Category: Stress

Theoretical Framework

The theory which will be used as a basis for theoretical framework for the current project is Mishele’s theory of uncertainty in illnesses. The approach inquiries establish the hypothesis that uncertainty is related to people’s inability to predict particular actions’ outcomes (Moreland & Santacroce, 2019). The model can efficiently show the uncertainty problems related to diagnosing and preventing illnesses in healthcare. In other words, the theory addresses the problem of the subjective perception of the treatment outcomes and diseases under the prism of uncertainty. Mishele’s idea applied within the nursing scope helps to analyze the cognitive frames of the patients which cause the illness-related uncertainty. Such knowledge may be helpful in predicting particular health-care-related dangers, providing the possibility to control the uncertainty level in patients.

The conceptualized approach represents the structure of Mishele’s theory of uncertainty in illnesses. The model allocates four primary concepts which are deeply interrelated: human beings, environment, health, and nursing (Moreland & Santacroce, 2019). The relationships between the mentioned concepts may be described as the corresponding connection. Each defined notion affects the other to a particular extent. The uncertainty related to illnesses may occur exceptionally as a result of the combination of the mentioned concepts. For example, healthcare problems usually result from the environmental impact of human beings. At the same time, nursing is the sphere that connects medicine and patients. Nurses serve as mediators between clinicians and patients, increasing people’s awareness of their health conditions. Efficient nurses’ work can decrease the level of illness-related uncertainty.

Researchers widely use Mishele’s theory of uncertainty in illnesses to explore the impact of posttraumatic stress disease in different groups of patients. For example, Moreland & Santacroce (2019) explore the question of how posttraumatic stress syndrome affects young adults with congenital heart disease. In the scope of the research, scientists apply the framework evolving Mishele’s theory of uncertainty in illnesses as an essential element. The researchers prove the primary hypothesis that chronic uncertainty increases the risk of the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (Moreland & Santacroce, 2019). Thus, the psychological impact of the illness-related uncertainty significantly affects the general health condition of the patients. In order to increase the quality of patient-oriented health care, clinicians should implement strategies for minimizing the risks of the development of medical traumatic stress disorder caused by uncertainty.

The other group of researchers explores the correlation between uncertainty and mental health. Analyzing the previous work related to this theme, Al-Mitwalli et al. (2021) implemented Mishele’s theory of uncertainty of illnesses as an essential inquiry of the study. Mishele’s model was primarily used for measuring the uncertainty evolving the varied scales such as MUIS (Al-Mitwalli et al., 2021). The direct correlation between traumatic stress was identified thanks to such an approach. Most of the studies reported the negative impact of uncertainty on the mental health of patients of all ages.

The uncertainty consequences are also considered to impact the quality of life negatively. Such problems are primarily related to posttraumatic stress disorder in patients. The researchers analyze the uncertainty concepts based on Mishele’s theory of uncertainty of illnesses (Bryant et al., 2022). The major problem identified by the scholars is the low level of nursing support and lack of care (Bryant et al., 2022). The connection between the mentioned concepts of the theory can help moderate the negative consequence of uncertainty prevention. Minimizing the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder can increase the quality of life.

Application of the Theoretical Framework

As stated earlier, posttraumatic stress disorder directly correlates with illness-related uncertainty. The mentioned problem is extremely dangerous for children. Pediatric medical traumatic stress (PMTS) is a widely-spread notion among children, significantly affecting their life quality. Posttraumatic stress affects children significantly during their vital stages of physiological, psychological, and psychosocial development. As a result, the young population is at a higher risk of occurrence of various psychological problems. Nursing strives to find the measures to prevent the development of such potentially dangerous consequences. In order to design the model to cope with PMTS, Mishele’s theory of uncertainty in illnesses can be used as a starting point. Current work will use the adapted model of the original theory reconceptualized for coping with uncertainty in relation to PMTS.

Constant emotional overstrain and insomnia lead to weakness or asthenic syndrome which is characterized as a complex of symptoms of manifestation of nervous activity. The children quickly get tired, do not improve with developing activity, try to perceive physical activity, and concentrate poorly. Psychological trauma affects the process of physical and mental development. In the absence of timely diagnosis and adequate treatment, posttraumatic stress disorder in children becomes chronic, complicated by the development of secondary depression, the appearance of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias. Thus, it is hazardous for children to experience traumatic events related to illnesses. The unique method of coping with the consequences of PMTS can be framed based on Mishele’s theory of uncertainty in diseases.

