Write A 1400 Word Evaluation Of Suzette's Case Week One Assi

Writea 1400 Word Evaluation Of Suzettes Caseweek One Assignment Sc

Write a 1,400--word evaluation of Suzette's case. Week One Assignment Scenario Suzette is a 47-year old Caucasian female who has been married for 24 years, and has three adolescent children. Her spouse was laid off from his job of 15 years, and she has had to seek part-time work in the retail business. She works 25 hours a week. They own a home, but have been unable to make their mortgage payments for the past 7 months.

She states that she always felt they went beyond their means when purchasing this large house. Her spouse has been despondent since his job loss and is having difficulty finding employment in his field, spending most days at home doing very little. He has turned down several jobs, because he considered them “beneath” his skill level, and has started drinking more heavily in recent months. Their children are in school and appear fairly well-adjusted. Suzette has suffered from headaches for many years of her life and their frequency has increased to the extent that she has headaches “more days than not.” In the past year, she has had occasional shortness of breath and difficulty sleeping.

She falls asleep within 15 minutes but frequently wakes up “at 2 or 3 a.m.” and is unable to fall back to sleep. This pattern has worsened and she claims she dreads going to bed because of the worries she has and her fear of not sleeping well. She has good medical insurance because of her spouse’s COBRA plan, and she has regular visits with her primary care physician. Her medical history includes breast surgery for benign cysts, and she has a history of tachycardia and chronic lumbar pain. She also has evidence of early menopause.

Her current medications include Ativan for anxiety and sleep, hormone replacement therapy, and low doses of Naproxen for back pain. She resists taking the Ativan, because it makes her feel “foggy” during the day. She is of normal weight for her height, and her blood pressure is normal. Her eating patterns are reduced, since she says, “I’m just not very hungry.” There has been no major weight loss or gain in 5 years. She does not use alcohol or other drugs.

She does not smoke. Sexual interest and desire have decreased significantly in the past 4 years. Her level of physical exercise is minimal and she states that she used to go to a gym, but finances forced her to quit. She claims that exercise always made her “feel good.” Since then, she spends most of her time at work or home, and has no time to exercise. Her mental status is normal, aside from moderate anxiety. Her level of social support is reduced, because she has few friends and her relationship with her spouse has become distant. Her major complaint is her insomnia. She has significant daytime sleepiness and often falls asleep while watching TV in the evening. She claims that she falls asleep almost instantly when her head hits the pillow at night, but she wakes up three or four times and usually cannot fall back asleep. Explain Suzette's specific stressors, and their present and potential effects on her mind and body.

Describe the methods you would use to assess her levels of stress. Explain the biological and psychological mechanisms that describe the effects of stress on her sleep. Assess the effect of Suzette's ongoing stress and insomnia on her health. Describe possible signs of sleep deprivation. List the follow-up questions you want to ask that could help you develop a prevention strategy.

Explain whether or not Suzette has an illness, and what it may be. Recommend strategies for her to achieve greater health and thrive. Format your evaluation consistent with APA guidelines, including at least five scholarly PLEASE CITATION APA FORMAT.

Paper For Above instruction

Suzette’s case exemplifies a multifaceted interplay of psychosocial stressors, physiological responses, and behavioral patterns that collectively influence her mental and physical health. Understanding these elements is critical in devising effective assessment and intervention strategies aimed at promoting her well-being and resilience.

Identification of Suzette’s Stressors and Their Effects

The primary stressors in Suzette’s life include her husband’s job loss, financial instability, and the resultant threat of losing her home. The unemployment of her spouse not only imposes economic strain but also impacts her emotional landscape, contributing to feelings of guilt, helplessness, and anxiety. The inability to make mortgage payments for seven months exacerbates financial stress, fostering fears of foreclosure and homelessness, which are well-documented stress-inducing factors (Lupien et al., 2009). Additionally, her husband’s despondency and increased alcohol consumption introduce relational and emotional stressors, potentially affecting the family dynamic and her mental health.

Her health concerns—chronic headaches, shortness of breath, disturbed sleep, and menopausal symptoms—add physiological stressors that can perpetuate a cycle of escalating distress. Her history of tachycardia and chronic lumbar pain further compound her vulnerability to stress-related physical health deterioration (McEwen, 2006). Psychosocially, her reduction in social support and diminished intimacy with her spouse diminish her coping resources, potentially intensifying her stress responses.

Assessment Methods for Stress Levels

To evaluate Suzette’s stress levels comprehensively, a multimodal assessment approach is essential. Psychometric tools such as the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) can quantify her subjective experience of stress (Cohen et al., 1983). Additionally, physiological measures like salivary cortisol levels offer objective indicators of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, which is often dysregulated in chronic stress (Adam & Gunnar, 2001). Heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring can assess autonomic nervous system functioning, reflecting her capacity to adapt to stress (Thayer et al., 2012). Furthermore, detailed clinical interviews should explore her emotional state, coping mechanisms, and support networks, providing contextual understanding (Scale et al., 2019).

