A
variety of psychological issues exist in people of all ages. Men and women who
have reached their middle years (35 to 59) have mental, emotional and behavioral
health issues too as it is a crucial point in their life. This is the age when
a lot of mental health problems like anxiety and depression sets in. This could
lead to behaviors like drinking, smoking, suicidal tendencies, and other such
deviant actions. However, this can also be treated with psychological help.
Psychosocial
health depends on a variety of factors, including self- acceptance, autonomy,
positive relations with people around, personal growth, environmental mastery
and purpose in life. These are the factors that ensure a positive future life.
With
the help of SNAPEO (Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol,
Physical exercise, Emotional/ mental health and Occupational history) analysis, this paper shows a case study where Mrs.
Spencer Gilligan has been interviewed. She is the Creative Head at an
advertising agency at the age of 45. This assessment is done to evaluate the
health status of Mrs. Gilligan. The report also contains appropriate measure to
promote her health and to maximize her psychosocial health.
Mrs.
Gilligan smokes about 5 cigarettes a day since that is the recreational break
for most of the people in her office. She also has a lot of workload and thinks
that smoking will help her to cope better with the stress. Her diet is not
strictly healthy since she does not have the time to find diet conscious food.
She survives on fast food during the week and only manages to eat right during
the weekend when she is able to cook at home. Her alcohol intake is strictly
during weekends and only wine . Mrs. Gilligan walks to the office and back,
which takes about half an hour one way. She also makes sure to use the stairs
instead of the lift since this is the only exercise she is able to find time
for. Mrs. Gilligan considers herself to be emotionally sound. She has a very
active social life and is involved in her children’s school activities. She
takes regular holidays with her family and keeps them close. She has been
working with the same company for over 5 years now, before which she was
working at a fashion magazine as the sub-editor.
From
my interview with Mrs. Gilligan, it is apparent that she is a mentally healthy
person. She has an active social life and makes time for friends and family. Finding
time to spend with loved ones always helps to keep up ones mental health. This
means that one is supported and loved and that any problems can be addressed
and taken care of.
But
she faces stress at her workplace which affects her health in certain ways. Stress
at the workplace is a common occurrence in many people. But this has to be
dealt with carefully so that one does not let it affect their health. In this
scenario, smoking was Mrs. Gilligan’s way of reducing stress. But this habit
has adverse effects on the body and its organs. This habit has to be
consciously eliminated from her daily life.
Exercise
is another important aspect of maintaining a healthy outlook towards life. This
also helps out to exorcise the negative influences by focusing on the positive.
Mrs. Gilligan needs to explore options other than walking to and from work as
part of her exercise regime. Yoga is the ideal option here (Bock et al., 2010).
This way, she can reduce and control her stress levels. This is an ancient
practice that influences the body, mind and soul of a person. Running,
swimming, cycling etc. are also good workouts that would keep one fit and
healthy. These would also influence the gradual reduction of smoking as stamina
becomes important.
Another
advantage in these workouts is that it helps one to become conscious of their
diet. A healthy meal is directly proportional to a healthy mind and body.
Instead of having junk food from work, it would help to carry meals and snacks
from home to office. Fruits, vegetables, fish and meat should be a part of a
person’s diet. Reduction of stress levels and proper exercises will help induce
the need for a healthy diet.
Mrs.
Gilligan’s perceptions are sound. She makes healthy life decisions except in
terms of diet and nicotine, but other factors come into the picture. She is
known to cope well with stressful situations at home and with friends. She has
unconditional love and support from all of her family members and friends to
whom she returns the same level of love, care and support. This helps to reduce
her anxiety levels and she is at peace within the comforts of her home which is
extremely important after a stressful day at work. Coming home to more
strenuous situations would be taxing on the body and the mind.
A healthy mind is important as this determines
the future and how well it can be handled by people. If one has problems with
their psychosocial health, they could be prone to depression and anxiety which
will be a problem if they are beset by physical illnesses later on in life.
Coping with one’s illness and that of the spouse requires good mental health. One’s
healthy psychosocial state in the younger days ensures positive health in later
years as well.
The
middle years of one’s life is a time of drastic changes both physically and
psychologically. Physical changes include graying and thinning of the hair,
loss of skin elasticity, significant loss in strength and flexibility and
weight gain. Women also go through the difficult time of menopause, which is
emotionally overwhelming.
Psychologically
too, this is an important stage where one realizes the consequences of all of
the independent choices made earlier in life. According to the American
Psychological Association, these life stressors include adapting to and coping
with life transitions, grief, poverty, functional limitations, multiple medical
situations, etc. (APA).
