4 Stress and Defense Mechanisms Flashcards
defense mechanisms that have no adaptive uses
- conversion
- splitting
- projection
defense mechanisms that are always healthy
- altruism
- sublimination
suppression
voluntary denying unpleasant thoughts + feelings
suppression
adaptive vs maladaptive examples
A: student puts off thinking about a recent fight to focus on studying
M: person who lost a job states they will worry about paying bills next week
repression
unconsciously putting unacceptable ideas, thoughts, + emo out of awareness
adaptive vs maladaptive examples
A: unsconsciously forgetting about the time he got BOOd onstage bc hes about to give a speech
M: fear of dentist makes him forget about his dental appt
regression
sudden childlike behavior that that doesnt match pt’s developmental level
regression
adaptive vs maladaptive examples
A: kid temp wets the bed when his pet died
M: person got in a disagreement w coworker + starts thrashing
displacement
sharing feelings r/t object, person, or situation to ANOTHER LESS THREATENING object, person, or situation
displacement
adaptive vs maladaptive examples
A: pt angrily punches a punching bad
M: pt got fired + destroy’s their son’s fav toy
reaction formation
unacceptable feelings or behaviors are controlled or kept out of awareness by overcompensating/demonstrating the opposite behaviors of what is felt
reaction formation
adaptive vs maladaptive examples
A: person whois quitting smoking talks to kids about dangers of nicotine
M: person who resents caring for aging parent becomes overprotective + restricts their freedom
undoing
performing an act to make up for prior behaviors
-more common in kids
undoing
adaptive vs maladaptive examples
A: adolescent completed their chores wo being prompted after a recent fight w parents
M: buying flowers/gifts after partner abuse
rationalization
creating reasonable + acceptable explanations for unacceptable behavior
rationalization
adaptive vs maladaptive examples
A: adolescent says “they must have a bf” after rejection
M: “i had to drive home to feed the dog” after drinking + driving
dissociation
disruption in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception of environment
dissociation
adaptive vs maladaptive examples
A: parent blocks out distracting noise of kids yelling to focus on driving
M: person forgets who they are following sex assault
denial
pretending the truth is not reality
denial
adaptive vs maladaptive examples
A: “this cant be true” after told they have cancer
M: “hes coming home for the holiday” even tho their he has been dead
compensation
emphasizing strength to make up for weakness
compensation
adaptive vs maladaptive examples
A: kid who cant play contact sport excells academically
M: person who is shy learns computer skills to avoid socialization
identification
conscious/unconscious assumption of characteristics of another individual/group
identification
adaptive vs maladaptive examples
A: kid w chronic illness plays nurse w dolls
M: kid observes parent being abusive + becomes bully
intellectualization
separation of emotions + logical facts when analyzing or coping w situation or events
intellectualization
adaptive vs maladaptive examples
A: police blocks out emo aspect of crime to focus on investigation
M: focusing on creating a will + financial matters instead of grieving their terminal illness
conversion
responding to stress thru the unconscious development of physical manifestations not caused by a physical illness
conversion
maladaptive examples
person experiences deafness after divorce
splitting
demonstrating an inability to reconcile neg + pos attributes of others
-v black or white
normal anxiety
healthy life force that is necessary for survival
- motivates ppl to take action
ex) violent situation in hospital, nurse has to take action
acute anxiety
precipitated by imminenet loss or change that threaten’s one’s sense of security
ex) sudden death of a loved one
chronic anxiety
develops over time
-might display anxiety in physical manifestations (fatigue, frequent headaches)
levels of anxiety
MILD
MODERATE
SEVERE
PANIC
mild anxiety
- normal experience in everyday living
- incr ability to perceive reality
- identifiable cause of anciety
- vague discomfort, restless, irritability, impatience
moderate anxiety
- occurs when mild anxt escalates
- slight reduce perception + processing of info
- concentration difficulty, pacing, shakey, incr HR + resp rate
- somatic manifesations (headache, urinary urge/freqnt)
- might need direction fr others
severe anxiety
- greatly reduced perceptual field
- no learning/prblm solvng
- behavior is automatic
- confusion, impending doom, hyper-vent, tachycard, loud rapid speech, aimless activity
- unable to follow directions
panic-level
- markedly disturbed behavior
- not able to process whats happening
- loss of touch w reality
- extreme fright/horror
- dilated pupils, severe skakiness, delusion, hallucination
MILD-MOD ANXIETY nursing care
- active listening
- provide calm presence
- recognize pt distress
- evaluate past coping mech
- explore alternatives to problem
- encourage activities/exercise
SEVERE-PANIC LEVEL nursing care
- provide safe environment
- remain w client + remain calm
- quiet environment w minimal stimulation
- medication/restraint only after less restrictive measures have failed
- gross motor activities like walking
- set limits w firm, short, simple statements
- —-repetition might be needed, speak slowly in low pitch
- acknowledge reality + focus on present environment