The discussed nursing theory will be applied based on the idea that uncertainty is the leading reason for posttraumatic stress disorder occurrence. The original model provides only theoretical information related to uncertainty coping. Thus, the reconceptualization will be focused on this direction. Dealing with the uncertainty notion proposed by Mishele cannot be helpful in cases of PMTS. Independent children’s coping can result in the formation of harmful psychological and mental consequences. In order to eliminate or at least minimize the effects of the PMTS, the construction of a new life perspective should be evolved. It allocates the healthcare, social, and parental resources to ensure that children can overcome the problem of uncertainty. Moreover, by providing psychological and behavioral models to increase awareness of illnesses, the parents and nurses can help children eliminate the problem of uncertainty.

Based on the data mentioned above, the adapted framework will be used in the project to estimate the cases of overcoming uncertainty related to PMTS. The theoretical resources and practical issues of posttraumatic stress in the childhood population will be evaluated through the perspective of the adapted model. In other words, the methods of overcoming the PMTS offered in the works will be analyzed based on the adapted model of Mishele’s theory of uncertainty in illnesses.

Visual Representation of the Original and Adapted Models

Figure 1 depicts the original model of Mishele’s theory of uncertainty in illnesses. It includes three significant aspects antecedents, appraisal of uncertainty, and coping with uncertainty. The first aspect can be associated with symptoms, possibilities of the patients to comprehend their illness, and the structure providers such as education, social status, and others. The second aspect defines the inquiries of uncertainty, including illusion and danger. As it is seen in Figure 1, the original model addresses the element of dealing with uncertainty. It is divided into the adaptation of the people to the environmental conditions, which often are directly related to the occurrence of the illnesses. Preventing varied dangers associated with the uncertainty is related to increasing the general awareness of the patients in the scope of the diagnoses. Opportunity implies the responsibility of the nurses to provide the patients with the knowledge necessary to comprehend their health condition and treatment possibilities.

Figure 2 represents the adapted model that will be used in the project. The first and second aspects of the model were preserved in their original way. Significant changes were made to the third aspect as it is not relevant for working with children. Minimizing the uncertainty within the PMTS requires the allocation of varied social, parental, and healthcare resources to help children overcome medical stress. Prior life experience includes the analysis of the theoretical data in order to find the approach for a particular case. Children’s rehabilitation is practically impossible without parental help.

Moreover, the social resources, such as school psychologists, should be centered on the problem of illness-related uncertainty. Nurses have vital significance in the rehabilitation process supporting young patients and advocating for their interests. Increasing the general awareness of the disease and providing the psychological behavior patterns to cope with stress should be executed by nurses. Such discussions can be held not only with children but also with parents. Therefore, the adapted framework states that the combined efforts of the medical providers, parents, and children themselves can help overcome posttraumatic stress disorder with the primary reason in illness uncertainty.

References

Al-Mitwalli, S., Giacaman, R., Kienzler, H., Massazza, A., Tamimi, N. (2022). The association between uncertainty and mental health: a scoping review of the quantitative literature.Journal of Mental Health, 1–12. Web.

Bryant, A., Crandell, J., Jung, A., Mayer, D., Nielsen, M., & Smith, S. (2022). Relationships among uncertainty, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and quality of life in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer survivors.Support Care Cancer, 30, 6175–6185. Web.

Moreland, P., & Santacroce, S. (2019). Illness uncertainty and posttraumatic stress in young adults with congenital heart disease.Cardiovasular Nurs, 33(4), 356–362. Web.

The article by Smith (2020) entitled Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is valuable because it offers important information on the causes and symptoms of PTSD and ways of recognizing and treating the condition. The most important thing is that it is useful in helping an individual to recognize whether they are suffering from the condition or not. It informs one that they can identify the condition early when they experience feelings of sadness, anxiety, guilt, shame, and anger. It also shows that many people are unable to know what they are feeling at any moment, which might consequently lead to problems such as:

1. Inability to be in control and manage one’s emotions
2. Development of unhealthy coping skills such as self-medication and avoidance
3. Increased anxiety levels

The article can help someone to know that such problems are direct symptoms associated with PTSD and need to be addressed before they get out of hand. Therefore, it helps them to recognize early whether they have PTSD or not. It also provides valuable information to help individuals find the right way to make them feel better. Moreover, it presents useful and effective treatment methods to mitigate the condition. It provides different treatment alternatives which can be used to address the condition because no single method can be regarded as effective. Individuals will be able to identify how they are feeling by knowing the different shapes and forms in which their emotions are taking.

