Abstract
Anxiety is the most universal of all human emotions. It is an energy that cannot be observed directly and must therefore be inferred from behaviour. Most people when faced with a new and unfamiliar situation will experience some degree of anxiety. Normal anxiety is proportional to the threat a person is faced with and can provide arousal that is appropriate to the situation. Mild levels of anxiety can be beneficial, acting as a motivating force, which enhances productivity and performance. Severe anxiety can have an inhibiting effect and move a person away from his optimal level of performance towards behaviours which are non-coping and maladaptive (Graves and Thompson1). The manifestations of anxiety are both physical and psychological (see Figure 1.1) and prepare the individual for fight or flight. While under normal circumstances changes in the functioning of the autonomic system heighten a person’s capacity to deal with threats, severe anxiety can severely inhibit a person’s level of functioning in so much that the ability to perceive accurately and without distortion is narrowed. In panic, the most extreme manifestation of anxiety, there is a total lack of focus and the person may thrash about purposelessly, his attention being unfocused and unchannelled in such a way that his safety may be threatened.
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References
Graves, H. H. and Thompson, E. A., Anxiety: a mental health vital sign. In: Longo D. C. and Williams, R. A., (Eds), Clinical Practice in Psychosocial Nursing: Assessment and Intervention, Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York 1978
Irving, S., Basic Psychiatric Nursing, 2nd edn, W. B. Saunders Co., 1978
Macilwaine, H., How nurses and neurotic patients view each other in general hospital psychiatric units, Nursing Times, 77 (27), 1158–1160, 1981
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Bibliography
Gregg, D., Reassurance, American Journal of Nursing, 55, 171–174, 1955
Longo, D. C. & Williams, R. A. (Eds), Clinical Practice in Psychosocial Nursing: Assessment and Intervention, Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1978
Further reading
Martin, Ian C. A., Twitch and between. 1. Aspects of the relaxation technique, Nursing Times, 74 (23), 953–955, 1978
Martin, Ian C. A., Twitch and between. 2. Further applications of the relaxation technique. Nursing Times, 74 (24), 1017–1018, 1978
Martin, Ian C. A., Twitch and between. 3. The relaxation technique in the treatment of illness, Nursing Times, 74 (25), 1056–1058, 1978.
Suggested reading
Peplau, H.E., Professional closeness, Nursing Forum, 8(4), 343–360, 1969
Wolf, Z. R., The caring concept and nurse identified caring behaviours, Topics in Clinical Nursing, 8 (2), 84–92, 1986
Copyright information
© 1987 Peggy Martin
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Martin, P. (1987). Nursing the patient who is anxious. In: Care of the Mentally Ill. The Essentials of Nursing. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09492-9_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09492-9_2
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
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