The manifestations of anxiety are most often reduced to various episodes, accompanied by feelings of fear or anxiety (Vora, 2022). In Lauren’s case, the patient has unreasonable fears for her grandfather’s life; she is also afraid of saying something wrong to someone. The girl’s frustration is also accompanied by intense anxiety when her household chores are not done on time or the house is disrupted. This fear is accompanied by a physical reaction in the form of mild cramps.
Obsessive-compulsive manifestations include the girl’s tendency to correct things if they are not lying the way the patient had originally organized them. Lauren also prepares her grandfather’s breakfast every morning at 9 o’clock sharp, and the thought that one day she might not do it on time puts the girl in a serious panic state. Being in the company of other people, the patient tends to inertia to point out to others such little things as poorly tied shoelaces. Lauren herself admits that she cannot control such remarks and makes them unconsciously.
While talking to the patient, the nurse resorts to many different strategies. Noticing that Lauren is acting rather confused, the interviewer uses focusing as a way to concentrate the girl’s attention on key aspects of the conversation. The nurse also makes frequent clarifications to get a complete picture of the patient’s problem. The nurse often summarizes the information she hears to help the patient keep track of the dialogue.
Throughout the interview, the patient mainly seems confused. This fact determines the need for active listening tactics through which Lauren would feel validated by her interviewer. Moreover, as a nursing intervention, it might be suggested to provide broad openings. The latter consists of asking general questions and allowing patients to talk about whatever they want (Kenney, 2021). This strategy would help the girl feel her subjectivity while discussing her problems..
References
Kenney, P. (2021). Therapeutic techniques that work: Personal recovery journal. Independently published.
Vora, E. (2022). The anatomy of anxiety: Understanding and overcoming the body’s fear response. Harper Wave.