The article informs the reader that emotion consists of three parts which include behavior, thoughts, and sensations. Behavior is described as the action one feels when feeling an emotion. Secondly, thoughts are the images or ideas that come to one’s mind when they are emotional (Smith, 2020). Finally, it describes sensations as the physical changes that occur in the body when one is emotional. These bodily changes may include nausea and increased heart rate. Knowing that such emotions exist helps an individual to know how they feel and how to effectively cope with the situation.

I would refer a patient to this resource when, for instance, they start experiencing strong feelings such as uncomfortable thoughts, which makes them hesitant to get in touch with others. When experiencing this they might try to suppress or push away the uncomfortable thought, which will prevent them from recognizing that they are sick and hinder them from selecting an appropriate coping strategy. The emotions to be identified include fear, sadness, and anger.

Fear creates the situation in which the individual has an urge of escaping from a situation and can also be accompanied by crying, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and fearful thoughts. Secondly, the person might experience sadness and exhibit behaviors such as crying, isolating themselves, having low energy levels, nausea, and shortness of breath. Finally, they might also exhibit unreasonable anger most of the time. The anger might manifest itself through slamming doors, yelling, and picking fights. They may also exhibit signs such as clenching of the jaw, muscle tensions, and increased heart rate. Moreover, they might have angry thoughts like “everyone does not like me”.

When such symptoms are observed in an individual, it becomes important to refer them to the resource. It will help them to identify the three parts of emotions to assist in recognizing that they are suffering from PTSD and need to take corrective measures. The resource is to be used as a source of information that will help an individual to know the cause, the symptoms, and the treatment options available to treat PTSD.

Reference

Smith, M. (2020). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).WebMD. Web.

Introduction

Stress disrupts a person’s activity, their behavior and leads to a variety of psycho-emotional disorders such as, for example, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and others. Long-term stress is hazardous, as it damages the mechanisms of self-regulation of the body, leading to constant fluctuations in the level of hormones and unhealthy rhythms of breathing and heartbeat.

Discussion

The processes that occur in the body during stress are universal for all people. When a person is affected by a stressor, changes occur in the brain and the work of the endocrine and nervous systems. Biochemical reactions during stress proceed at an accelerated pace, increasing the energy potential of the body and allowing it to respond to a threat more quickly. The adrenal glands of the kidneys increase the release of adrenaline into the blood, which is a common fast-acting stimulant. The hypothalamus transmits a signal to the pituitary and adrenal cortex, which increases the synthesis of hormones and their release into the blood.

Hormones that are produced during stress, necessary in physiological quantities for the normal functioning of the body, in large doses cause many adverse reactions leading to diseases. For example, they change the water-salt balance of the blood, increasing blood pressure. Hormones such as cortisol and corticosteroids also increase the number of leukocytes in the blood, stimulating the immune system and suppressing its anti-inflammatory qualities (Bae et al., 2019). Other negative consequences of rising levels of stress hormones above physiological levels include a decrease in insulin secretion, degeneration of cells in the brain and spinal cord, and growth retardation.

Conclusion

Finally, chronic stress contributes to the development and manifestation of such pathological conditions as cardiovascular diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and immunodeficiency. Additionally, muscles tense during acute and chronic stress, which can lead to the development of stress-related disorders such as migraines and tension-type headaches. The degree of health risk associated with these life events depends, in part, on the person’s health habits, coping strategies, and previous experience with preventive stress management practices. Healthy stress management strategies help diminish its negative impact on the body and facilitate better mental stability in the long term.

Reference

Bae, Y.-S., Shin, E.-C., Bae, Y.-S., & Van Eden, W. (2019). Editorial: Stress and immunity. Frontiers in Immunology, 10.

Introduction

PTSD is one of the most widespread diagnoses that affect both the individual’s mental health and physical state, making it worth precise attention from healthcare professionals. At the same time, every person has an individual experience connected with trauma, which means that the reactions to the stressful situation can be completely different among several patients with the same diagnosis. This paper focuses on the existing policies concerning care coordination among patients who have PTSD, emphasizing the need for the individual approach to treatment articulated in the “Healthy people 2030” document. The personal character of trauma and how the patient reacts to it justifies the need to design patient-centered interventions to address this healthcare problem.

