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Post by Bradford Levison on May 26, 2016 13:22:17 GMT -4
I think the take-away from this article is how having anxiety changes the quality of life for these patients. Not only are they at the mercy of this condition, but the dynamic they have with their family and friends is also affected. One of the writers emphasizes that this is a condition that they have to cope with, that they need to address, because it does not just ‘go away’. I think that is certainly an incentive for these patients to seek help. Perhaps spreading awareness will help those close to these patients assist with that transition towards seeking healthcare for this condition.
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Post by AA on May 26, 2016 15:11:37 GMT -4
Anxiety disorder, even though a psychiatric problem, can be made worse with the choice of words to say especially when dealing with an affected individual. The only time you can actually say to an affected individual that you understand what he/she is going through is if one has actually experienced the same feeling of anxiety. As providers, words have to be chosen carefully so as not to aggravate the patient of his/her condition, as an angry patient is most likely the one that can instigate a lawsuit. Some helpful things to say to an individual with anxiety includes the following; If you can, talk to me about what's going on through your mind, we have all the time in the world, how can I help, this must really be hard for you, I am sorry you are going through this and if you do not know what to say, don't say anything but be there for the affected individual. Also a lot of patience has to be exercised when dealing with such patients and you have to make them feel you have nothing but time to deal with their issues or listen to what they have to tell you.
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Post by Ruben Cabrera on May 26, 2016 16:01:29 GMT -4
It's important to try and put yourself in the shoes of someone with mental illness. What I got from the article is that patients with anxiety generally don't want advice on how to think because they can't control their mind like most people can. They want a person to be empathetic and compassionate with them instead. As future physicians it's important to be sensitive to the issues patients address with you. It seems like empathy is the best way to deal with anxiety and medical conditions as a whole. This is the reason medical ethics is incorporated into our curriculum.
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Post by Delmaya G on May 26, 2016 16:14:15 GMT -4
Psych rotation has really opened my eyes to so much, and anxiety is one. I was overwhelmed by how many people suffer from anxiety. I just thought when people say they were having anxiety attack, they were being dramatic. Now, I know it is so real. I think having patience and staying calm helps a person more than anything. The common mistake, per the article, is when outsiders voice their opinion of it's in the person's head and to get over it. Like in most things, it is easy for people to say what someone should do versus actually doing it. This was a great read and shed some insight on the situation.
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Christina Richardson
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Post by Christina Richardson on May 26, 2016 16:23:52 GMT -4
Anxiety can be compared to ice cream. Ice cream is offered in a wide variety of flavors, similarly Anxiety can have a myriad of manifestations. It is generally accepted that Anxiety is a psychiatric disorder but, it manifests with disturbances of bodily function. Some examples of what a person afflicted with anxiety feel are: the feeling of a “heart attack”, paresthesia, throbbing in ears, and breathing difficulties. When an anxiety attack occurs, it is not advantageous to give the suffering person advice such as “It’s all in your mind” or “You’re being ridiculous, just get over it.” The best way to handle a person experiencing anxiety is to be supportive and patient. As a friend or health care provider, you can reassure the suffering person that you are there and ask them if they would like to discuss what they are feeling.
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Post by m.Elajami on May 26, 2016 16:31:52 GMT -4
Unfortunately, we live a world where people tend to lack sympathy and empathy, two qualities that are slowly diminishing of our societies today. Sadly, certain individuals perceive mental illness as a weakness; they tend to believe a diagnosed individual can overcome the symptoms by simply thinking about something else or by different methods, in which some are mentioned in the article. People should come to understand that people with anxiety cannot really control their symptoms such as having panic attacks, palpitations, racing thoughts, etc. If not managed correctly it can really hinder a person’s lifestyle, despite all symptoms they have to deal with the environment around them, they become extra sensitive to the individuals around them. Thus, through proper communication channels and comprehension doctors, family and friends should learn to how to cope with an individual who has anxiety.
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Post by Fernando Del Valle on May 26, 2016 16:33:43 GMT -4
In order to help someone with any problem they have, one must understand the nature and facts about the problem. It is only then when you will truly do something positive for that person, and sometimes, not trying to do much, is actually the best way to help them. One has to know when to step in and deal with the problem hand to hand, and when to just be there for them, even if it means just listening. Anxiety is a disease with many multiple triggers, symptoms and manifestations. For that, I think the best way to approach an anxiety or panic attack is to let the person know that they are not alone, that you are there for them and that you will assist them in whichever way they think is best in order to get better. Trying to help in your own way, to something that you probably haven't experienced, therefore, don't understand well, could only exacerbate the anxiety. I think this is a good article that will hopefully let people know some of the things that should be avoided during an anxiety attack, and also an intermediary tool for people to further educate themselves on anxiety and how to respond to someone with such attacks.
