Category: Anxiety

Assessment

The facilitys medical staff will investigate the treatment modalities currently being utilized for the hospitals large population of patients experiencing symptoms of anxiety and despair. It is possible to accomplish this objective by performing reviews of medical data and conducting interviews with people whose lives have been negatively impacted by the issue. These medical experts will be able to put the knowledge gathered to use to assist them in designing customized plans to combat the ailment.

Process Measure

In order to determine if the measures can be relied on, the evaluation will be carried out on a rotational basis every two weeks on a range of people already participating in therapeutic interventions (McAllister-Williams et al., 2020). The objective of the evaluation is to establish whether or not the measures are generating the desired results. The nervous episodes that patients have had in the past will be considered during this period, and the circumstances that contribute to anxiety for various people will be recorded.

Determination of the Baseline

For the examination to be effective, the group suspected of suffering from depression and anxiety will be subdivided into two parts to achieve accurate results. People who have only been diagnosed with depression and anxiety will make up one group, while those who suffer from other conditions and severe despondency and dejection, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, will make up the other group (He et al., 2019). As a result of this distinction, competent medical professionals will be able to deliver high-quality therapies to people, eliminating the risk of patients losing their lives in the process due to undisclosed pre-existing conditions. The records will be compared to the state of other individuals visiting the facility with similar complaints of depression and anxiety but who have not yet received the intervention. The different responses of different individuals will aid in determining the effectiveness of the approaches employed by the facility.

References

He, C., Levis, B., Riehm, K., Saadat, N., Levis, A., Azar, M.,& Benedetti, A. (2019). The accuracy of the Patient Health questionnaire-9 algorithm for screening to detect major depression: An individual participant data meta-analysis. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 89(1), 25-37.

McAllister-Williams, R., Arango, C., Blier, P., Demyttenaere, K., Falkai, P., Gorwood, P.,& Rush, A. (2020). The identification, assessment and management of difficult-to-treat depression: An international consensus statement. Journal of Affective Disorders, 267, 264-282.

Although anxiety is a common reaction to stress, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are all conditions that can cause chronic anxiety. Numerous people suffer from anxiety disorders daily, which may be devastating in many circumstances (Goodwin et al., 2020). A diagnosis of an anxiety condition might create an entirely new set of issues for older persons. When anxiety problems are added to the pressures of existing medical issues, they can significantly influence adults quality of life. In the United States, anxiety affects almost 40 million adults (Goodwin et al., 2020). Anxiety manifests itself differently in persons of varying ages, gender, and color. Situations involving stress, such as a difficult job interview, can cause anxiety. Anxiety disorder is characterized by more than nervousness or worry. Anxiety disorder symptoms might interfere with day-to-day activities such as school, job, and interpersonal relationships. Social workers and healthcare professionals should advocate for older persons, make resources available, and, most importantly, educate them about anxiety disorders and their treatment.

A mentally healthy person who can operate regularly is well-balanced and able to deal with the stresses and difficulties of daily life. However, a person with psychological instability is incapable of doing so. Anxiety is a mental disorder that negatively affects how people act, perceive, and behave (Hernández et al., 2021). A persons mental state must be fully functional to be emotionally stable. A logically sound person displays appropriate levels of conduct and functioning. The causes of anxiety include stress, injury, lousy addiction, drug use, and sexual abuse in childhood (Hernández et al., 2021). Anxiety disorders can also be caused by aging-related changes such as deteriorating health, memory issues, and loss (Hernández et al., 2021). Many older adults dread falling, inability to afford living costs and medicines, being mistreated and relying on others, getting unattended, and dying, which can cause anxiety (Hernández et al., 2021).

GAD is one of the most prevalent mental disorders, yet there is no simple clinical test to evaluate it (Hunsaker et al., 2020). Everyone could experience anxiety at some point in life; for example, the nervousness one gets ahead of a first date, the stress employees encounter when their manager is angry, and heart palpitations in dangerous situations. Anxiety compels individuals to act; it is a propensity and a sensation of protracted and delayed tension, a sense of dread, and prolonged pressure (Hunsaker et al., 2020). Anxiety and fear are related emotions with significant distinctions. Anxiety is long-lasting, whereas fear relies on an obvious threat and has a brief duration (Hunsaker et al., 2020). Most adults have experienced anxiety in some form since the circumstances of routine daily life elicit it. For instance, students may have test-related anxiety, one may feel anxious about attending a scheduled meeting, and numerous folks are terrified of public speaking. This implies that anxiety is a common occurrence and a method of adjusting to life. Despite its adverse health effects, anxiety may sometimes be advantageous because it heightens a persons awareness of potential pitfalls, promotes concentration, and prepares them to confront a precarious situation.

Per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), anxiety disorder is one of the most prevalent mental illnesses, although it receives little attention (Hasin et al., 2018). Anxiety disorder is characterized by unusual and protracted feelings of fear and suffering, usually accompanied by physical manifestations (Hasin et al., 2018). It starts at a young age and may follow a recurrent pattern in ones life, creating severe incapacity regarding health, misfortune, job stability, and obstruction throughout a lifetime in areas such as salary, education, and interpersonal connections. A social worker can alleviate many anxiety-related concerns by connecting clients to resources that reduce and confront their fears and insecurities (Hasin et al., 2018). Access to effective, non-discriminatory treatments will demonstrate efficacy and facilitate peoples ability to function more effectively in society. The absence of improved treatment access will negatively influence the affected patients, their families, and their communities.

In complicated situations, medication may be required to treat GAD, but in most cases, counseling and physical exercise can reduce and reverse symptoms, mainly if they are diagnosed early. Since anxiety and depression coexist, it is essential to differentiate between them and administer the appropriate treatment (Hernández et al., 2021). To offer the necessary help and resources, social workers and therapists should take the initiative to acquire extra training that centers on anxiety in older adults and discuss the matter with the patients family and community members.