Discussion

The patient-centered health intervention plan and timeline are designed for a 64 years old woman diagnosed with PTSD. She has become the victim of long-term physical and emotional abuse from her ex-husband’s side. Now, the woman lives alone and receives medical assistance to alleviate the symptoms of the trauma. The woman is now retired, her adult child lives in another city, she has no friends, and her integration into society is comparatively low, aggravating her emotional state. She also suffers from chronic headaches, mainly migraine pains, and high blood pressure. The current plan should address three healthcare issues the patient faces depression, high blood pressure, and migraine. Addressing these health issues while coordinating care for PTSD is essential because all three diagnoses influence the patient’s state.

Therefore, the intervention for each health issue should be based on the patient’s individual requirements. High blood pressure is the first health issue to address in care coordination for a patient with PTSD. Combining drug therapy with the necessary lifestyle changes is vital, including supporting healthy weight, regular moderate physical activity, healthy eating habits, avoiding alcohol, and having enough sleep (Stafford, 2018). Regular blood pressure checks are also vital in managing the therapy of this diagnosis. High blood pressure starts from 130/80 mmHg, meaning the patient should pay precise attention to her state (Stafford, 2018).

Using drugs daily to avoid the critical situation with blood pressure is an essential therapy component. They include using calcium channel blockers that protect the blood vessels and heart’s muscle cells; angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors that do not allow blood vessels to narrow excessively, which is the cause of high blood pressure; and beta blockers that support the heart rate (Stafford, 2018). Therefore, the complex approach to managing the patient’s high blood pressure is essential in creating the individual care plan and schedule.

The community resources for this health intervention are the local hospital, the drug store, and the park. The woman can check her blood pressure in the local drug store and buy all necessary medications there. She can ask for professional help in the hospital, where the nurse and the physician will provide her with qualified assistance. The local park is where the patient can exercise lightly to support the moderate physical activity critical for managing high blood pressure. The objectives, as mentioned earlier, are consistent with the ideas articulated in the document “Healthy people 2030.” For instance, the recommendations concerning healthy eating, moderate physical activity, and blood pressure control are among the most vital parts of the description of older adults (ODPHP, 2022). The patient, whose case is discussed in this health provision plan, belongs to this age group, and the recommendations correspond to her needs.

The second health issue is depression, among the most common consequences of PTSD when the person cannot cope with the trauma they experienced. The patient reports her loneliness because she lives alone, and her contacts with the adult child are rare. Her memories of communication with her ex-husband are traumatic for her, which leads to her lack of desire to make new acquaintances. The woman requires regular interaction with the psychologist who helps her to cope with the traumatic memories and to integrate into society (Zhang et al., 2018). According to the document “Healthy people 2030,” physical activity and social integration are vital parts of mental health (ODPHP, 2022). As a result, the patient should receive recommendations about regular physical activities to reduce the symptoms of depression. In addition, she needs moderate outdoor workouts to control her blood pressure.

Treatment of depression is impossible without appealing to community resources. The patient with the symptoms of depression suffers from loneliness and hesitates about integrating into the community. The previous trauma in communicating with people makes this process challenging. It is possible to assume that the church community, the gatherings of the older adult people from the neighborhood, and visiting the psychologist are three community resources that might help the patient in this health intervention. Religion and psychological help provide the person with depressive signs and spiritual and moral support that are vital in finding inner balance (Zhang et al., 2018). Communication with people of the same age might have a therapeutic effect due to the common memories and experiences these people share.

The third issue is migraine, the chronic neurological diagnosis that causes recurring pain and significantly reduces the quality of the patient’s life. The diagnosis is complex, and the patient does not receive medical treatment for this hype of headaches (Burch, 2019). It is possible to propose that the woman receive preventive migraine treatment, but they do not eliminate the headache. They make the severity and the frequency of the attacks comparatively rare (Burch, 2019). Another option for managing migraine is taking painkillers when the first symptoms of the headache appear, which makes the pain less severe (Burch, 2019).

Managing chronic pain is the essential objective of the report “Healthy people 2030” because it spoils human life significantly (ODPHP, 2022). The community resources that can help in this health intervention are similar to the previously described ones. The patient should introduce the physical activity, communication with other people, and regular visits to the hospital to alleviate her health state.

