A nurse is caring for a client who has generalized anxiety disorder. The client is consistently late for appointments and ignores household chores. The client states, "I'm just too stressed. I need to be taken care of. The nurse should identify this behavior as the maladaptive use of which of the following defense mechanisms?

The response "I will assist you in getting out of bed and getting dressed" demonstrates a supportive and therapeutic approach. It acknowledges the client's current state and offers assistance to engage in self-care activities. By providing support and actively participating in the client's care, the nurse can promote motivation, engagement, and a sense of empowerment.

The response "You can remain in bed until you feel well enough to join the milieu" may enable the client's depressive behaviors and reinforce the avoidance of activities. It does not encourage participation or provide support for the client to engage in therapeutic activities.

The response "The unit rules state that clients may not remain in bed" focuses on enforcing rules rather than addressing the client's underlying emotional state and needs. It may increase resistance and hinder the therapeutic relationship.

The response "If you don't participate in your care, you will not get better" may be perceived as blaming or judgmental. It may increase the client's guilt or sense of failure and does not provide practical support or encouragement.

Cognitive reframing involves changing negative or unhelpful thought patterns into more positive and constructive ones. By learning to change negative thoughts into positive statements, the client is actively engaging in cognitive reframing. This process helps the client challenge and reframe negative thoughts, replacing them with more positive and adaptive thoughts. By doing so, the client can reduce stress, improve their mood, and approach challenging situations with a more positive mindset. This technique is an effective way to cope with stress and promote emotional well-being.

Incorrect:

A. The client trains his mind to relax by using deep inner resources. This choice refers to relaxation techniques, which can be helpful for stress reduction but are not specifically related to cognitive reframing. Cognitive reframing focuses on changing thought patterns rather than relaxation techniques.

B. The client learns the source of his stress by writing down daily events. While identifying the source of stress can be an important step in stress management, it is not specific to cognitive reframing. Cognitive reframing involves challenging and changing negative thoughts, rather than solely focusing on identifying stressors.

C. The client imagines being in a quiet, relaxing environment. This choice refers to visualization or guided imagery techniques, which can also be helpful for relaxation but are not specifically related to cognitive reframing. Cognitive reframing involves changing thoughts, beliefs, and interpretations, rather than focusing on imagining specific environments.