Social workers should be patient and do a comprehensive evaluation that reflects on all elements of the clients well-being and environmental variables that may produce anxiety symptoms. Social workers and physicians should advocate for older individuals diagnosed with anxiety by completely immersing themselves and comprehending the onsets complexity with patience and by developing treatment strategies that suit each patient (Goodwin et al., 2020). In addition, social workers should ensure that all adults with anxiety disorders have access to treatment choices and services to manage their symptoms (Goodwin et al., 2020). Therefore, it is vital for clinicians and social workers to collaborate to reduce the number of undertreated adults with anxiety.

Anxiety disorders affect many people daily and can be life-threatening in some situations. Due to anxiety disorder symptoms, there may be difficulties in daily activities such as school, work, and interpersonal relationships. All adults diagnosed with anxiety should be given information about anxiety disorders and available treatment options. Unusual and prolonged fear and suffering are hallmarks of anxiety disorder, frequently accompanied by physical manifestations. In some cases, medication may treat GAD, but counseling and exercise may alleviate and reverse symptoms, especially if they are detected early.

References

Goodwin, R. D., Weinberger, A. H., Kim, J. H., Wu, M., & Galea, S. (2020). Trends in anxiety among adults in the United States, 20082018: Rapid increases among young adults. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 130, 441-446.

Hasin, D. S., Sarvet, A. L., Meyers, J. L., Saha, T. D., Ruan, W. J., Stohl, M., & Grant, B. F. (2018). Epidemiology of adult DSM-5 major depressive disorder and its specifiers in the United States. JAMA Psychiatry, 75(4), 336-346.

Hernández, C., GómezUrquiza, J. L., PradasHernández, L., Roman, K., SuleimanMartos, N., AlbendínGarcía, L., & CañadasDe la Fuente, G. A. (2021). Effectiveness of nursing interventions for preoperative anxiety in adults: A systematic review with metaanalysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 77(8), 3274-3285.

Hunsaker, A., Hargittai, E., & Piper, A. M. (2020). Online social connectedness and anxiety among older adults. International Journal of Communication, 14, 697-725.

Research Problem

In her article Interventional Strategies to Decrease Nursing Student Anxiety in the Clinical Learning Environment, Moscaritolo focuses on the importance of support for students, who experience anxiety and doubts entering the clinical environment. The author introduces the problem of students inabilities to cope with their emotions during the education process as well as during their practice and the necessity to promote such issues like humor, the instructions from experts, and training as the main helpful tips for students.

Research Purpose

The purpose of the article under analysis is perfectly described by the author. She states that it is necessary to provide clinical nursing faculty with the current literature related to humor, peer instructors and mentors, and mindfulness training as strategies to decrease undergraduate student nurse anxiety in the clinical setting (Moscaritolo, 2009, p. 17).

Literature Review Summary

At the beginning of the article, the author succeeds in evaluating the literature appropriate to the chosen sphere of nursing and the problem itself. Moscaritolo (2009) explains that nursing education aims at providing students with the required portion of knowledge about clinical settings, nurses duties and obligations, and the roles they have to perform. Still, many authors support the same idea, that clinical experience usually causes a number of problems and leads to the development of stress disorders and anxiety. In the article, the empirical studies of such authors as Carlson, Beck, and Timmins are considered to prove the importance of managing anxiety among nursing practitioners.

Nursing Framework

Moscaritolo identifies the frameworks of her study precisely: she works with the already known theories about stress and anxiety management at the workplace and uses the sphere of nursing education as the basis for her research. The Neuman Systems Model is the theory that introduces the framework of the article. This framework proves the significance of the exploration of interventional strategies to decrease stress and anxiety among undergraduate nursing students in the clinical learning environment (Moscaritolo, 2009, p. 19).

Research Questions and Hypothesis

The research question of the article is to identify the methods of how the level of anxiety and stress may be decreased among the undergraduate nursing students that start their practice in the clinical learning environment. The main hypothesis is as follows: it is possible to use the Neuman Systems Model as the main theoretical framework to prove that the use of humor, mentors instructions, and training programs can help students overcome the problems that are based on their high levels of anxiety and stress.

Variables

This article is based on the review of different theories and studies in order to summarize the already offered findings and offer a new trend and conclusion on how different concepts may considerably improve the sphere of nursing and medicine in general. This is why, in this article, there is no clear identification of the variables.

Design Appropriateness

The author of the article underlines that it is very important for clinical nursing faculty to provide students with a supportive learning environment and the most appropriate conditions for education so that students can develop their best skills and find a practical application to their theoretical knowledge. Considering such aims of the article, the chosen combination of retrospective and prospective studies for the design may be defined as appropriate as the article is divided into several logical sections, and each idea is supported by a properly chosen academic thought.

Research Validity

The validity and reliability of the research offered by Moscaritolo is proved by the fact that a number of American researchers, who make certain contributions to the sphere of nursing, make use of this article and rely on the ideas offered in their own projects. For example, the work by Linh Drexler about the strategies on how to improve students confidence or the peer-reviewed article by Christina Purfeerst about the necessity to decrease anxiety in students can be used as proof of the validity and importance of Moscaritolos article.

Study Efficacy

The efficacy of the article is proved by the framework chosen and the conclusions made by Moscaritolo. She gives a number of basic ideas to prove the correctness of her research. It is stated that the current technological progress and the growth of nursing needs make the clinical setting more stressful for many students. Some of them are just not ready for the complications. The Neuman Systems Model helps to comprehend the essence of nursing education and define the urgency of the interventions offered by Moscaritolo.

Legal and Ethical Issues: Use of Human Subjects and Protection

The author does not conduct individual research using humans or some personal information. This is why the identification of legal and ethical issues is actually absent in the article due to a particular type of research article. However, it is necessary to admit that Moscaritolo references each research idea and the study mentioned in the article prove her correctness and politeness in conducting a review of the past studies.