Patient-centered health interventions concentrate on the patient’s needs and desires. Ethical controversy might arise when the patient disagrees with the prescription and does not want to follow the recommendations. For example, the woman from this case study has suffered from migraines for many years and does not want to use preventive therapy due to its insignificant effect. It might be more ethically justified to insist on managing high blood pressure and depressive symptoms because the results of these decisions are more practically measurable. The ethical question that generates uncertainty about the decisions made in this treatment plan is connected with the will of the patient and the prescription. The question is whether it is justified to insist on preventive therapy for acute headaches if the patient does not want it.

The relevant health policy implication for the coordination and continuum of care is connected with wellness. Promoting a healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity, diet, supporting healthy weight, and regular sleep is consistent with the measures described in the healthcare plan. The World Health Organization report defines collaborative care planning and shared decision-making (WHO, 2018). The priorities that a care coordinator needs to establish while discussing the treatment plan with a patient are connected with the practical opportunity of the person to follow these recommendations and their readiness to do it. It is essential to listen to the patient in the shared decision-making, which is a significant change in composing the treatment plan because when the patient does not want to follow specific recommendations, they ignore them.

Conclusion

It is critical to adapt care to the needs of the particular patient because meeting the person’s requirements constitute the basis of the patient-centered approach. Patient-centered health interventions require an individual timeline, which means that the nurse has to find ways of applying general principles to every patient’s case. It might be a complicated task for the nurse, foregrounding the need to appeal to the patient’s family to support the initiative and alleviate the patient’s state by unifying the powers. At the same time, the care coordinator should listen to the patient’s desires in all situations because not all people want their family members to assist them in the hospital environment or avoid showing their weaknesses to people they love. Therefore, all healthcare policies affect patient-centered care because they determine the approach to nursing and care coordination.

References

Burch, R. (2019). Migraine and tension-type headache: Diagnosis and treatment. The Medical Clinics of North America, 103(2), 215–233. Web.

ODPHP. (2022). Healthy people 2030. US Department of Health and Human Services. Web.

Stafford, R. S. (2018). New high blood pressure guidelines: Back on track with lower treatment goals, but implementation challenges abound. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 55(4), 575–578. Web.

World Health Organization. (2018). Continuity and coordination of care. WHO. Web.

Zhang, Y., Chen, Y., & Ma, L. (2018). Depression and cardiovascular disease in elderly: Current understanding. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience: Official Journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia, 47, 1–5. Web.

Background

This study examined the proportion of United States veterans who had PTSD and engaged in the use of illegal opioids to cope with it or had done so in the past. The effects that war has on one in terms of mental health are well-known, and many veterans require mental health assistance. One of the ways in which people cope with mental health issues is through the usage of opioids, which temporarily alter their mental state and distract them from the issues. However, the practice creates other issues, in terms of both health and law compliance, and an evaluation of its scope is warranted to determine what interventions are necessary.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey approach was employed for data collection. The sample was gathered using snowballing cluster sampling, with veterans in different communities deliberately contacted and asked to refer others they knew to the study. This method was employed to minimize community-related bias, as one’s environment may also have a significant effect on their propensity to engage in opioid usage. The surveys asked demographic questions and queried whether the participant had ever been diagnosed with PTSD as well as whether they had engaged in illicit opioid use after their military tour. Overall, 153 participants participated in the study, 147 of whom submitted valid responses that were admitted for analysis.

All of the participants were men, and their average age was 40.2. The demographic information was used for basic stratification of the participants used on age. Participants who responded “no” to the PTSD question were excluded from the study, as they were not of interest given its purpose. Then, the proportions of the respondents in different age categories who responded positively to the questions regarding their illicit opioid use were calculated. Due to the privacy requirements, other types of stratification were not considered.

Results

127 veterans responded that they had been diagnosed with PTSD, and their responses were considered further. Of these, a total of 35 (27.6%) respondents admitted to engaging in illicit opioid use after their service and diagnosis. The proportion of veterans that used opioids decreased with age, with 55.6% of participants aged 18 to 30 abusing the substance and 22.9% of those aged 45 and above doing the same. With that said, these statistics are not necessarily representative of the broader community due to the small stratified sample size.

