Fatima's Case Study

Alonda Sims
Instructor: Amber Popovitz-Gale
PSYC 1111
April 19, 2018

Fatima is a 30-year-old single mother of two young children, who works fifty hour weeks to support and care for her family with little time to relax. Fatima does not smoke. However, she cannot afford fresh fruits and vegetables for dinner so the family eats processed foods, such as boxed macaroni and cheese and frozen pizza, very often. One day, Fatima fainted and was diagnosed with hypertension. She has long suffered from fatigue and the occasional chest pain but could not afford to go to the doctor. Therefore, I will discuss stress as a major relating factor to Fatima’s diagnosis of hypertension as it relates to the various models, according to Dr. Jane Ogden, in Health

Psychology.
Illness can be caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.

In Fatima’s case, the psychological factors are her belief that she cannot afford fresh fruits and veggies, not having proper time to relax, eating only processed foods, overworking herself by working fifty-hour work weeks, and not going to a doctor concerning symptoms she was having. The recognition of a role for behavior in the cause of illness means that the individual may be held responsible for their health and illness (Ogden, 2017). In order to treat the illness, Fatima must find ways to change her behaviors and ways of thinking in order to be healthy despite her busy lifestyle.
Health psychology regards psychological factors not only as possible consequences of illness but as contributing to it at all stages along the continuum from healthy through to being ill (Ogden, 2017). Daily stress involving conflicts, loneliness and financial crises can

result in aches and pains, lack of sleep, inability to fight off colds, infections, exhaustion and anxiety. The buildup of stress periodically could potentially cause one to have a nervous breakdown. (Bruce McEwen, 2006) The body of a person suffering with chronic stress will release hormones such as adrenalin, norepinephrine and glucocorticoids that prepare the body for the fight-or-flight response, thus, increasing the heart rate. Digestion stops so all energy can be redirected to the heart and muscles to deal with what the brain considers an immediate threat. As the body continues to compensate for this threat to its overall functioning, the immune system becomes activated, which increases inflammation, to prepare the body for potential injury. The inflammation is normally resolved within 20 minutes by the release of cortisol which would return the immune system back to normal. However, in people who are suffering from chronic stress, inflammation continues flowing causing the body to release less cortisol to counter it. Continued inflammation eventually can lead to heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disease, gastrointestinal problems and depression among many other problems linked to stress (Lumen Boundless Anatomy and Physiology, n.d.). In Fatima’s case, the stress of being a single mother along with no rest and un-health eating habit may have very well contributed to her diagnosis of hypertension.
Negative affective states, such as feelings of anxiety and depression, could influence the pathogenesis of physical disease, which in turn, have direct effects on biological process that could result in increased risk of disease in the end. Thus, when people are under chronic stress, permanent changes in their physiological, emotional, and behavioral responses are most likely to occur. Even though psychological stress is often connected with illness or disease, most healthy individuals can still remain disease-free after confronting chronic stressful events. Also, people who do not believe that stress will affect their health do not have an increased risk of illness, disease, or death. This suggests that there are individual differences in vulnerability to the potential pathogenic effects of stress; individual differences in vulnerability arise due to both genetic and psychological factors. In addition, the age at which the stress is experienced can dictate its effect on health. Chronic stress at a young age can have lifelong impacts on the biological, psychological, and behavioral responses to stress later in life (Bruce McEwen, 2006).
Social support from friends and the community can be very beneficial to helping someone communicate while stressed. Social support is giving a person the knowledge that they are part of a mutual network of caring, interested others, that enable them to lower levels of stress and be better able to cope with the stress that they undergo. The social and emotional support people provide for each other demonstrates that they are important and valued members of social networks (Bruce McEwen, 2006).
The stress of a person can greatly affect those around them, especially in families. Emotional support is crucial to helping families cope with the challenge of supporting their loved one (stressed person). This emotional support can be expressed through many communication methods.

In order to be able to effectively communicate with someone who is stressed, it is important to know how to interact with them in a way that can be beneficial for them. Therapeutic communication techniques can help with different types of communication (Bruce McEwen, 2006). These techniques include but are not limited to listening, making open-ended comments, reducing distance, restating, seeking clarification, reflecting, and planning. Actively listening to someone when they are stressed can help them release frustrations and cope with their problems. Listening shows that you are interested in the person, and can have great therapeutic value (Bruce McEwen, 2006). It is important to show that the stressed person's needs are above the caregiver's in order for the interaction to be therapeutic. It is important that you remain prepared mentally, emotionally, and physically to assist him or her. It is favorable to remain punctual and polite in the manner of relating to them, and that the best methods are used to promote their well-being and comfort.
Researchers have long been interested in how an individual's level and types of social support impact the effect of stress on their health. Studies consistently show that social support can protect against physical and mental consequences of stress. This can occur through a variety of mechanisms. One model, known as the "direct effects" model, holds that social support has a direct, positive impact on health by increasing positive affect, promoting adaptive health behaviors, predictability and stability in life, and safeguarding against social, legal, and economic concerns that could negatively impact health. another model, the "buffering effect", says that social support exerts greatest influence on health in times of stress, either by helping individuals appraise situations in less threatening manners or coping with the actual stress. Researchers have found evidence to support both these pathways. Social support is defined more specifically as psychological and material resources provided by a social network that are aimed at helping an individual cope with stress (Bruce McEwen, 2006).
In conclusion:
Fatima had to have been under a great deal of stress with all of the things she had on her plate.

Being a single mother of two young children is not an easy job by far. Especially when you have to work over fifty hours a week in order to support them and yourself. On top of being stressed and tired I could only imagine the guilt that Fatima probably felt not being able to spend enough time with her children due to work. I can relate to her situation because I find myself in a similar situation. However, it is important that Fatima takes care of herself y getting the proper rest and nutrition in order for her to stay healthy. Fatima will also need to ensure that her young children gets the proper nutrition so they will remain health. I am sure Fatima feels she is doing the best job she can with her children but good health is the ultimate goal. It will not be enough for Fatima to just treat her individual symptoms. According to Dr. Jane Ogden, the whole body must be treated. Therefore, behavioral changes are a must to ensure the health of Fatima and her

family.

References
Bruce McEwen, R. S. (2006, February 01). Stress and Your Health. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 91(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.91.2.9994
Lumen Boundless Anatomy and Physiology. (n.d.). Retrieved April 16, 2018, from courses.lumenlearning.com.
Ogden, J. (2017). The Psychology of Health and Illness:open access course. Retrieved April 16, 2018, from Academia.edu