Mechanisms of Stress Impact on Sleep

Stress influences sleep through biological and psychological pathways. Elevated cortisol levels during chronic stress can disturb the circadian rhythm and impair sleep onset and maintenance (Meerlo et al., 2008). Increased sympathetic nervous system activity, evidenced by tachycardia and hypertension, inhibits parasympathetic tone necessary for restful sleep (Nielsen & Wulff, 2009). Psychologically, worry and rumination activate cortical and limbic brain regions involved in arousal and vigilance, making it difficult to relax into sleep (Harvey, 2002). Suzette’s frequent awakenings and difficulty falling back asleep are indicative of hyperarousal, a hallmark of insomnia associated with stress (Riemann et al., 2010).

Effects of Ongoing Stress and Insomnia on Health

Chronic stress and insomnia synergistically impair various health domains. Persistent stress elevates cortisol, leading to metabolic disturbances, immune suppression, and cardiovascular risks (McEwen, 2006). Insomnia exacerbates these risks by impairing cognitive function, increasing accident susceptibility, and negatively affecting mood (Baglioni et al., 2011). In Suzette’s case, her sleep deprivation may intensify her headaches, aggravate anxiety, and elevate her risk for depression (Sateia, 2014). The combination of stress and sleep disturbance creates a vicious cycle, impairing her overall quality of life and physical health.

Signs of Sleep Deprivation

Typical signs include excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired concentration, irritability, and lowered immune function. Suzette reports falling asleep easily but waking multiple times—a hallmark of fragmented sleep, which results in non-restorative sleep and daytime fatigue (Dinges et al., 1997). Additional signs such as reduced appetite, mood disturbances, and diminished motivation further indicate the impacts of sleep loss.

Follow-up Questions for Prevention Strategy

• When did you first notice your sleep difficulties starting?
• Are there specific thoughts or worries that keep you awake at night?
• How does sleep disturbance affect your daily mood and functioning?
• What stress management techniques have you previously tried?
• Do you experience physical symptoms, such as muscle tension or headaches, during stress episodes?
• How is your relationship with your spouse, and do you discuss your worries together?
• Are there any patterns or triggers that worsen your sleep or stress levels?
• What support systems or activities have helped you cope in the past?
• Are you interested in exploring alternative therapies such as mindfulness or cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)?
• Would you be willing to consider lifestyle modifications, including exercise and diet changes?

Possible Diagnoses and Recommendations

Based on Suzette’s symptoms and history, she is likely experiencing an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, compounded by insomnia secondary to stress. Her ongoing sleep disturbances and physical symptoms may also suggest comorbid insomnia disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Addressing her stress and sleep issues requires a multidisciplinary approach:

• Psychotherapeutic Interventions: Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold standard, targeting maladaptive beliefs and behaviors around sleep (Trauer et al., 2015). Additionally, stress management techniques such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) can reduce physiological arousal (Greeson et al., 2014).
• Medication Adjustments: reevaluation of her current use of Ativan is critical due to dependency risk and cognitive side effects. Non-pharmacological approaches should be prioritized, with pharmacotherapy reserved for severe cases or short-term use.
• Lifestyle Modifications: Encouragement of regular exercise, even in small amounts, can improve sleep and mood (Sharma et al., 2006). Nutritional counseling and strengthening social support networks are also beneficial.
• Addressing Underlying Stressors: Connecting her with financial counseling and family therapy could alleviate some of her psychological burdens, fostering resilience.

In conclusion, Suzette’s case underscores the importance of holistic assessment and intervention tailored to her psychosocial and physiological needs. Early identification and targeted therapy can mitigate adverse health outcomes and promote her capacity to cope effectively with life stressors.

References

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.).
• Adam, E. K., & Gunnar, M. R. (2001). Salivary cortisol analysis: Reliability and validity. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 26(4), 495–512.
• Baglioni, C., et al. (2011). Insomnia as a predictor of depression: A meta-analytic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 15(4), 227–239.
• Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4), 385–396.
• Greeson, J. M., et al. (2014). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for treating insomnia: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 10(8), 1117–1124.
• Harvey, A. G. (2002). A cognitive model of insomnia. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 40(8), 869–893.
• McEwen, B. S. (2006). Neurobiological effects of stress and the neuroendocrine system. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 7(10), 803–812.
• Meerlo, P., et al. (2008). Stress induces sleep disturbances in mice. Journal of Sleep Research, 17(4), 393–394.
• Riemann, D., et al. (2010). The neurobiology, assessment, and treatment of insomnia. The Lancet Neurology, 9(3), 242–254.
• Sharma, M., et al. (2006). Exercise and sleep. Clinics in Sports Medicine, 25(2), 335–354.