Cultural Aspects of the Study

Talking about the cultural aspect of the study, it is necessary to say that the author does not specify the country, where students may be in need of some help in managing their stress and anxiety. This is why all information given in the article is general and cannot be properly evaluated in this aspect.

Sample

According to the information and intentions demonstrated by the author, it is possible to believe that probability sampling is used in the article. However, it is wrong to define the sample in an article of this kind. This is why the absence of this component is explained by the fact that the author does not include real people in her research.

Procedures

The article is characterized by the review and discussions of the already-knowledge interventional strategies. Moscaritolo researches different aspects of psychology and applies them to nursing students with their anxiety and stress.

Results Summary

Moscaritolo (2009) concludes that the Neuman Systems Model helps to use an effective framework that can be applied in the clinical nursing setting as it properly addresses the problems of anxiety and stress among undergraduate students. The goals for clinical instructors are properly set, the role of humor in the intervention is successfully discussed.

Impact of the Results on the Future Nursing Practice

The impact of the research offered by Moscaritolo is significant indeed. Her work proves that the current clinical setting is rather anxiety-provoking, and nursing education should not be interrupted by cases of stress or anxiety. In spite of the fact that anxiety may be defined as one of the possible motivators according to the Neuman Systems Model, it has to be properly managed by means of humor, training or mentoring in time.

Application of the Research to the Students Nursing Practice

The investigation offered in the article may be applied in the students nursing practice. The evident reason is the topic of the article and the authors intention to help students cope with their emotions. And another reason is that Moscaritolos example of how to choose and evaluate data can help many students in their own independent research.

Reference

Moscaritolo, L.M. (2009). Interventional strategies to decrease nursing student anxiety in the clinical learning environment. Journal of Nursing Education, 48(1): 17-23.

Patient Scenario

• Anxiety is considered to be one of the most widespread mental health conditions;
• Anxiety should be regarded as an umbrella term for the various related condition instead of one complex disorder;
• Some of the widely recognized conditions, such as an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), are also preconditioned by anxiety (Bandelow et al., 2017);
• Anxiety requires immediate intervention in order to avert severe mental complications, such as the development of poor health conditions;
• The patient currently observed is a woman approximately 30 years of age;
• Patients diagnosis: generalized anxiety disorder;
• Condition background: severe workload on a position of a sales manager, high stress level at work, such personal qualities as perfectionism and overthinking;
• Physical symptoms: nausea, muscle tension;
• Psychic symptoms: worry and attention span issues;
• The patient realizes the presence of the issue and the need for intervention;
• The patient is willing to use mHealth applications as a means of handling anxiety.

Health Anti-Anxiety Medication: Sanvello

• Name: Sanvello.
• Purpose of the app: Sanvello is designed as a personal assistant for people diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. The purpose of the app is to provide people with help and support concerning self-care, therapy, coaching, and peer support on a daily basis (Sanvello, 2021).
• Intended audience: Patients diagnosed with anxiety and anxiety-related mental disorders.
• Mobile device: iOS and Android.
• Where to download:

  • Apple Store: (Sanvello Health Inc., 2021b).
  • Google Play Market: (Sanvello Health Inc., 2021a).
• Additional information: The major working principle of the application is based on the fundamentals of cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is generally believed to be one of the best methods in addressing anxiety (Sanvello, 2021).

Teaching Peculiarities

Ensuring Efficiency

• Perceiving the app as a personal journal.
• Developing the habit of daily check-up on the app.
• Reaching out to counselors in addition to the app usage.
• Encouraging communication with peers as a means of social adaptation.

Application Basics

• Learning the basic features of the app.
• Creating an account.
• Filling in the important information in order to connect with the practitioners.

Four Kinds of Support

• Learning how to communicate with peer groups.
• Training on live therapy sessions.
• Introduction of self-therapy techniques.
• Learning when to address a coaching session.
• Providing assistance during the first few days of familiarization with the app.

Evaluation

App Effectiveness

• Patients mental state prior to and after using the app.
• Patients ability to self-analyze the need for counseling and therapy.
• Outputs from the live therapy sessions.
• Frequency of communication with peers.
• The number of peers with whom patients maintain consistent communication.
• The amount of time spent on the app daily.

Patients Feedback

• Patients satisfaction with the app usage.
• The assessment of the app complexity.
• Patients understanding of the app value for anxiety handling.
• Patients self-evaluation of the mental state during the app use.
• Willingness to use the application every day.

Medication Management

• Patients response to medication after app use.
• Reconsideration of medication dosage regarding the CBT intervention.
• Assessment of the anxiety attack frequency prior to using the application.
• Assessment of the ability to replace medication with a full scale cognitive behavioral therapy treatment (Hana et al., 2018).
• Assessment of the medication use consistency during the app use.

References

Bandelow, B., Michaelis, S., & Wedekind, D. (2017). Treatment of anxiety disorders. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 19(2), 93.

Hana, L. M., McIngvale, E., Davis, M., Storch, E. A. (2018). CBT, medication, and the combination are effective for childhood anxiety. Evidence-Based Mental Health, 22(4). Web.

Sanvello. (2021). Web.

Sanvello Health Inc. (2021a). Sanvello (Version 8.21.0) [Mobile App]. Google Play Store. Web.

Sanvello Health Inc. (2021b). Sanvello (Version 8.21.0) [Mobile App]. App Store. Web.

Purpose of the Study

Nursing stress and anxiety related to their responsibilities and workload is a common problem. A study by Maguire (2020) aims to determine the effect of coloring mandalas on reducing nurses anxiety. Consequently, the study researches a connection between mandala coloring, physical indicators such as heart rate, and mental health state of medical-surgical nurses and nursing support staff.