Nurses
are in an exceptional place to be able to observe the psychosocial needs of a
patient. It is significant for nurses to be able to include the patient’s
sexuality, optimism, spirituality and hope when assessing psychological care
and quality of life (Legg, n.d). Psychosocial support involves
the culturally sensitive provision of psychological, social and spiritual care
(Hodgkinson, 2008). This care is part of the holistic
program designed to give the patient optimal care in times of sickness. Every
new disease brings about some kind of an emotional trauma to a patient. Middle
years of a person’s life is usually when diabetes, cholesterol and other minor
or major conditions are discovered in people. Having been healthy all their
lives, realizing this about themselves is a shock that needs to be handled with
care. Nurses are in a situation to help them cope with the changes that every
new such condition brings.
The
most important aspect that a nurse should take into consideration is the need
to establish a good rapport with the patient and their family. Through
dialogue, the nurse should be able to comprehend the patient and how he/ she
views himself/ herself. These are some of the basic requirements to understand
how the treatment itself will work on the patient. All treatments are created
exclusively for each patient according to the illness, the symptoms and their
mental health.
Both
physical and psychological problems are equally important to be treated. The
only difference between the two is that one is apparent and the other one is
covert. Psychological problems have to be probed into and found out. Only then
can effective treatment be given. There
are a number of different approaches regarding the causes, diagnosis and
treatment of mental health problems. (Dorsey, 2014) . Treatments for mental illnesses are
many.
· Behavioral Therapy
· Cognitive Therapy
· Drug Therapy
· Electroconvulsive
Therapy
· Brain stimulating Therapy
· Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
· Psycho Therapy, to name a few.
Mental
health disorders is always retaliated through a positive state of mind which
influences positive thoughts, and which in turn builds better relationships
with the family members. The person suffering from disorders need to first have
a good support from his near and dear ones. This would at least make him feel
positive about the surrounding environment. His hope within himself will
encourage him to think positively, and slowly start with his daily operational
activities. This will help him to divert his attention and mind and get more
attached to the work. He might fail during the initial stages, but at this
juncture, he needs to motivate himself from within (Vöhringer & Ghaemi,
2011). Medication and oral encouragement
will also help him to recover from activities and incidences that could lead to
a relapse in his mental situation (Evren, Kural & Cakmak, 2009).
The
other aid that such people are benefited with, includes the care and helping
hands from friends, spouses, officials, colleagues, senior officials and
parents. The patient trusts these people and so their guidance have a positive
effect over the mental states thus helping him to create the path of success.
His/her condition can be cured through positive thinking, creative hope,
positive mindset, encouragement, and
nurturing relationship (Sanders, 2010). Additionally, the support of
his/her near and dear ones along with proper medications will help to heal the
condition at a fast pace thus making him/her more confident.
To
conclude, psychosocial factors play an important role in deciding our everyday
life and how we deal with situations that come up in our life. These factors
are easy to manage if one is willing to try. These are also as easy to go out
of hand, leading to major problems in dealing with situations that one should
ideally be able take care of with ease. Maintaining good relations with one's
family and friends is one of the most important aspect of sustaining good
mental health. Family and friends encourage, love, care and support one another
through good times and bad. This is the basic necessity that man as a social
being requires. Without this, we would crumble in the face of adversities.
There are also multiple factors that go into it. Everything has to go in a
balance in one’s life to be satisfactory and for one to be able to manage good
health.
Hope is also an important component in psychosocial care. Reb
(2007) states that hope includes reflection, re‑evaluation, finding meaning and
the development of new goals. In order to attain realistic goals, it is
important to revise the existing one so that there are flexible and thus more
motivated since the new revision makes the process easier. Hope is about
conquering one’s disease and being able to create a whole new life for oneself.
They create in their mind a vision for a better life. It is the quality of life
that matters to them at the point of an illness. Focusing on attainable goals
can promote a sense of meaning and personal control. It is important for nurses
find the balance between truth telling and nurturing hope which is an important
aspect of fostering hope (Schofield et al 2010). Some nurses believe fostering
false hope of a cure when a cure is not possible ultimately can be a source of
regret as it may hinder patients and their family from making sensible
treatment and lifestyle decisions. A study conducted by Reb (2007) found that
communication style and relationships with health care providers were
significant recurring themes that influenced hope. Nurses need to be able to
engage patients and their families positively and to provide hope no matter
what the shape hope comes in.
Spending
time with Mrs. Gilligan helped me realize that she will be willing to try and
quit smoking and eating healthy only for her friends and family. Having this
kind of a support group increases one’s chances of being in a positive circle
of life. It is this love that she has for her family that would make her want
to live a healthier life and want to bring about changes in her present
lifestyle habits.
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