Question

In this discussion, we'll discuss anxiety, effective and ineffective interventions, and stress management. Please include the following in your initial posting: Describe a client from your clinical setting or work who experienced severe anxiety or panic. Include a brief history and three most pertinent medications. Describe the assessment process for this patient. Identify at least one effective and one non-effective nursing intervention. Why did they work? What didn't work? Name and describe two stress reduction techniques you have used and whether they were helpful or not in reducing stress.

Answer 1

Stress is actually a survival response when our body thinks that it is in danger. Stress doesn't just affect our mental state and mood; it affects our physical health as well. Stress is mental tension caused by demanding, taxing or burdensome circumstances. Our increasingly busy lives cause our minds a lot of stress. Stress management consists of making changes to your life if you are in a constant stressful situation, preventing stress by practicing self-care and relaxation and managing your response to stressful situations when they do occur.

Exercises:

Exercise is most helpful if it is practiced consistently over a long period of time and it is one of the best ways to manage stress. Some research suggests that exercise also helps to lift one’s spirits and decrease depression. Regular exercise helps the body to react less dramatically to stress. Aerobic exercise, exercise that makes the heart and lungs work harder, actually helps the body to use up excess stress-induced hormones. Twenty or 30 minutes of exercise four or five times a week is ideal, but even much less can help individuals to relax and cope with stressful situations more effectively.

Medication:

The antidepressants most widely prescribed foranxiety are SSRIs such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil,Lexapro, and Celexa.

Meditation:

One type of widely-used meditation is called “mindfulness meditation.” Meditation is a very effective stress management technique. It teaches the meditator to rest his or her mind steadily in the present moment even during stressful experiences. Meditation sounds exotic, but it is really just a way to learn to relax and settle the mind. A relaxed, settled mind is less anxious and copes better with stress. This creates a deep sense of relaxation and mental clarity. Anxious fears about the past or the future become less troubling.

Other Stress Management Tools:

Psychotherapy also can be very effective in reducing stress. Aspects of one form of psychotherapy, called cognitive therapy, have been incorporated into many stress-management programs.

Yoga is another popular stress-management tool. It combines aspects of both exercise and meditation; it can help people to slow down their minds and create relaxation in their body.

Other effective and widely-used stress-management techniques include progressive muscle relaxation, massage and biofeedback. It is also important to remember that when severe stress begins to cause depression, or affects someone’s ability to function at home or at work, medication prescribed by a doctor can be very helpful.

Case study:

In my clinical setting at one time a client experienced severe anxiety displayed such symptoms as trembling and pounding heart. He complained of chest pains and said that he felt that he was being choked.

When assessing the patient, I checked such things as abdominal distress and whether he experienced Shortness of breath. All these symptoms were present. The most effective nursing intervention for patient of this nature is medication. This is because medication brings faster results. One of the non-effective nursing intervention for patient of this nature is therapy. This is because therapy takes a longer time to achieve results.

Two stress reduction techniques that I have used include deep breathing and meditation. Both of these techniques were helpful in in reducing stress.

Explanation:

Deep breathing should be done when one is seated upright with the eyes closed.