A client with agoraphobia states, "I am afraid of being in places where I can't escape easily." Which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate?
"It's important to confront your fears and gradually expose yourself to the situations that make you anxious.".
"It's best to avoid situations that trigger your anxiety to prevent panic attacks.".
"You should try to distract yourself when you start feeling anxious in those situations.".
"You should stay home and avoid going out to prevent any potential panic attacks.".
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
This response is appropriate as it aligns with the principles of exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves gradually confronting feared situations to reduce anxiety over time. By encouraging the client to face their fears and expose themselves to anxiety-provoking situations in a controlled manner, they can learn that their anxiety decreases over time.
Choice B rationale:
This response is counterproductive and not recommended. Avoiding situations that trigger anxiety can actually reinforce the fear and make it more difficult for the client to cope with their agoraphobia. Avoidance prevents the client from learning that their fear is manageable.
Choice C rationale:
While distraction techniques can be helpful for managing anxiety in the moment, they do not address the underlying fear associated with agoraphobia. Encouraging distraction as the primary coping strategy might hinder the client's progress in overcoming their fear.
Choice D rationale:
This response promotes avoidance, which is not a recommended approach in treating anxiety disorders like agoraphobia. Avoiding situations altogether can worsen the fear and limit the client's ability to engage in normal activities.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Neurochemical imbalances in the brain are more commonly associated with mood disorders like depression and anxiety disorders in general, rather than being a specific cause of the physiological symptoms seen in phobias.
Choice B rationale:
Negative self-beliefs and cognitive distortions are central to anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder, but they don't directly explain the acute physiological symptoms like palpitations and sweating seen in phobias.
Choice C rationale:
Traumatic experiences and learned associations are relevant to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety disorders. However, they are not the primary cause of physiological symptoms in specific phobias.
Choice D rationale:
The correct answer. Specific phobias trigger a "fight or flight" response through the autonomic nervous system, leading to physiological symptoms like palpitations, sweating, and shortness of breath. This response is an evolutionary adaptation designed to prepare the body to respond to threats.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Exposure therapy is indeed a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) It involves systematically exposing individuals to the feared object or situation in a controlled and gradual manner. The goal is to reduce their anxiety or fear response over time through repeated exposures. By confronting their fears, individuals can learn that their anxiety decreases over time, leading to behavioral changes.
Choice B rationale:
While cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) often includes challenging irrational thoughts and beliefs, exposure therapy primarily focuses on the behavioral aspect of fear reduction through systematic exposure. Cognitive restructuring, which addresses irrational beliefs, is a distinct component of CBT but not the primary emphasis of exposure therapy.
Choice C rationale:
Exposure therapy does not inherently involve teaching clients relaxation techniques. Instead, it centers on controlled exposure to the feared stimulus to weaken the fear response. Relaxation techniques might be used in some cases to help manage anxiety, but they are not a defining characteristic of exposure therapy.
Choice D rationale:
Although exposure therapy can be effective for various phobias, it is not exclusive to social phobias. It can be applied to specific phobias, agoraphobia, and other anxiety disorders as well.
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