Research & Design

The author used a literature review, questionnaires, and pulse rate measurements to conduct the study. A review of the scientific literature was used to substantiate the research issue and its relevance. The crossover pretest-posttest included a survey of participants by using The STAI-Form Y before and after the quasi-experiment, as well as measuring the pulse with The emWave Pro biofeedback monitor (Maguire, 2020). The research had two parts, since, the first time, the participants were asked to perform their usual actions during a 20-minute break, and, the second time, they were asked to color the mandala. Thus, the researcher used  A mixed-methods, crossover pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design (Maguire, 2020, p.194). This design justifies the purpose of the study because the survey showed the level of anxiety, and the measurement of the pulse indicated the physiological parameters before and after the experiment. This approach helped avoid inaccuracies if nurses had different levels of anxiety on different days and partially reduced bias in the questionnaire responses, since the pulse indicates the bodys response.

Sample

The researcher almost did not establish special criteria for the sample of participants. The only condition for participation was the position of medical-surgical nurses or nursing support staff in the hospital. As a result, 40 participants were selected  37 women and 3 men  with different education and work experience levels (Maguire, 2020). Most of the participants have a bachelors degree and are middle aged registered nurses.

Data Collection

The data was collected through a survey and measurement of the physiological indicators of the respondents. For the survey, Maguire (2020) used online The STAI-Form Y to measure anxiety, and the emWave Pro biofeedback monitor was used to measure the heart rate. The main sampling methods were the voluntary invitation of nurses from the unit of one hospital, and their encouragement of other colleagues, which refer to such techniques as convenience, purposeful, and snowball sampling.

Data Analysis

Data analysis was carried out comparing the results of pretests and posttests. For this purpose, Two-tailed paired students t-tests and Cohen classifications were applied to measure effect size and p-value (Maguire, 2020).

Limitations

The studys main limitations are the small sample of respondents, self-reporting, and the lack of follow-up studies. A small sample does not allow the author to draw general conclusions, and the answers to the questionnaire may be inaccurate because the participants knew the purpose of the study. In addition, the lack of follow-up studies makes it difficult to conclude the long-term effect of coloring on anxiety.

Findings/Discussion

The main finding of the study is that mandala coloring reduces the anxiety of the nurse. Maguire (2020) has determined that coloring increases heart rate and reduces short-term anxiety. An interesting detail is that the author did not find a difference in the trait anxiety between the regular and painting mandala break (Maguire, 2020). This result is associated with calming down during coloring as a monotonous but entertaining activity.

Reading Research Literature

Reading research literature is important for expanding knowledge and applying evidence-based practices. In addition, the skill of reading such literature helps distinguish credible research from unreliable ones. Therefore, reading research literature develops professional knowledge and critical thinking. For example, this activity showed me one of the methods of dealing with anxiety and stress that I can apply in my practice.

Reference

Maguire, P. (2020). The effect of coloring mandalas on the anxiety of medical-surgical nurses and nursing support staff. MEDSURG Nursing, 29(3), 192-199.

Purpose of the Study

The project purpose was to examine whether coloring mandalas during break increases heart rate variability and helps lower the anxiety state and characteristics among medical-surgical nurses and the healthcare support staff compared to normal activities.

Research & Design

The study used crossover pre- and posttest quasi-experimental design mixed method to conduct the research. Through the method, the principal investigator used flyers to notify each nurse in charge about the positions, goals and the inclusion design of the experiment. The notice allowed interested nurses to register in the any of the 45 positions announced (Patricia et.al., 2020). Additionally, the recruitment was done in unit meeting to encourage employees to participate in the exercise.

Sample

The study used forty subjects to participate in the research. The sample selection was guided by the need to achieve a 0.80 power that help in getting the significant variation of 20% anxiety state of pre-intervention and post intervention. Besides, the choice helps to detect a loss attrition of 20% (Patricia et.al., 2020). Qualified candidates included registered nurses, unit clerks, patient care practitioners and licensed nurses. The participants were selected through convenience, purposeful and snowball sampling method. The sample environment was set in a 43 bed medical surgical section of a 515-bed capacity urban teaching hospital in Northeastern United States.

Data Collection

Nurses and support employees completed the STAI-Form Y and the data completed in the form was collected and store online on the Mind Garden website. After all the participants filled the form, heart rate variability was recorded for five minutes on a computer.

• Data Analysis: The experiment used STAI-Form Y, to measure anxiety among the medical surgical nurses and their support staff. The instrument can identify temporary condition of a short-term state anxiety and state anxiety. In addition, the STAI-Form Y can produce a general and long-term characteristic of anxiety (Patricia et.al., 2020). The data was divided the forty responses into two sections each with twenty questions for easy and independent measure short-term state anxiety and characteristic anxiety.
• Limitations: Due to the small number of nurses and support staff in each medical surgical unit, the research outcome cannot generalize all the nurses. Moreover, the experiment did not collect historical anxiety data hence it did not identify the preexisting anxiety disorders of the subjects. Further, the nurse did a pretest that created bias in posttest answers. Lastly, the research failed to evaluate whether subjects showed anxiety reducing effects after the coloring mandalas activity stopped.
• Findings/Discussion: The study found out that heart rate variability increases after coloring mandalas activity. The experiment results indicated that coloring mandalas during work break increases heart rate variability and reduces anxiety in the short-term. In fact, according to the study, there is no big difference in short-term state anxiety and trait anxiety between coloring mandalas breaks and normal breaks (Patricia et.al., 2020). Therefore, the findings supports other studies that used heart rate variability and pulse rate to investigate impacts of coloring mandalas on anxiety reduction.
• Reading Research Literature: The literature review reveals that further research is needed on the effects of coloring mandalas on anxiety reduction. In fact, there is a need to explore impacts of various geometrical designs of the mandalas selected on anxiety of medical surgical nurses and other staff members. The study focused on coloring pre drawn mandala other than using original created mandalas during the process.

Reference

Patricia Maguire, M. A., Ann Coughlan, B. S. N., Hannah Lacko MA, C. S. S. B. B., & Jessie Reich, M. S. N. (2020). The effect of coloring mandalas on the anxiety of medical-surgical nurses and nursing support staff. Medsurg Nursing, 29(3), 192-199.

