A nurse is counseling a client for the management of anxiety. The client is consistently late for appointments and ignores household chores. The client states, "I'm just too stressed. I need someone to take care of me." The nurse identifies this behavior as an example of which of the following defense mechanisms?

A. Limit the amount of time available to interact with others. This statement does not align with the typical behavior of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). While the client's behavior of constantly picking up after others may indirectly limit interaction time, the primary motivation behind this behavior is more likely related to managing anxiety rather than intentionally limiting social interaction.

B. Manipulate and control others' behaviors. While individuals with OCD may engage in behaviors that affect others, such as seeking reassurance or involving others in their rituals, the behavior described in the scenario does not appear to be aimed at manipulating or controlling others. Instead, it seems driven by the client's internal need to alleviate anxiety through compulsive actions.

C. Decrease anxiety to a tolerable level. This is the correct choice. People with OCD often engage in compulsive behaviors as a way to reduce distressing feelings of anxiety or discomfort. By picking up after others compulsively, the client may experience temporary relief from obsessive thoughts and the associated anxiety. However, the relief is typically short-lived and can lead to a cycle of compulsive behaviors.

D. Focus attention on meaningless tasks. While the behavior of constantly picking up after others may seem repetitive or meaningless to an observer, individuals with OCD typically attribute great significance to their compulsive actions. These behaviors are driven by the need to reduce anxiety or prevent perceived harm rather than a deliberate focus on meaningless tasks.

A. Projectile vomiting: Pyloric stenosis is a condition characterized by the narrowing of the pylorus, the opening between the stomach and the small intestine. This narrowing leads to obstruction of the gastric outlet, causing the stomach to become distended with food. When the infant feeds, the stomach fills up, but the food cannot pass through the narrowed pylorus efficiently. As a result, the infant forcefully expels the contents of the stomach in a characteristic manner known as projectile vomiting. Projectile vomiting is forceful, often occurring shortly after feeding, and the vomited material is usually not bile-stained.

B. Ridged abdomen: While abdominal distension can occur due to the buildup of gastric contents in pyloric stenosis, the term "ridged abdomen" is not typically associated with this condition. Instead, clinicians may palpate an olive-shaped mass in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, which represents the hypertrophied pylorus. The ridged appearance may be more indicative of conditions such as peritonitis or muscular rigidity, rather than pyloric stenosis.

C. Distended neck veins: Distended neck veins are not typically associated with pyloric stenosis. This symptom is more commonly observed in conditions affecting the cardiovascular system, such as congestive heart failure. In pyloric stenosis, the primary manifestations are related to gastrointestinal obstruction, particularly projectile vomiting, rather than signs of circulatory compromise.

D. Red currant jelly stools: Red currant jelly stools are a characteristic finding in intussusception, a condition where one portion of the intestine telescopes into another, causing obstruction and compromise of the blood supply. This leads to the passage of stools containing blood and mucus, resembling red currant jelly in appearance. Pyloric stenosis primarily affects gastric emptying and does not typically result in bloody stools. Instead, the hallmark symptom is projectile vomiting due to gastric outlet obstruction.