Question

A 28-year-old soldier returns from Iraq and begins experiencing periodic bouts of anxiety. She complains that she wakes up frequently and cannot get a full night of sleep. Recently, she also has been getting frequent headaches and noticed a few ulcers in her mouth. A physical examination and lab tests do not reveal any local or systemic disease.

1. Based on the patient history and the signs and symptoms, discuss how stress is related to her condition. (See Stress and Disease, Potential Effects of Prolonged or Severe Stress.)

2. Discuss other stress-related problems that this patient might experience if her coping strategies are not effective. (See Stages in Stress Response, Significant Effects of the Stress Response, Stress and Disease, Potential Effects of Prolonged or Severe Stress.)

3. Discuss the potential strategies for coping with the stress. (See Coping with Stress.)

Answer 1

Prolonged of the stress-response system and then overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones, can disrupt almost all body's normal process This ncreases risk of numerous health problems, including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Digestive problems
• Headaches
• Heart disease
• Sleep problems
• Weight gain
• Memory and concentration impairments

Strong stress reactions sometimes can be traced to traumatic events. People who were neglected or abused as children tend to be particularly vulnerable to stress. The same is true of people who have experienced violent crime, airplane crash survivors, military personnel, police officers and firefighters.

Stress management:

• Healthy diet/ food habits and getting regular exercise and good sleep.
• Practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation, deep breathing exercises, getting a massage and etc.
• Getting into favorite hobbies, such as reading a book or listening to music or arts and etc.
• Sense of humor and developing good friendship
• Volunteering in your community
• Seeking professional counseling when needed