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November 12, 2024
According to Sun et al. (2020), individuals experience psychological stress when they are under intense mental, emotional, or physical strain. Despite the fact that numerous studies have shown that psychological stress is a normal component of life, people who endure high levels of stress or who experience it repeatedly over an extended period of time are more likely to develop serious mental or physical health problems. Everyday tasks and obligations, as well as predictable occurrences, may contribute to mental and emotional strain. However, according to the opinions of several studies, one of the most significant sources of psychological stress in an individual might be unforeseen circumstances, such as a personal or family member's sickness, or a traumatic occurrence (Hameed, Sadiq & Din, 2018). A person's incapacity to regulate, oversee, or control their everyday emotions is the root cause of their psychological suffering. Cancer patients are unable to manage the everyday emotional and physical changes that occur in the course of their normal lives. Extreme psychological discomfort is associated with negative clinical results, according to many studies. So, it's the job of the doctors, nurses, and physicians to keep an eye on the patient's stress levels and teach them how to control them. The 30-year-old housewife Madam A, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, is the main character of this piece. She is dreading her radiation treatment and has a planned appointment. For the last few nights, she has been unable to sleep. The psychological requirements and preparations for Madam A's therapy will be covered extensively in this article.
Epinephrine and norepinephrine are stress hormones that the body releases in reaction to physical, mental, and emotional stress (Levi, 2016). Hormones like these quicken the pulse rate, spike blood sugar levels, and elevate blood pressure. When a person undergoes such a dramatic transformation, they are better able to respond to threats and may flee from them more quickly. Multiple studies have shown that people who are under sustained, acute stress for an extended period of time may develop symptoms such as infertility, poor immune systems, gastrointestinal difficulties, and urinary tract infections. Viruses such as the common cold, flu, insomnia, headaches, anxiety, and depression are all more likely among those who suffer from chronic stress. Many scientists have also discussed the link between mental stress and cancer. People who are under constant emotional and mental pressure are more likely to engage in risky behaviors that raise their cancer risk, such as smoking, drinking excessively, and overeating (Jin Shin et al., 2016).
A 30-year-old housewife named Madam A has just received the devastating news that she has breast cancer. Support for this comes from studies showing that cancer patients experience high levels of stress due to the disease's physical, social, and emotional impacts (Antoni & Dhabhar, 2019). So, studies have shown that many individuals try to manage their stress by engaging in unhealthy habits like smoking or drinking too much. on top of that, they also tend to have a worse quality of life and become less active following cancer treatment. Those who are able to effectively manage their stress through practices like relaxation and stress management report significantly lower rates of depression, anxiety, and other stress-related symptoms related to cancer and its treatment, according to researchers.
Niedzwiedz et al. (2019) cites studies that shows anxiety as a common response to cancer. People may feel anxious at many stages of the cancer journey, including screening, waiting for results, diagnosis, treatment, and recurrence. Experiencing anxiety due to cancer may worsen pain perception, which in turn can disrupt sleep, lead to nausea and vomiting, and ultimately impact the quality of life for both the patient and their loved ones. Patients with cancer often experience unusually high levels of discomfort, which may become very incapacitating. This distress can include elevated levels of dread, worrying, and palpitations, and it can greatly affect the therapy that the patient receives. Refusing treatment because to worry may lead to poor survival rates and severe cancer-related discomfort for the patient. Just as Madam A is experiencing severe stress and insomnia, her anxiety levels are expected to rise and fall at different points in time while she goes through her diagnosis and therapy. As the disease spreads, she may have heightened anxiety, which in turn may intensify the severity of her therapy. Multiple studies have shown that cancer patients may effectively manage their condition provided they have a better understanding of their condition and the efficacy of their therapy (Desine et al., 2020). Nevertheless, it is reasonable to assume that Madam A's already high degree of worry before to her cancer diagnosis has only increased in the time leading up to her treatment. so, this is reducing her quality of life and making it harder for her to comply with her therapy.
As a result, she has to manage her anxiety and despair so she can deal with the disease's diagnosis and the tremendous agony it causes. Coyne et al. (2016) found that getting her ready to take cancer therapy helps her receive it more easily, which in turn improves her condition faster. Everyone in her family will benefit from this, not only her, but her own life as well. As a result, one of Madam A's fundamental psychological requirements is the ability to cope with her anxiety attacks via enhanced communication and the encouragement of those closest to her. In order to understand her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment options, she must first have a thorough understanding of her illness. This will just aid her in learning about and dealing with her stress in her own unique way, including the good and the bad parts. A great deal of validation, encouragement, support, and reassurance from her loved ones and medical professionals is necessary for her to believe that her illness is treatable (Koschorke et al., 2021). Another method she might be ready for her radiation treatment is to talk to other cancer patients who have made it through the radiation and are now cancer-free. She will feel much more comfortable going through with her therapy because of this (Smith et al., 2017). After the therapy, she will find out that she can live, and then things will start to look up. Two patients may build a community-based intervention for her via communication and information exchange, which can assist one patient inspire the other (Young, Camic & Tischler, 2016). She will realize that there are others going through what she is going through, and that she is not alone in her struggle. Because of this, she will be more motivated to complete the therapy and ultimately recover.
Honorable A She should also see a doctor or counselor to learn techniques for managing her anxiety. Relaxation methods, which may be used alone or in conjunction with other forms of therapy, make up the first approach. Patients suffering from rapid heartbeats or other forms of persistent anxiety may find relief with the first relaxation technique: deep breathing (Norelli, Long & Krepps, 2020). As an additional method, progressive muscle relaxation may be used, which entails alternating periods of muscular tension and relaxation. Norelli, Long, and Krepps (2020) state that she should start at the very end of her body and work her way up, either with her toes or head. The guided imagery approach, which incorporates both spoken and auditory elements, is the next step in helping her cultivate happy attitudes and sentiments by allowing her to see herself in favorable surroundings. The stress-relieving benefits of meditation include bringing her awareness to the here and now and fostering a feeling of well-being (Norelli, Long & Krepps, 2020). She may enhance her breathing and posture via yoga or other forms of relaxation to create whole body and mind calm.
In conclusion, Madam A needs her loved ones and the medical staff to bolster her confidence and get her ready for the therapy. In addition, she should seek the advice of medical professionals or licensed counselors who may instruct her in relaxation methods to alleviate her worry and tension. Some examples of such treatments include meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, guided visualization, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques.
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