Introduction

Mothers are often worried about their newborn babies after birth. They always want to know whether their newborns are eating well, having a sufficient sleep, and hitting all their precious milestones. It is natural for mothers to become more concerned about their newborns. However, the anxiety may be out of control and has the mothers on edge most times. The mothers lack sleep all night and develop something more than new-parent jitters. Postpartum anxiety disorder involves being excessively worried about the newborn after giving birth. The over-warning labels on every new item the mothers purchase for their children trigger anxiety. The anxiety disorder is associated with racing thoughts, excess worry, and dreadful feelings. While the signs of postpartum depression are almost similar to postpartum depressions symptoms, the two are different. Healthcare givers always distinguish between the two disorders before recommending medication and treatment options. The postpartum treatment includes cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). Furthermore, severe cases of the disorder need medication as recommended by doctors. This research paper discusses the causes, treatment and medication options, consequences, and effects of postpartum anxiety disorder.

Postpartum Anxiety Disorder vs Postpartum Depression Disorder

Postpartum anxiety disorder is related to postpartum depression disorder but manifests differently. Medical doctors refer to postpartum anxiety disorder as a cousin to postpartum depression disorder. However, the two conditions are very different regarding their effects and consequences ( Layton et al., 2021). Postpartum depression disorder often causes disinterest in the newborns among mothers. Conversely, postpartum anxiety disorder is associated with extreme worry about the mothers newborns ( Layton et al., 2021). Postpartum anxiety disorder is the loss of an ordinary sense of balance and tranquillity, but postpartum depression is losing a mothers heart (Briden, 2021). Unlike postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety is a hidden disorder since few mothers recognize it. The anxiety often goes undiagnosed, threatening mothers psychological development and mental health. Although the two disorders often go hand-in-hand, postpartum anxiety is a hidden disorder associated with excessive worry among mothers about their newborns. Postpartum anxiety disorder is related to various causes and symptoms.

Causes of Postpartum Anxiety Disorder

Various factors, including hormonal shifts and repeated experiences, often trigger the disorder. The substantial hormonal level shits, which involves drastic changes in the levels of estrogen and progesterone, start anxiety among the mothers (Bennett and Indman, 2015). After giving birth, the mother experiences sleep deprivation, change in their working schedule, among other changes to meet the newborns needs. Although the disorder is associated with hormonal shifts and the new roles among the mothers, various factors increase the disorders risk (Feingold, 2013). Personal or family anxiety history may exacerbate the condition among the affected mothers. Depression is known to have long-lasting psychological effects, and it triggers other conditions such as anxiety. Thus, previously depressed mothers are at risk of developing the disorder to extreme levels. Furthermore, eating disorders may increase the risk of developing the condition (Bennett and Indman, 2015). Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) and the mothers personalities trigger postpartum anxiety disorder.

Traumatic experiences such as miscarriage and stillbirth significantly increase the risk of postpartum anxiety disorder. The mothers are always worried about something terrible based on their past experiences (Hijazi et al., 2021). Furthermore, postpartum OCD triggers intrusive thoughts and unprecedented compulsion among the mothers. OCD is associated with symptoms that induce postpartum anxiety disorder: repetitive obsessions and urge to perform certain rituals, fear of being alone with the baby, and the anxiety surrounding the obsessions and compulsions (Feingold, 2013). Therapists and psychologists help in treating OCD, therefore encumbering potential postpartum disorder. Like many other disorders, postpartum anxiety disorder has treatment and medication options.

Symptoms

Although the disorder is invisible, it is associated with various symptoms. The constant and near-constant worry among the mothers is the most typical disorder symptom. Eating and obsessive-compulsive disorders cause extreme anxiety among mothers. Dreadful feelings and increased sleep deprivation are also common among the affected mothers (Bennett and Indman, 2015). The condition is also associated with physical symptoms such as fatigue and heart palpitations. Hyperventilation, rapid and deep breathing, is also a common symptom among the affected mothers ( Feingold, 2013). Sweating, nausea, and trembling are observable in postpartum anxiety victims. The disorder is also associated with other conditions related to sleep disorders and eating disorders. Upon identifying the symptoms, the affected mothers should seek a medical officers advice, including various treatment and medication options.

Treatment Options

Treatment options involve detailed plans with information about the disorder and the possible curative mechanisms. The mothers who feel overwhelmed should inform their doctors in advance. Timely identification of postpartum anxiety disorder leads to immediate and expeditious treatment plans preventing potential disorder consequences. Getting a break from baby duties is a recommended treatment option since it relieves the mothers of worry and excess stress (Yahya et al., 2021). Cognitive-behavioural therapy is also a treatment option for the disorder. The therapy reduces the mothers psychological symptoms of postnatal depression, exacerbating the condition (Huanng et al., 2018). The therapy gives the mothers the skills to change their thinking patterns when dealing with their newborns. Relaxation techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, and mindfulness are significant disorder treatment options. The affected mothers should seek experts opinions on integrating the relaxation techniques in their routine activities.

Exercise gives people a feeling of relief and empowerment, therefore evading destructive thinking and worry. Intense physical activity reduces body weight and other associated conditions like atherosclerosis that trigger anxiety and stress. Aerobic exercise among the affected mothers leads to remission rates of about 60 and 40 per cent (Luo et al., 2020). Therefore, a break from baby duties, cognitive behavioural therapy, exercise, and expert relaxation help treat postpartum anxiety disorder. The condition is associated with various symptoms that may be fatal.

Medication Options

Therapists and doctors often recommend treatment options for severe postpartum anxiety disorder. However, the medication use varies according to a case-by-case basis. The use of antidepressants is sometimes recommended depending on the mothers ability to bond and take care of her child. Furthermore, anti-anxiety drugs, benzodiazepines, such as clonazepam, diazepam, and lorazepam, among others, are always recommended. However, the medication should be taken strictly according to the doctors instructions. Taking medicines as prescribed helps avoid prescription errors and the associated side effects. The medication options offer instant relief, but the victims should incorporate treatment options in the medication plan. The treatment options provide a healthy and permanent solution to the disorder, while the medication options are susceptible to addiction.

