Reflective Journal on Psychoactive Substance & Mental Health Issues

This reflective journal explores the intricate relationship between psychoactive substances and mental health, focusing on a case study of a registered nurse struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. The journal details a conversation with the nurse, highlighting his reliance on alcohol and medications like Valium and Temazepam to cope with a traumatic past and sleep disturbances. The discussion delves into the negative health consequences of substance abuse, including potential for cancer, immune system impacts, and increased risk of injuries. The author emphasizes the need for immediate help and suggests cognitive talk therapy, alcohol detox, and lifestyle changes, including physical activities and dietary supplements, to help the nurse overcome his challenges and regain a balanced life. The Driscoll model of reflection is used in the analysis and the journal aims to highlight the importance of addressing mental health issues and substance use among healthcare professionals.

Running Head: PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE AND MENTAL HEALTH
Psychoactive substance and Mental Health
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1Psychoactive substance and Mental Health
Introduction
I took part in a workshop that involved the conversation of a registered nurse working in
the intensive care unit of a public hospital. He had been in night shift before in which he had
consumed alcohol to minimum level. I learnt that the incident had been escalated though
there has been no ignorance to work from his end. I also got to know that he had encountered
a traumatic incident previously and had difficulty coping with it since he had lost his loved
one in the mishap. The only resort to his anxiety and paranoia was alcohol. He admitted that
he kept himself engaged till late and just went home to change clothes and sleep off. He
confessed he was afraid of staying alone at home for long. So even if he did not get sleep for
more than 10 to minutes he resorted to valium and temazepaum to combat my sleep
disturbances. Sinking into such kind of a lifestyle helped him to keep away from the negative
thought of the traumatic incident.
Discussion
I feel that Chris was highly ignorant of the fact that drinking on a daily basis prone an
individual to cancer and impacts the immune system facilitating liver disease, pancreatitis as
well as malnutrition. It also enhances the risk of unintentional injuries like car crash, falls,
drowning and similar impacts. Since he lost a dear one in a bike crash I would definitely not
like him to encounter such a scenario again and on purpose. I feel he should resort to
immediate help. Valium and temazepam also has side effects and he being a nurse cannot
avoid taking into consideration the fact as well as it is affecting him at all cost. I think all this
indeed makes him feel dizzy and lethargic and he is unable to deliver at his best. This will
promote ataxia. It will weaken his muscles and make him nauseated. This imbalance has
disrupted his biological clock to my knowledge. Inability to sleep at night promotes daytime
drowsiness in him even. Being a registered nurse he should be more responsible as an

2Psychoactive substance and Mental Health
individual and should keep himself in the best of state since there are many lives dependant
on him and he cannot afford to put the life of his patients at stake as it would impact the
reputation of the hospital as well. To deliver his best and be in the good books it was of prior
importance to be in the best of health and he should withdraw himself from alcohol intake in
my opinion.
Conclusion
I feel he should avoid skilfully ignoring the traumatic incident and I wish he resort back to
a healthy and balanced life and pursue a great career engaging himself to help the health
compromised people to the best of his ability. Keeping away from alcohol seems a challenge
for him but he being a registered nurse I know that it will keep him in better health both
physically and mentally. I think this will ensure he has more time and energy for the people
as well as the activities that he perform here. I think he can resort to cognitive talk therapy as
it will efficiently help him to combat his past trauma effectively that impacts the cognitive
patterns of thinking and this therapy might also aid in his dependency on alcohol and sleep
deprivation. I think it is advisable for him to go for an alcohol detox which will aid to remove
the alcohol from his system and help him to stop drinking. I hope he being a nurse is aware of
the withdrawal symptoms like shaking, seizures and hallucinations. I think he can resort to
some outpatient aid from rehabilitation centres so that it will not impact his work-life. He
should at the same time take care of his diet as alcohol withdrawal may lead to malnutrition
as well. I would advise him to take certain nutritional supplements as well. It might be
challenging to overcome the craving so it is of utmost importance that he should involve in
physical activities and visit a gym with permission from his healthcare provider.

3Psychoactive substance and Mental Health
Figure 1: Driscoll model of reflection exploited for this article.
What:Traumati
c incident led
to elevated
consumption of
alcohol and
intake
medications to
combat sleep
disturbances.
So What:
Ignorance of
the negative
impact on his
health and
risks in his
work-life
Now What: He
want to withdraw
from alcohol
addiction and
want to have a
healthy balanced
life.

4Psychoactive substance and Mental Health
References
As for the reference to the reflective writing of the above article Driscoll reflective model
has been exploited ehich has been taken from the following source-
Howatson-Jones, L. (2016). Reflective practice in nursing. Learning Matters.