Client description
My patient is Pt, a 32-year-old female who is exposed to high stress levels. The reason for this was stressful circumstances triggered by her child being diagnosed with diabetes. Because of that, she is obliged to leave her job, which she misses; she loses sleep to provide care to the child and needs to control the child’s medical care in various places. All of this causes overwhelming stress to the patient’s well-being. It led to the patient’s frequent crying spells and low frustration tolerance. However, the patient admits the need for help and is receptive to support. Interaction with various doctors made her defensive and skeptical about medical care. Nevertheless, she is open and motivated to try the energy medicine approach. I suggest the following three CAM therapies: Biofeedback, acupuncture, and pet therapy. All of them do not involve medical intervention and are stress-directed and supportive.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Therapies
Biofeedback
Biofeedback therapy is a form of therapy that aims to help individuals gain greater awareness and control over their bodily functions, such as heart rate, breathing, and muscle tension. Learning how to control bodily reactions to stress and anxiety is one of the significant benefits of biofeedback therapy. By learning how to regulate these responses, individuals may be able to reduce their symptoms of stress and anxiety, improve their mood, and enhance their overall quality of life (Schwartz, 2018).
One of the key benefits of biofeedback therapy is that it is non-invasive and does not involve the use of medication (Schwartz, 2018). It makes biofeedback therapy a potentially attractive treatment option for individuals who prefer to avoid pharmaceutical interventions. Signs that therapy is helping include reduced symptoms, which in this case means reduced stress, and increased awareness of bodily responses. To determine if the therapy is efficient, it’s crucial to talk about the expectations and goals with a licensed therapist.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that heals the body by inserting needles at certain points. Acupuncture is believed to work by regulating the flow of energy, or Qi, in the body, which is perfect for Pt’s case. By stimulating specific points in the body, acupuncture can help to restore the flow of Qi and bring the body back into balance.
Signs that the therapy is effective include increased energy levels, reduction in pain symptoms, and a greater sense of well-being. If there are no results, the patient should be switched to another therapy.
Pet Therapy
Pet therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy, is a form of therapy that involves interaction between a patient and trained animal, usually dogs or cats. The purpose of pet therapy is to provide emotional support, comfort, and stress alleviation to persons in a therapeutic setting. Pet therapy has been demonstrated to have a lot of therapeutic impacts on people, including lowering stress and anxiety. The idea behind using pet therapy in healthcare settings is that interacting with animals can make people feel less stressed and anxious and more relaxed.
Interacting with animals can help to reduce levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, in the body. While people receiving therapy may engage with other people undergoing therapy as well as the animals themselves, pet therapy can also help to promote social interaction. Additionally, interacting with animals can serve as a potent diversion from stressful circumstances.
Reference
Schwartz, M. (Ed.). (2018). Biofeedback. IntechOpen.