Anxiety Disorders Flashcards
State five autonomic responses to anxiety.
Shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizziness, diaphoresis, frequent urination
Identify the coping style used by a person who feels guilty about masturbating as a child and develops a handwashing compulsion as an adult.
Undoing
- An unconscious defense mechanism in which a person tries to ‘undo’ an unhealthy, destructive, or otherwise threatening thought or action by engaging in contrary behavior
- Defense mechanism by which one symbolically acts out in reverse some earlier unacceptable behavior
Identify anxiety-reducing strategies the nurse can teach.
Deep-breathing techniques, visualization, relaxation techniques, exercise, biofeedback (the use of electronic monitoring of a normally autonomic bodily function in order to train someone to acquire voluntary control of that function)
Which levels of anxiety facilitate learning?
Mild to moderate
A Vietnam veteran is plagued by nightmares and is found trying to strangle his roommate one night. List in order of priority the appropriate nursing interventions.
Protect roommate from harm. Stay with client. If the client is agitated, administer anti-anxiety medications as prescribed. Arrange for private room. Place client on homicidal precautions at night.
A client displays a phobic response to flying. Describe the desensitization process that would probably be implemented.
Talk about planes. Look at pictures of planes. Make plans to accompany client during a visit to airport. Accompany client onto a plane. Allow the client to board a plane alone. Accompany the client on a short flight while listening to a relaxation tape.
A client is in the middle of an extensive ritual that focuses on food during lunch. However, the client is scheduled for group therapy, which is about to start. What action should the nurse take?
Allow client to complete the ritual. Discuss with the group leader the possibility of allowing the client to enter the group late. Arrange for client to begin lunch earlier so that the ritual can be completed prior to scheduled activities.