Consequences and Effects on Mother-Child Relationship

The disorder is associated with adverse consequences that affect the childs and the mothers conditions. Chronic anxiety related to postpartum anxiety disorder affects the quality of the mothers life. Long-term strain induces the brain to release stress hormones regularly (Izvolskaia et al., 2018). The large amounts of stress hormones cause headache, dizziness, and increased depression. Furthermore, anxiety is associated with excess release of hormones adrenaline and cortisol. Long term exposure to the hormone cortisol leads to increased body weight, causing other conditions such as hypertension (Izvolskaia et al., 2018). Hypertension leads to risks such as heart failure, aneurysm, dementia, heart attack, and stroke. Although the consequences of the disorder are common in mothers, the children suffer due to a lack of sufficient mother care.

The bond between the mother and the child is vital for the healthy growth and development of the child. However, the surge in health conditions associated with postpartum anxiety disorder deteriorates the mother-child relationship. Affected mothers will have less time to interact with their children. Furthermore, the affected mothers may be warned against breastfeeding or participating in activities that are essential for the childs well being. OCD involves compulsion, an urge to perform rituals that the child may dislike and hate the mother. The bond between the mothers and the children is greatly affected. The children may develop child attachment disorder since they do not receive normal love and care from their mothers. The children may carry the condition to adulthood and disrupt their adult social life. The disorder may also be associated with depression that may psychologically affect the child. The consequences of postpartum anxiety disorder are dire to mothers and children. Thus the caregivers should prevent the condition at the initial stages.

Conclusion

Postpartum anxiety disorder involves extreme anxiety among mothers due to hormonal shifts, family anxiety history, and traumatic experiences. The condition is distinguished from postpartum depression disorder, which causes disinterest in children among the mothers. Postpartum anxiety has extreme worry, shaking, sweating, and nausea, among others. Treatment options such as exercise and cognitive behavioural therapy are available for the disorder. Medication options available for the condition include anti-anxiety and antidepressant drugs. If the condition goes untreated, it may lead to adverse health conditions affecting the mother and the child. Treating postpartum anxiety disorder is vital in enhancing a mothers love and care of her child.

References

Bennett, S., & Indman, P. (2015). Beyond the Blues: Understanding and treating prenatal and postpartum depression & anxiety. Untreed Reads.

Briden, L. (2021). Hormone Repair Manual: Every Womans Guide to Healthy Hormones After 40. Lara Briden.

Feingold, S. (2013). Happy Endings, New Beginnings: Navigating Postpartum Disorders. New Horizon Press, Far Hills, NJ

Hijazi, H. H., Alyahya, M. S., Al Abdi, R. M., Alolayyan, M. N., Sindiani, A. M., Raffee, L. A.,& & Al Marzouqi, A. M. (2021). The Impact of Perceived Social Support During Pregnancy on Postpartum Infant-Focused Anxieties: A Prospective Cohort Study of Mothers in Northern Jordan. International Journal of Womens Health, 13, 973. Web.

Izvolskaia, M., Sharova, V., & Zakharova, L. (2018). Prenatal programming of neuroendocrine system development by lipopolysaccharide: long-term effects. International journal of molecular sciences, 19(11), 3695. Web.

Layton, H., Owais, S., Savoy, C. D., & Van Lieshout, R. J. (2021). Depression, anxiety, and mother-infant bonding in women seeking treatment for postpartum depression before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 82(4), 0-0. Web.

Luo, J., Tang, C., Chen, X., Ren, Z., Qu, H., Chen, R., & Tong, Z. (2020). Impacts of aerobic exercise on depression-like behaviours in chronic unpredictable mild stress mice and related factors in the AMPK/PGC-1± pathway. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(6), 2042. Web.

Yahya, N. F. S., Teng, N. I. M. F., Das, S., & Juliana, N. (2021). Postpartum depression among Neonatal Intensive Care Unit mothers and its relation to postpartum dietary intake: A review. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 27(4), 229-237. Web.

Nowadays, the gap in the literature regarding depression diagnosis and treatment in post-stroke patients is gaining more attention. According to Quattropani et al. (2018), although individuals also exhibit stress after a stroke, symptoms of depression have started receiving more scientific attention. Recent research has focused on post-stroke anxiety (PSA), which is linked to a worse rehabilitation (Quattropani et al., 2018). The majority of research has looked into depression and anxiety separately in stroke victims. Furthermore, nothing is known regarding how neuropsychological therapy affects the eradication of mood swings two months following a stroke (Quattropani et al., 2018). Although it lessens over the course of six months following a stroke, long-term mental difficulties are relatively common. Brain damage is particularly prevalent in the acute period after a stroke.

The overall problem is that recurring strokes are a concern for stroke survivors with PSD in the following weeks and months following the initial incident. PSD is an unusually unpleasant emotional reaction brought on by failing, frustration, or tragedy (Sun et al., 2018). Every year, there are more people suffering from strokes (FaridahAini, 2021). The effects of such incidents can cause both short and long-term immobility with other conditions; the adequate medication can be costly and time-consuming. This creates anxiety in post-stroke individuals, which can lower their well-being (FaridahAini, 2021). Several trials have shown cognitive-behavioral therapy to lessen depression, although the benefit has not been seen in patients with ischemic stroke. A treatment using cognitive-behavioral therapy addresses and modifies the destructive thoughts and behavioral patterns that cause emotional and physical issues.

FaridahAini, A. W. (2021). Cognitive behaviour Therapy (Cbt) to Reduce Post Ischemic Stroke Depression. Annals of the Romanian Society for Cell Biology, 25(6), 3318-3323.

