A client with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) states, "I have learned that the best thing I can do is to forget my worries." How would the nurse evaluate this statement?

Choice A reason: Encouraging repression is harmful. Suppressing traumatic memories can worsen symptoms and hinder recovery. Effective therapy involves safe processing, not avoidance.

Choice B reason: Teaching relaxation techniques helps the client manage physiological arousal during flashbacks. Techniques such as deep breathing, grounding, and progressive muscle relaxation reduce anxiety and promote coping.

Choice C reason: Telling the client the event has no meaning invalidates their experience. Trauma has profound psychological impact, and dismissing it undermines trust and healing.

Choice D reason: Physical symptoms are often directly related to psychological states in PTSD. Explaining they are unrelated is inaccurate and misleading.

Choice A reason: Encouraging a thorough discussion of the original trauma is not appropriate during hospitalization because it can retraumatize the client and worsen symptoms. Trauma-focused therapy should be conducted in a structured, therapeutic setting with trained professionals, not during acute hospitalization when the client is vulnerable.

Choice B reason: Timeout during flashbacks is ineffective because flashbacks are involuntary and overwhelming experiences. Asking the client to regain self-control during a flashback places unrealistic expectations on them and can increase feelings of helplessness. Instead, grounding techniques and supportive presence are more effective.

Choice C reason: Providing private, solitary time for reflection is contraindicated because isolation can intensify intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and feelings of detachment. Clients with PTSD benefit more from structured support, therapeutic communication, and guided coping strategies rather than solitary reflection.

Choice D reason: Deep breathing and relaxation techniques are evidence-based interventions that help reduce hyperarousal, anxiety, and stress responses in PTSD. These techniques promote self-regulation, decrease sympathetic nervous system activation, and empower the client with practical coping skills. This makes it the most appropriate intervention in a hospitalized setting.