who may be afraid to ask for help is simple.
“Tell somebody at Monarch that you want to work with someone who will help you get over the things that are holding you back,” Kristine said. “They’re so nice. Everybody at Monarch, from the front desk to the nurses, is just as nice as they can be.”
For Kristine, TCM has helped make life feel more manageable, one step at a time.
The teddy bear may be resting at home now, but Kristine is still carrying reminders of how far she has come: a key chain, a bus ride, a Christmas crowd, a cat named Henry, a hamster named Lucy and a cartoon rat with a grocery store adventure all his own.
Could Tailored Care Management Help You or Someone You Love?
Monarch’s TCM services help eligible individuals coordinate care, connect with resources and receive support for their health, mental health and daily life needs.
To learn more about TCM or ask about services, call (866) 272-7826 or visit MonarchNC.org.