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European Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing in the 21st Century pp 353–370Cite as

The Person Experiencing Anxiety

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Part of the book series: Principles of Specialty Nursing ((PSN))

Abstract

This chapter focuses on anxiety, stress and psychiatric/mental health (P/MH) nursing responses to the person experiencing anxiety. As a result, the chapter begins by exploring the aetiology and theoretical origins of anxiety and, in so doing, draws upon seminal and classic works, and thus some of the references will be of a recognized vintage. Following this, the chapter proceeds to explore the relationship between and subsequently differentiate between the closely related concepts of stress and anxiety. Next, the author explores the common, holistic manifestations of anxiety in the individual—for some these might be considered or described as signs and symptoms. Then, the chapter considers and discusses the potential impacts of anxiety on a person’s physical and mental health before examining how P/MH nurses can respond to and help the individual learn to manage their experience of anxiety. Human experiences of anxiety, while ubiquitous and varied, can become a disabling mental health issue for clients, and responding appropriately and effectively to these issues can be challenging for P/MH nurses. When a person’s daily activities are impacted by their anxiety levels, current guidelines recommend that care intervention is planned in conjunction with the person and is tailored towards their specific needs. Anxiety appears to be amenable to treatment with cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness and other supportive psychotherapies, and suitably qualified/trained P/MH nurses are in a key position to provide some (all) of this interpersonal help. Lastly, given the frequency that P/MH nurses are likely to encounter clients with anxiety-related problems, it would seem logical and necessary to ensure that P/MH nurses are equipped with the relevant knowledge, attitudes and skills, either pre- and/or postgraduate, to enable them to offer such interventions.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For a more comprehensive description and explanation of these processes, the reader is referred to any of the major and for many seminal texts on stress and anxiety.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ulster University, Derry, BT48 7JL, UK

    Columba McLaughlin

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  1. Columba McLaughlin
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Correspondence to Columba McLaughlin .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra, Nursing School of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    José Carlos Santos

  2. Cutcliffe Consulting, Kingston, Canada

    John R. Cutcliffe

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McLaughlin, C. (2018). The Person Experiencing Anxiety. In: Santos, J., Cutcliffe, J. (eds) European Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing in the 21st Century. Principles of Specialty Nursing. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31772-4_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31772-4_27

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