A nurse is teaching a client a relaxation technique. The best outcome is that the client will:
Confront the source of anxiety directly.
Experience anxiety without feeling overwhelmed.
Report no episodes of anxiety.
Suppress anxious feelings.
The Correct Answer is B
Relaxation techniques aim to reduce anxiety’s physiological and psychological impact, promoting self-regulation. Techniques like deep breathing lower heart rate and muscle tension, typically within 5-10 minutes. They are integral to managing anxiety disorders, affecting 31% of adults, by enhancing coping without eliminating anxiety entirely.
Rationale for correct answers
B. Self-regulation allows patients to experience anxiety without overwhelming distress, aligning with the goal of relaxation techniques to manage symptoms effectively.
Rationale for incorrect answers
A. Confronting anxiety sources directly is not the primary goal of relaxation techniques, which focus on symptom control.
C. Eliminating all anxiety episodes is unrealistic, as relaxation techniques aim to manage, not eradicate, anxiety.
D. Suppressing feelings contradicts the therapeutic goal of processing emotions healthily.
Take Home Points
- Relaxation techniques reduce physiological anxiety symptoms, promoting self-regulation.
- They are distinct from exposure therapy, which directly addresses anxiety triggers.
- Techniques like deep breathing are effective for acute anxiety management.
- Goals focus on managing, not eliminating, anxiety to improve coping.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["C","D","E"]
Explanation
Moderate anxiety is a physiological and psychological state in which a person experiences heightened alertness and narrowed perception. It arises in response to identifiable stressors. Autonomic symptoms like increased heart rate, muscle tension, and shallow breathing are often present. At this level, the person can still process information but selectively focuses on what seems immediately important, missing broader details. The individual may appear restless or use repetitive movements known as automatisms. Though the person can communicate and follow instructions, concentration and memory are mildly impaired.
Rationale for correct answers
C. Automatisms are repetitive, purposeless movements such as tapping or fidgeting that increase with inner tension and are common in moderate anxiety due to rising psychomotor activity.
D. Perceptual field narrows during moderate anxiety, limiting the individual's ability to take in the full environment. This serves as a protective adaptation, allowing focus only on the source of anxiety.
E. Selective attention occurs as the brain filters out less urgent stimuli to concentrate on what appears threatening or stressful. This helps the person stay alert but impairs multitasking or broader comprehension.
Rationale for incorrect answers
A. Inability to complete tasks is more consistent with severe anxiety or panic levels where functioning is disrupted. In moderate anxiety, task performance may slow but is not completely impaired.
B. Failure to respond to redirection typically appears in severe anxiety or panic. In moderate anxiety, individuals can still be guided or redirected despite distraction.
F. Inability to connect thoughts independently indicates disorganized thinking, often seen in panic levels or psychotic states, not in moderate anxiety where logical thinking may be slowed but remains intact.
Take Home Points
- Moderate anxiety causes narrowed perception, selective focus, and physical tension but does not yet impair function entirely.
- Automatisms and restlessness are physical signs of internal psychological discomfort.
- It must be distinguished from severe anxiety and panic which show greater functional and cognitive breakdown.
- Nursing care should include short, simple instructions and reassurance to maintain engagement without overwhelming the client.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive fear, worry, and avoidance behaviors that impair daily functioning. The client describes crowd-related anxiety with intrusive thoughts of losing control, suggesting possible panic disorder or agoraphobia. Non-pharmacological interventions focus on symptom management through cognitive restructuring and exposure techniques.
Rationale for correct answers
A. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the gold standard for anxiety disorders. It targets maladaptive thoughts (e.g., fear of losing control) and uses exposure therapy to desensitize the client to crowds, reducing avoidance behaviors.
Rationale for incorrect answers
B. Electroconvulsive therapy is used for severe, treatment-resistant mood disorders, not anxiety. It involves inducing seizures under anesthesia and is inappropriate for this client’s symptoms.
C. Family systems therapy addresses relational dynamics but does not directly treat the cognitive distortions or avoidance behaviors central to this client’s anxiety.
D. Psychoanalytical therapy explores unconscious conflicts from childhood rather than providing practical strategies for managing acute anxiety symptoms.
Take Home Points
- CBT is first-line for anxiety disorders, combining cognitive restructuring and exposure therapy.
- Avoidance behaviors (e.g., fleeing crowds) perpetuate anxiety and require structured intervention.
- ECT is reserved for severe depression/catatonia, not anxiety.
- Effective anxiety treatment focuses on present symptoms, not just past conflicts.
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