Implications

Overall, veterans’ usage rates of opioids appear to be alarmingly high compared to the average across the population. Considering the illegality of the drugs in most, if not all, jurisdictions, their willingness to take the risks raises questions. It is possible to infer that veterans with PTSD are currently not being served by the medical system adequately. Additional research into their mental health states, needs, and coping methods is warranted and necessary. Such studies can also verify the validity of the study’s findings, especially for the relationship found between age and opioid usage. With more detailed information, effective intervention for the population can be developed and deployed.

The article by Dani Blum, published by the New York Times, underlines how misconceptions about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD have resulted in biased diagnoses, leaving many people untreated. PTSD has long been affiliated with war due to the significant diagnosis of veterans compared to the civilian population. However, statistics indicate that about 6% of the civilian population are affected by PTSD, although 70% of the U.S population experience a traumatic event in their lifetime (Blum, 2022). A significant proportion of civilians are affected by post-traumatic stress but ignore the symptoms and fail to seek early interventions influenced by misconceptions about how PTSD develops and its symptoms. The policy solution would be to enhance research, public information and training about PTSD to adulterate misunderstandings that have caused PTSD to be overlooked.

Limited knowledge, training and research focused on PTSD have diluted the meaning of PTSD. There is a societal perception that PTSD only affect soldiers and people in war zones and causes multiple dysfunctions largely contributed by linear research and training, hence causing many civilians to ignore critical symptoms of PTSD (Murray et al., 2021). Refutation of the misconceptions would facilitate increased PTSD diagnosis at early stages among civilians crucial for effective management. There is no concrete policy action by Congress nor amendments in medical school curriculums.

Alternatively, PTSD diagnosis is substantially disruptive regardless of the severity. Having PTSD is a risk factor for comorbidity of other mental health problems such as depression and anxiety (Coventry et al., 2020). Furthermore, research has indicated that living with PTSD is consequential to post-traumatic growth, a positive psychological change that facilitates intrinsic healing (Finstad et al., 2021). Since there is no defined treatment for PTSD, the limited civilian diagnosis is in some way beneficial since diagnosis is a risk factor for comorbidity and post-traumatic growth from living with PTSD triggers natural treatment.

References

Blum, D. (2022). A private war: Why PTSD is still overlooked. The New York Times. Web.

Coventry, P. A., Meader, N., Melton, H., Temple, M., Dale, H., Wright, K. & Gilbody, S. (2020). Psychological and pharmacological interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder and comorbid mental health problems following complex traumatic events: Systematic review and component network meta-analysis. PLoS medicine, 17(8), e1003262. Web.

Finstad, G. L., Giorgi, G., Lulli, L. G., Pandolfi, C., Foti, G., León-Perez, J. M. & Mucci, N. (2021). Resilience, coping strategies and post-traumatic growth in the workplace following COVID-19: A narrative review on the positive aspects of trauma.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(18), 9453. Web.

Murray, H., Grey, N., Warnock-Parkes, E., Kerr, A., Wild, J., Clark, D. M., & Ehlers, A. (2022). Ten misconceptions about trauma-focused CBT for PTSD.the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 15. Web.

The case study family (CSF) is between the ages of five and thirty-five years and consists of a father, a mother, and two male children. The father is a construction worker, while the mother is a cook. The mother is currently pregnant and expectant of another child. However, the incomes are not adequate to take care of the essential family needs such as food and giving the children quality education. Additionally, the parents face unfavorable working conditions, and the family lives in an unsafe neighborhood posing social threats such as insecurity and violence. Therefore, this paper examines the potential risks that may cause stress in the CSF and the neighboring vulnerable community and provides ideas on reducing the risk factors. In addition, it describes a teaching plan for the same.

According to my analysis, the identified potential stressors, according to their ranking, include inadequate finances, lack of access to food, health risks, and drug and substance abuse. My rationale behind the ranking is the impact of the risks on the family and the community. Financial problems impact physical health and the overall condition of a family, such as the ability to access proper healthcare, food, and other social services (Friedline et al., 2021).

The risk with the second most significant effect is lack of access to food. It causes hunger and leads to nutrition-related health challenges such as obesity, overweight, and other diseases. Depending on certain individual features, obesity can also, to variable degrees, aggravate chronic stress (Tester et al., 2020). People who face stigma, such as those who are overweight, are known to be more stressed out and have higher long-term cortisol levels (Tester et al., 2020). The third is health challenges, which can cause dire consequences such as death, stigma, and productivity. It also causes financial constraints due to the necessary medical expenses (Lazar & Davenport, 2018). The last one is drug and substance abuse. It can cause health-related stress, conflicts, violence, theft, and stigma.