The purpose of the given study is to ascertain how cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) affects individuals with post-stroke ischemia in terms of depression reduction. In the study, a sample of forty participants within every group was chosen using a continuous sampling technique from the demographic of post-stroke victims at the Puskesmas Semarang Regency. The study conducted by FaridahAini has a quasi-experimental design. Here, the control group received therapy to determine the interventions impact. However, some of the influencing factors were out of their management. Furthermore, depressive conditions in post-stroke ischemic individuals were examined in relation to cognitive therapy, with the control group and the intervention group being distinguished.

As for the variables in the research on the role of CBT in post-stroke ischemic patients, these include CBT as the independent variable and patients as a dependent variable. The measurement methods of variables included surveys. In the first phase of the research, depression in post-stroke ischemic individuals was measured. The next step was to provide a CBT treatment that consisted of three stages and lasted for three days. Post-stroke ischemic depression was assessed on the following day. Univariate analysis was used for all parameters in the data gathering. As a result, due to tests and pre-tests, the studys methods of data gathering can be perceived as reliable and valid.

The findings indicated that both groups experienced mild to moderate depression prior to receiving the treatment. According to this research, the intervention group had a medium depression incidence of 70%. Then, it was identified that the control group had a milder depression incidence of 68.7% before receiving psychotherapy. As per the evaluation of the study, it can be stated that the importance of it is in the proof that patients who get CBT psychotherapy for post-stroke depression show significant improvement in their depression following ischemic post-stroke.

Quattropani, M. C., Geraci, A., Lenzo, V., Chiaie, R. D., & Filastro, A. (2018). Post-stroke anxiety and depression: relationships to cognitive rehabilitation outcome. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 15(1).

The purpose of this study includes determining the incidence of PSD and PSA in a sample of stroke-affected individuals, assessing the impact of early neurocognitive recovery on anxiousness, depression, and cognitive problems, and investigating the relationships between cognitive performance, stress, and depression in post-stroke patients. Sixty-one individuals hospitalized in an acute rehabilitation facility made up the sample. A stroke was given as the primary diagnosis for forty of the cases. Subjects were tested both during the subacute stroke and two months after the stroke first occurred. Twenty-one orthopedic individuals (10 men, 11 women) who were committed to the exact center for two months of therapy make up the control group. The design of this study is correlational since the study aims to find a connection between treatment and the mental state of the patients, as well as cognitive performance and stroke.

The research variables include patients with stroke (dependent) and neuropsychological intervention (independent). Measurement methods of variables involve tests that help achieve the maximum reliability and validity of the results. A correlational analysis was done to look at the connections between stress, anxiety, and cognitive performance. In the subacute period (T1) and two months following the stroke (T2), participants conducted the MMSE, the Verbal Memory Span and Visuospatial Memory Span, the RCPM, the GRAD, the CIRS, the HAM-A, and HAM-D tests.

The findings revealed a major disparity in patients with left and right hemisphere lesions for verbal span (t= -2.97; p = 0.004) (after Bonferroni adjustment for 11 groups). Three months following a stroke, HRSA scores drastically fell. Only the MMSE and HAM-A had substantial mean effect sizes (d = -1.083 and d = 0.804, respectively), which supported the findings. As a result, patients cognitive performance and anxiety significantly improved, but their depression did not. As per the evaluation of the study, its importance lies within the advocacy of psychological therapy in combination with neuropsychological intervention. The results imply that to straightforward rehabilitative methods in the various phases of the stroke, it is critical to concentrate on anxiety and sadness in post-stroke individuals. This helps necessitate psychological assistance in post-stroke patients.

Sun, C., Yang, F., Wang, C., Wang, Z., Zhang, Y., Ming, D., & Du, J. (2018). Mutual information-based brain network analysis in post-stroke patients with different levels of depression. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12, 1-10.

The study aimed to investigate the aberrant brain connection of stroke patients with various levels of depression via assessment of the characteristics of an MI-based weighted neural network. Within that study, there were seventy-two people with stroke and thirty-five healthy controls (HC). There was no neurological or mental illness incidence in the healthy control group. These individuals were separated into three categories based on their scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Individuals who fall into the categories of post-stroke non-depression (PSND), post-stroke moderate depression (PSMD), and post-stroke depression (PSD) have corresponding HDRS scores of 5, 620, and >20. The study design is observational due to the lack of intervention and focuses on the neural networks of stroke patients.

As for the research variables, these include brain network performance, being the dependent variable, and stroke, being an independent variable. Using a NicoletOne digital video electroencephalograph, the EEG was captured at 16 scalp loci in accordance with the global 1020 method. An offline study was used to eliminate data that had abnormalities. To find and eliminate any lingering ocular action, researchers also performed independent component analysis (ICA), thus providing the reliability and validity of findings and measurement methods of variables.

The findings indicated that only 20% of the sharpest connections are retained in the neural circuits, given the average MI vectors of four categories. The majority join at more significant thresholds, and there is no substantial difference between any two categories at any of the other 11 of the 21 points where there is a variation in grouping between HC and PSD. HC clusters more frequently than PSD and suggest that healthy people have more grouping in the EEG signals. According to the evaluation of the study, its meaning is to emphasize stroke patients and discover how their depression displayed various connection characteristics. This could help with the diagnosis of PSD based on these characteristics.

Precipitants

Marys husbands death precipitated her depression and anxiety diagnosis. She feels lonely and miserable as she struggles with her daily endeavors with limited emotional support. Marys feeling of loneliness emanates from her thoughts regarding her purpose in life. Her husband and children were her motivation in life, and she has since lost due to death and children moving out to start families. The lonely environment aggravates her depressive state as she sees no point in caring for the house since she is the only one who resides there. Mary views emotions as a hindrance to her managerial work brought about by her husbands reminiscence. The store employees believe that she handled the death well as she did not show any emotional effect while on duty. She concealed her emotions from people to show strength as staff deemed her emotionally tough. However, the show she put up led her to depression since she had no one to talk to regarding her situation. Mary had distanced herself from her couple of friends as she did not pick up calls or respond to their game invitations. She deemed herself unworthy of going out to the parties as she would be the odd one out. After pushing everyone away, Mary grew lonely, and anxiety and depression began to manifest.

