Nursing care of the patient with anxiety disorder

Nursing care of the patient with anxiety disorder
Generalized Anxiety disorder
Anxiety is the common feeling that is experienced by most of the people. But an
anxiety disorder is the mental illness that causes persistent anxiety thoughts.
Persistent anxiety thoughts cause distress which significantly affects the normal life
of the person. Generalized anxiety disorder is said to be a constant anxiety feeling
which makes a person think and worry about various things of life for a duration of
six months or more. The person suffering from generalized anxiety disorder will be
expecting some problem that is related to health, family, job, relationship, financial
status, and various other problems. The person with a generalized anxiety disorder
finds it hard to manage their meaningless worry. Most of the time the person worries
without any rationale (Tuma, 2016). An individual is diagnosed to have generalized
anxiety disorder when he/ she are unable to control his worries. Common signs and
symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder are constant worries without any rationale,
make plans that are impossible and trying to find solution for the problems,
misperception of situations as a frightening, unable to handle the simple problems
and situations, persistent wavering mind and fear of making a incorrect decision,
unable to relax, rest, sleep and always feeling like on the edge and lack of
concentration in any work.
Panic disorder is one type of anxiety disorder. Panic disorder is said to be an
overwhelmed fear and anxiety which causes recurrent episodes of panic attacks. It is
the sudden onset of uncontrollable fear that causes discomfort and various other
related symptoms. A person suffering from the panic disorder will have a persistent
fear of panic attacks (Thibaut,2017).The feeling of fear is overwhelmed which is not

controlled by a person or any other means. Signs and symptoms associated with the
panic disorder are increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and profuse sweating, feel
like choking, giddiness, nausea, chilled extremities, altered mental status, tingling
sensation in the extremities, chest pain and fear of death. The cause for the panic
disorder is unknown. Panic attacks are generally experienced by most of the people,
as it happens when a person experiences an important transition in their life. Anxiety
and panic attacks are a common psychological issue that is experienced by all the
people. But generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorders are a mental illness
that needs medical intervention (Cui, 2016). Both panic disorder and generalized
anxiety disorder have diverse signs and symptoms and both the mental illness
significantly affects the normal life of a person.
Empathy in the therapeutic relationship
Empathy is an essential tool to build a therapeutic relationship with the patient
suffering from a mental illness. The therapeutic relationship is building a relationship
for the therapeutic purpose with help of mutual trust, hope, and respect. Especially
the relationship between the nurse and the patient is essential for a better outcome.
The therapeutic relationship helps the nurse to understand both the physical and
psychological need of the patient and ensure holistic nursing care. Empathy is also a
vital tool which helps the nurse to communicate and build the rapport that
complements the recovery of the patient (Conoley, 2015). Nursing care with empathy
communication encourages the patient to participate in the nursing care and
treatment. In the case of Mr. Peter, he was suffering from uncontrollable fear which
has no rationale and meaning. His family may not listen to his fearful words or
respond to him (Wiechula,2016). The nurse has to implement communication

strategies to understand the fearful thoughts of peter. Understanding the patient’s
problem helps the nurse to plan the nursing care and implement for the speedy
recovery of the patient.
Anxiety disorder affects the daily routine and also family relationships. Because the
family member is unable to understand the intensity of the fearful thought of peter.
The nurse has to use empathy in communicating with peter to understand the patient
condition. Empathy and therapeutic communication implemented in the care of peter
encourages him to express his feelings of fear. The nurse has to listen to his
expression of fearful thoughts (Fischman, 2015).The nurse has to concentrate on the
most common fearful thought of peter. His most common thought is ‘what if’. The
nurse has to use a confessing statement ‘I understand’ which builds the trust in
nurse –patient relationship. The nurse has to explain peter that occurrence the
fearful thoughts are due to the disease condition. The nurse has to provide a
complete explanation to the patient regarding the mental disorder he is suffering
from and make him understand the fearful thoughts are caused by the mental
disorder. The nurse has to extend the communication to the family members and
encourage them to understand the condition of peter and co-operate with the nursing
care. The nurse caring for the anxiety patient has to implement empathy and
therapeutic relationship for a better outcome.
Effective communication skills
Communication is the essential tool which builds the patient – nurse relationship and
also aids in the treatment of the patient. It is essential to implement the effective
communication skills to meet the physical, mental and social need of the patient.
Generally, the nurse has to use therapeutic relationship strategies in nursing care.