In my case study, family and their vulnerable population or community, four potential risks could contribute to their stress. Firstly, there is a lack of financial resources to buy food due to low-income jobs. Secondly, the family suffers from a lack of access to food or food insecurity due to inadequate financial resources. Thirdly, the family faces health challenges, an outstanding case being obesity. Lastly, there is the risk of drugs and substance abuse. The father of the family is an addicted smoker. In addition, the family lives in an unsafe neighborhood which promotes terrible behaviors such as drug addiction.

In order to address the four potential risks that could contribute to stress in my CSF and their vulnerable population/community, I have developed the following teaching plan to provide awareness on the matters to the community.

When the ideas mentioned above are properly executed, there will be a tremendous reduction in stress issues among the CSF and their neighboring vulnerable community. Stressors can be acute or persistent and different in size and shape. Severe trauma, substantial life upheavals, daily inconveniences, and other situations where a person is routinely exposed to hazard, difficulty, or danger are examples of what they can be.

In conclusion, my teaching plan design contains the teaching’s objective and goals, the expected outcomes, and the materials required for the teaching. In addition, the teaching plan contains ideas on how to address each potential risk factor and reduce the stress from the factors. Some of the motivation elements include using visual teaching methods such as YouTube videos and giving awards to the participating families. By addressing the potential stressors, I am providing social support to the affected families, consequently making them feel less worried and more capable of coping.

References

Friedline, T., Chen, Z., & Morrow, S. P. (2021). Families’ financial stress & well-being: The importance of the economy and economic environments. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 42(1), 34-51. Web..

Lazar, M., & Davenport, L. (2018). Barriers to health care access for low-income families: A literature review. Journal of community health nursing, 35(1), 28–37. Web.

Tester, J. M., Rosas, L. G., & Leung, C. W. (2020). Food insecurity and pediatric obesity: A double whammy in the era of COVID-19. Current obesity reports, 9(4), 442-450. Web.

Vujanovic, A. A., Wardle, M. C., Bakhshaie, J., Smith, L. J., Green, C. E., Lane, S. D., & Schmitz, J. M. (2018). Distress tolerance: Associations with trauma and substance cue reactivity in low-income, inner-city adults with substance use disorders and posttraumatic stress. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 32(3), 264. Web.

Introduction

Many different types of trauma emanate from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Various factors cause trauma. Epidemiological studies show that sexual assault is the most frequent cause of the stressful situation, especially among women. Thirty-three percent of PTSD cases relate to sexual relationship violence (Sareen and Friedman, 2018). Thus, PTSD result from various factors related to terrifying events or experiences.

Signs/Symptoms of Ptsd

PTSD symptoms can start a few days after the traumatic event or years later and cause serious in social life, work, and relationships. PTSD symptoms interfere with a person’s normal daily activities (Schultebraucks et al., 2021). Although the symptoms vary from person to person, they fall into four main groups: avoidance, negative thinking and mood, intrusive thoughts, and change in emotional and physical reactions.

How Ptsd Prevalence and Incidence Are Measured

Measuring the prevalence and incidence of PTSD requires excellent knowledge of epidemiology and biostatistics. The most basic method of measuring starts with self-screening. However, detailed measurements involve the use of assessment tools that analyze the identified population critically.

PTSD substantially affects an individual, but the effect on family and friends is consequential. Everything in the environment is affected severely due to psychological issues that a patient experiences. It becomes difficult for the victim to function optimally, leading to interfering relationships at home, work, and school.

Conclusion

Surveillance programs are crucial in monitoring victims and identifying new cases. Despite being available, the programs are minimal, and few people know about them. The prevalence and incidence of PTSD have increased since 2000. The situation got worse when the pandemic hit the world. Government restrictions, experiences of acute Covid cases, and fear of contracting the disease played a role.

Stress refers to a feeling of being unsatisfied emotionally or physically, which can cause frustration, anger, or depression if not handled. Joseph, a 63-year-old retired man, married to a young wife of 30 years, is experiencing headaches on how to make savings fearing that his retirement may end. In addition, his wife involves in daily quarrels because she is not used to staying with him all day long. The below steps will help Joseph cope with such trauma.

