The treatment of a patient with mental disorders requires a special approach and several techniques. Usually, medication is used, along with psychiatric intervention and some form of behavior modification. The support of friends and relatives is another important factor that plays one of the key roles in the patient’s recovery.
The patient Bob has been diagnosed with Paranoid Personality Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, dependent personality disorder, and anxiety. All of these have a direct relation to stress levels of the patient and ability to deal with everyday situations.
Paranoid Personality Disorder is characterized by a suspicion of everyone around who might cause harm or discomfort to the person. Oversensitivity in regards to own performance and representation amongst others, leads to a lack of approval and emotional support. Bob was closed off in his apartment, most of the time; he was unable to develop relationships with other people who would provide emotional support. This condition is long term and is often accompanied by anxiety (Braun, 2008).
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is characterized through patient’s repetitive actions, lack of self-confidence, and extreme dependency on the therapist. He has many prescription medications that seem to temporarily relieve his stressed state but do not help in the long term.
The fact that Bob has many new toothbrushes is another sign of an obsession with cleanliness and the possibility that something might happen to the brush he is using. His fears and repetitive chants show a routine that must be followed. Otherwise, he will be unable to function (Hyman, 2011).
Bob’s anxiety is seen through the constant fear of public spaces and overwhelming expectations of catching a disease or dying. His panic attacks which brought about agoraphobia, kept him locked up in his home for a long time, making treatment and curing impossible.
This made him extremely vulnerable, as his decision-making skills were improperly functioning. His phobias seem to stem from his personality disorder and anxiety, uniting into one and causing a person to become nervous and stressed at the minimal sign of difficulty (Rachman, 2013).
As Bob has hot and cold sweats, shaking, a racing heart and difficulty breathing, it leads to a stressed state where the body ceases to function normally and blocks out all incoming stimuli. This leads to panic attacks, heightened stressed state with Bob feeling nervous and anxious.
The primary and most basic need of the patient that must be addressed is finding a way to deal with stress. Stress management is a skill that is required in everyday life, and that is why it is important. It is a physical, as well as mental manifestation of emotions that reflect, most of the times, negatively on the person. Its influence can affect all aspects of a person’s life. Most of the time, stress is depressing, and people look for ways to get rid of it, as is the case with Bob, constantly looking for therapy and ways to alleviate the pressure.
When considering “unwanted” stress, it relates to personal feelings and thoughts. It upsets the balance of the body, and the restoration of it requires the calming down of the chemical reaction in the body, as well as the change in a person’s thinking. It is detrimental to the immune system because it weakens the responses and ability to deal with some form of environmental stimuli (Contrada, 2010).
To deal with the disorders, the central nervous system must adjust to the conditions that happen outside of the organism, and as such, physical and mental suppression is required. The environmental factors increase internal frustration, which leads to the body’s chemical response.
It is the events that cause a chain reaction in the body, which affect it on the molecular level, thus destroying the nerve cells. The consequences range from minor reactions to emotional shutdowns, as the cells are unable to repair and restore themselves (Contrada, 2010).
The primary treatment to address all symptoms consists of clinical visits and antidepressant medication. Also, a psychologist would have regular sessions with the patient. This form of therapy provides relaxation for the person and also helps to develop the cognitive skills necessary for dealing with the problem that causes mental malfunctions.
The key to success is to find a coping technique. It can be accomplished by placing a person in a stressful environment and then giving them pointers on how to avoid psychological stress. Another form of therapy includes the patient’s recall of the problematic situations and a close examination of what they did to alleviate the symptoms.
This is called “talk therapy,” where within a conversation, solutions are analyzed, and the person is given necessary coping skills, which they can use in similar instances. All these forms of treatment have shown positive results in the participants studied. It is noted that a person who faces the above treatment must have constant monitoring for any adverse effects. The disease is a deep psychological condition that must be addressed using several different treatments, which suit each person individually.
This sort of treatment would have a positive influence on the patient, as Bob can connect with the therapist and provide any necessary and crucial information about him. As the patient seems to be ready for the treatment, the response would not be positive. From the beginning, there might be some distrust in the acquisition of treatment and intake of medicine or therapy. To teach technique in dealing with and alleviating the stress, a personal connection must be made.
Also, finding productive means of resolving problems and issues, within the patient’s instability are a significant step. Next, it would be important to develop proper communication techniques that will allow for better understanding and cooperation. In addressing the attitudes and behaviors, the patient must make associations with positive outcomes and solutions. Bob could create an environment that allows adaptation and future improvement.
As mental disorders are very individual and people deal with them differently, it has been shown that a technique must also be unique to a particular person. A timely treatment must be applied to prevent further development of an illness. As it happens on the molecular level, it is a difficult issue to address simply by changing a lifestyle, and so a professional in the field must be consulted. As the study has shown, there are several treatments, which are helpful.
They take a form of therapy with a psychiatrist, regular clinical visits, as well as medication prescribed. It is advised that a mix of all forms of therapies is applied, as the medication might develop a dependency and thus should be controlled by a specialist. It is recommended that people seek help as soon as they observe the possible symptoms, such as headaches, loss of appetite, nervousness, and sleep deprivation.
The field of psychiatry is extremely important in coping with negative effects, as it addresses the person’s emotional state and their way of thinking and feeling about the problem. The health of a person and society is very much connected to the environment and surroundings. The proximity of health hazards has short and long-term effects on the person and the community. Physical activity and cognitive health are two inseparable concepts.
The interdependence is so great that any change in either one will result in an immediate effect on the other. Mental disorder is very common in the present times, and people have lost the ability to deal with it adequately. It is clear that any of the illnesses are caused by stress. It is the direct cause of depression, which leads to obsession and paranoia.
The interesting point is that physical activity, connection with others, and a worry-free environment play a great role. Psychologically or cognitively a person gets used to stress, and the body itself learns how to deal with a heightened body condition. In general, the brain is very sensitive to negative thoughts and feelings of self-worth. When it is low, the person becomes stressed. Anxiety and loss of control then quickly follow.
Overall, there are several ways that a person can be treated. Commonly it is a mix of psychotherapy, medication, and adjustment to living conditions and routine. Every individual is different, so unique trigger points must be found to address the issues. Person’s mental state is key to determining the other factors of the body.
References
Braun, J. (2008). Paranoia. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse.
Contrada, R. (2010). The handbook of stress science: Biology, psychology, and health. New York, United States: Springer Publishing Company.
Hyman, B. (2011). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books.
Rachman, S. (2013). Anxiety. New York, NY: Psychology Press.