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Post by Massud Atta on May 26, 2016 16:53:40 GMT -4
This topic actually came up with a friend of mine from medical school who suffers from an anxiety disorder. I never thought to say things like ‘oh it will pass’ or ‘it’s all in your head’ because we have studied it and know it’s a disorder that affects millions but if we haven’t experienced it first hand it’s hard to say those things. And for medical students who study it and probably experience anxiety, it’s understandable not to say these things, but what about a person who has neither experience. What does a person say who genuinely wants to help a person suffering from anxiety? Paul Culshaw in the article mentions “if you don’t know what to say, sometimes it’s better to say nothing or keep comments minimal.” This may help a person suffering from the mental illness but wouldn’t that also appear like you don’t care? So I understand where the article is coming from but I think it’s also important to provide ideas of what to say or to do in those situations that a person suffering form anxiety can benefit from.
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Post by mmorris on May 26, 2016 17:52:09 GMT -4
It is always interesting to hear first-hand experiences from patients with psychiatric disorders. Whereas it can be easy to understand when someone is experiencing pain, it can be much more difficult to relate to a patient experiencing something, such as a panic attack or anxiety, that you as the physician have never felt before. What I take away from this article is that these people aren’t expecting anyone to be able to relate. Many of them just want someone to be there for them, and to understand that what they are going through is very distressing and difficult. It is a take home message that I feel can be applied broadly to treating patients across medicine. Many times when people speak of their problems they aren’t looking for advice, they just want someone to listen and empathize.
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Post by Samson Adewale on May 26, 2016 20:58:51 GMT -4
From this study, it is clear that people who suffer from an anxiety disorder do not like to be given advice from people who are clearly unaware of what they experiencing from their disorder. Although people who have friends with anxiety disorder may think they are helping with their comments or calming techniques, they do not know or understand that their comments may make someone who is experiencing an anxiety attack actually worse. People who have friends or family with an anxiety are encouraged to educate themselves on this disorder, so they can gain an understanding of what the mental condition is all about. This way instead of blurting out thought provoking comments, they can instead ask their family or friends with the disorder “what can I do to help when you are experiencing an anxiety attack.”
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Daniel Antwi-Amoabeng
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Post by Daniel Antwi-Amoabeng on May 27, 2016 16:59:54 GMT -4
We all know what the “classic” presentation of anxiety disorders and how to treat them, but all diseases are not “created” equal. The article illustrates the importance public perception of mental illness on the psyche of metal health patients. The patients’ frustrations apparent in the narratives, present yet another level of complexity in understanding the outcome of anxiety disorder. Patient narratives (as used in this article), can be a powerful tool in understanding psychopathologies and how they affect individuals in society. The practice of Psychiatry and other mental health specialties is subjective. Unlike medical pathologies where lab values, imaging and physical exam findings contribute significantly to the arrival of a diagnosis, Psychiatry relies on the subjective descriptions of patient’s symptoms. While the DSM and other diagnostic manuals have helped in ensuring validity of diagnoses among practitioners (and savvy patients have learnt the lingo of the DSM), a patient’s account of how they relate with society especially within the limitations or difficulties imposed by mental illness is particularly useful in understanding disease prognosis.
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Joyce Nimo-Boampong (AUA)
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Post by Joyce Nimo-Boampong (AUA) on May 27, 2016 17:07:04 GMT -4
This article is very enlightening and I am very glad to read from people who deal with this illness daily. Sometimes as humans, we pass certain comments out of ignorance and the consequences can be very debilitating. Imagine getting throbbing in the ears and having the unshakable feeling that something horrific is about to happen only to be told “It can’t be that bad.” Or “It’s just in your head and you’re actually fine”. How rejected and lonely one might feel! Unfortunately, the people who are considered family and friends to offer support are likely the same folks to pass such unwelcome comments. This can even exacerbate anxiety attacks. I look forward to reading more articles as this so I can approach people tactfully and also watch the words I use carefully.
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