Joseph should be able to understand the meaning and effects of stress positively. In his case, he should accept that he did not fail by not saving some funds during his working period. The fact that his wife and he argue daily does not mean that there is no love between them, instead: he should view this situation as a problem prepared for him to conquer (Polizzi et al., 2020). Understanding this situation will allow him to accept the fact that stress does not occur as a result of failure.

Joseph should be able to identify what is stressing him most, which in this case it is financial issues and the fact that his wife is always annoyed with him because he is always around, and thus, she does not have the freedom that she so needs. After understanding this, he will avoid such anxiety by ensuring that he avoids being near his wife most of the time (Polizzi et al., 2020). Joseph has to accept that it is not possible to make savings at that age since he cannot reverse years. He should be able to learn the symptoms of stress in his life. In this case, Joseph is currently experiencing chest pain and breathing difficulties which are the signs of stress (Polizzi et al., 2020). Being aware of these indications will help him avoid the symptoms anytime he feels the presence.

He should at least develop ways of calming down anytime he is stressed. This may be through sharing with friends, taking rides, or alcohol, among other factors. This is important because it will help him forget all the problems he faces (Polizzi et al., 2020). Joseph should develop healthy policies to manage stress, such as meditation, which is essential to practice when facing strain (Polizzi et al., 2020). Making self-care a priority is another step Joseph should put into consideration. This may include enough sleep, exercise, sufficient food, and entertainment. This is important because it will help him forget his stressful conditions for a while. Asking for support when in need is a very significant step to follow. This may be seeking counseling from a health care expert, friends, or family member if he is depressed. This is important because he will feel relieved and withdraw from the stress wholly or partially.

If Joseph follows the above steps, he will be able to handle all forms of tension. This will mean that he will have a comfortable life free from anxiety. He will not encounter the health problems he is facing now, such as headaches, and back pain, among other ailments, because he will overcome all stressful situations (Polizzi et al., 2020). He will be happier and healthier and avoid thinking beyond his problems as much as he can afford to cater to basic needs (Polizzi et al., 2020). This means that he will be able to think clearly, function effectively, and enjoy the rest of his life.

Reference

Polizzi, C., Lynn, S. J., & Perry, A. (2020). Stress and coping in the time of COVID-19: Pathways to resilience and recovery. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 17(2), 59.

Introduction

Long-term stress can lead to health problems such as heart disease, stomach ulcers, sleep disorders, and mental illnesses, although the stress response is designed to restore balance. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may mediate these dysfunctional stress responses. Long-term activation of this reaction by stress raises heart rate and blood pressure, both risk factors for cardiovascular disease (Viradia et al., 2022). Mental illness caused by stress raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. Catecholamines, hormones released in response to stress, can interfere with digestion by decreasing blood flow to the digestive tract. Chronic stress lowers immunity, increasing the likelihood that Helicobacter pylori will cause stomach damage and bleeding.

Pathophysiology of Processed Foods

Processed foods are associated with several effects on the body’s normal functioning. Natural nutrients are removed during processing, and as a result, processed foods are high in calories but low in nutrients. The body starts to see the fats, sugars, and salt in ultra-processed foods as rewards, which leads to increased cravings and overeating (Bennet, 2019). The sugars promote oxidative stress and inflammation, predisposing factors to more harm to health. A diet rich in refined sugars is linked to worsening mood disorders, brain function, depression, and obesity.

Pathophysiology of Risky Alcohol Consumption

Risky consumption of alcohol adds high levels of ethanol to the body, which can be fatal. It is generally accepted that young adults and teenagers are the demographic most susceptible to the effects of alcohol at a relatively high concentration. Alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme produced in the liver, is mostly responsible for converting alcohol to acetaldehyde (LaHood & Kok, 2022). Acute poisoning causes the central nervous system (CNS) to become more inhibited and less stimulated, manifesting in various symptoms. The principal neurotransmitter in the CNS that prevents the firing of nerve cells is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Conclusion

GABA reduces neuronal excitation when bound to its receptors by blocking chloride entry. Because of alcohol’s significant affinity for GABA receptors, the inhibitory cascade is activated, resulting in drowsiness, mental slowdown, and impaired motor function.

References

Bennet, C. (2019). The detrimental effects of ultra-processed foods​. News Medical Life Sciences. Web.

LaHood, A. J., & Kok, S. J. (2022). Ethanol toxicity. StatPearls Publishing. Web.

Viradia, N., Paredes, J. G., & Hassan, S. (2022). The effects of chronic stress on neuroanatomy and cognitive function. Web.