Cross-sectional View of Cognitions and Behaviors

Marys anxiety has elevated in the last three weeks as she feels bad for not attending the anniversary of her husbands death. She had sad thoughts about going to church and thus abandoned the idea since she did not know what to do during the service. The service was special for the family as Marys children were present to celebrate their fathers life. However, Mary felt unworthy to attend the service as she felt an overwhelming sadness around her. Her lack of attendance has led to the progression of her anxiety and depression as she has been unfocused and feeling down most of the time (Worden, 2018). She has experienced insomnia, a lack of motivation to finish simple tasks, and a loss of appetite as she constantly thinks about the incident.

The second instance relates to her thoughts about how her husband died. Mary blames herself for the accident as her husband was speeding to be present at the baptism of their grandchild. She feels responsible for her husbands reckless driving attributing it to her previous wish for him not to miss the event. The third instance relates to how she handled her husbands demise. Mary was back to her job after a week following the death of her husband; thus, she did not have adequate time to grieve. Mary suppressed her sadness by limiting her grief period and exhibited strength in controlling her emotions. However, the repressed emotions haunt her as the anniversary floods her mind with her husbands memories.

Longitudinal View of Cognitions and Behaviors

Mary bases her anxiety on her foolishness of not being able to control her emotions. She does not accept that she had an anxiety attack since she prides herself on analyzing situations logically instead of being emotional. The irrational part of grief makes her angry as she has trained herself to separate feelings from logic. Her husbands death anniversary evokes emotions of sadness heightened by her thoughts regarding her failure to control them.

Mary views grief as a weakness and thus is upset that the anniversary stirred sad emotions affecting her logical thinking process. She views the emotions as foreign since her husband had died a year ago; thus, there was no logical explanation for the emotions. Mary is considered a strong woman; therefore, people flock to her for advice and help. However, she has never been on the opposite side of the table where she needs help from people regarding her life issues.

Her daughters insistence on helping her make an appointment with a therapist had demotivated her as she did not want to be viewed as weak and unable to control her life trajectory. She views the anniversary as a moment of weakness, and she does not have the playbook on how to navigate the issue of her being helped by her children. Accepting help from people is foreign to her, thus alleviating her anxiety.

Strengths and Assets

Mary assesses situations logically to solve issues and present ideas. She critically analyzes issues before presenting a reasonable judgment that makes sense to the situation. The action plan is always impeccable as it incorporates all interested parties. Mary has a competitive spirit as she works hard to implement practices that improve work standards at the store. She has a good health record regarding her heart and lungs obtained from the emergency room.

Working Hypothesis (Summary of Conceptualization)

Marys anxiety and depressive state emanate from her personality of being a resourceful person; thus, the reversal of roles breeds unfamiliar emotions. She is an analytical and logical thinker who solves issues based on the presented facts instead of being irrational. Her husband, the children, and the staff all confided in her due to her ability to offer sound advice in difficult times. After her husbands death, she did not share her experiences with close contacts as she believed people viewed her as a resourceful person, not needful. Marys anxiety and depression result from maintaining a strong public image regarding lack of emotions in difficult situations. She has built a wall separating her emotions from reality where she is entitled to feel sad mourning her husbands death.

Reference

Worden, J. W. (2018). Grief counseling and grief therapy: A handbook for the mental health practitioner. Springer Publishing Company.

Infographic

Analysis

I chose this organizational pattern to help people understand the concepts of anxiety and depression about COVID-19. The concepts of suffering from depression and anxiety is a global phenomenon that has increased due to COVID-19. According to Markel & Selber (2018) about 5% of adult populations worldwide experience depression. Depression significantly increases the global disease burden and contributes to global disability. While I intended this infographic for medical and university students, the vast majority of people are in some way influenced by the topic it addresses. Campaigns are the backbone of what is done and tend to center around promoting overall mental health.

This infographic aims to show that depression could be a specialized way of thinking about hard challenges. It is possible that evolutions physiological symptoms are meant to derail people from their regular activities so that they can zero in on the cause of the problem and find a solution. Dispelling myths and misinformation regarding depression and other mental health conditions requires a greater public understanding of these issues. As a result, by informing people about depression and anxiety through the infographic, they can see that they are not alone in their struggle with depression.

Infographics can break down a complicated topic while keeping the reader interested. Depression and anxiety can be presented engagingly through the use of infographics. Infographics are much more appealing to viewers than walls of text describing the same information (Markel & Selber, 2018). In this infographic, I used bright colors over dark because vibrant colors can significantly improve an infographics tone and feel. The colors I have chosen are striking, and they will likely hold the attention of my target audience readers for at least a few seconds. The infographics color scheme is also a great way to draw attention to specific data sets on depression and anxiety.

With the help of accessible graphic design, one can make sure that most people can read and understand the printed materials and the websites content (Markel & Selber, 2018). Because I think everyone can benefit from being more accessible, I decided not to alter my infographic in this circumstance. My design also makes depression and anxiety resources on the web more accessible to those with and without disabilities. Sites that are easy to use and navigate speed up the distribution of data and services.

When people address their mental problems, it can be very healing and hurting for them and others. As well as reassuring listeners that they are not alone, personal stories can motivate and encourage readers in a similar position. I sincerely desire those listening to learn healthy ways to deal with pressure, boost their confidence, and prioritize their well-being. Second, the target demographic will get sufficient rest, maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine, and lean on supportive relationships when times are tough. Moreover, the target demographic will schedule routine checkups with their doctors and go in for treatment whenever they experience any symptoms of illness. At long last, those who suspect they are depressed will seek professional assistance.

Reference

Markel, M. H., & Selber, S. A. (2018). Technical communication. Bedford/St. Martins. Web.