The Nervous System Anxiety - Case Study Example

The Nervous System Anxiety Name Course Lecturer Date Abstract This paper involves a case study of a person who experiences anxiety after an accident that damaged his neural system. The characteristics of this anxiety include severe clinical depression, panic attack, suicide thought, weird attacks, memory loss, bad dreams, imbalanced nervous system, fear, insomnia and uncontrollable heart rates. This paper identifies several effects of this anxiety and divides them in three main categories. These include biological, psychological and social dynamic effects. This paper shows that neural system anxiety can cause numerous biological issues in the body of a victim. It can lead to complicated health problems that can affect key body organs for instance the brain and the heart. The psychological effects identified in this paper include stress, depression, dissociation, specific phobias and agoraphobia. In addition, the victim exhibits behavioural changes. The social dynamic disturbances identified include the inability to associate with other people. Introduction The human nervous system is a critical system in the human body. It controls most of the activities that take place in the body and initialize responses to certain stimuli. This system consists of highly sensitive elements that transmit impulses between the body and the brain. If the nervous system experiences some damage, then it poses numerous problems to the entire human body. It can cause anxiety in the nervous system. This paper uses a case study to analyse the effects of this anxiety on the human body. The paper focuses mainly on biological, psychological and social effects of the nervous system anxiety. It is an excellent help for people who wish to analyse similar conditions and seek for appropriate medication. Brief Review of the System The role of the nervous system is to coordinate all body activities. It controls the maintenance of normal body functions and the ability to respond and cope with emergency situations (Centre for Learning Innovation, 2008). The nervous system controls all body systems, receives information about the body environment and sends this as impulse to the brain to store. The nervous system has nerve tissues that receive stimuli, transmit the stimuli to nervous centres and initiate response (Ophardt, 2003). Anatomically, the nervous system of a human contains the central system (CNS) and the peripheral system (PNS) as the major parts. (Bhatnagar, 2002). The CNS consists of both the brain and spinal cord. The brain initiates, controls and regulates sensory motor and cognitive functions that cause and regulate human behaviour. The spinal cord is a wire cable structure that transmits motor commands to all body parts that interact with the environment. It transmits information from the brain to body parts and vice versa. The spinal cord has both the motor and sensory nerves. The PNS consists of the somatic nervous system and the autonomic system (Mandal, n.d). The autonomic nervous system controls numerous body functions that occur without voluntary control (Gulli et al. 2011). These include digestion, sweating, constriction of blood vessels, dilation and other involuntary actions. The function of the somatic system is to control muscles (Barlow & Durand, 2009). It controls functions that fall under conscious voluntary control. This includes controlling skin sensory neurons and skeletal muscles. Normal functions of the system A normal functioning nervous system must perform three main functions, which include sensory, interpretive and motor functions (Centre for Learning Innovation, 2008). The sensory function of the system is to sense changes in the external and internal environment such as a walk on sand or stretch placed on a muscle. (Clark et al., 2007). This process involves sensory nerves that gather information from inside and outside the body and carry the information to the CNS. The interpretation or integrative function of the system is the ability to analyse and interpret sensory information to enable proper decision making (Clark et al., 2007). Finally, the motor role of the system to respond to impulses such as causing a muscle to contract when stretched and changing walking pattern when walking on the sand (Clark et al., 2007). The motor function involves motor nerves that transmit information from the CNS to the glands and muscles of the body. A normal functioning system has well-functioning neurons (Specialized conductor cells) that transmit electrochemical nerve impulses. A normal functioning nervous system can initiate both automatic and involuntary responses that help an individual to respond to stimulus. Case Study Jack is a 33 year old man who, for the last three weeks, has been experiencing a severe anxiety disorder, severe clinical depression, panic attack, suicide thought, weird attacks, memory loss, bad dreams, imbalanced nervous system, fear, insomnia and uncontrollable heart rates. Jack started to experience these symptoms after experiencing a physical accident three weeks ago. When jack visited his doctor, the doctor told Jack that he was suffering from the nervous system anxiety. Sometimes, the nervous system shuts down totally, and his body becomes extremely stiff. All the body muscles clench and tighten including his face and tongue. This leaves jack unable to speak or move. This has happened five times since Jack experienced the accident. Whenever it happens, Jack feels his stomach convulsing and heart pounding. Jack is usually awake when entrapped in this, but can do nothing about the situation. Jack says that it is an incredibly frightening experience that leaves him feeling like he has stroke, especially on his face. Jack feels that nobody understands him, not even the doctor. His doctor tells him the condition is anxiety of the nervous system, which is not serious, but Jack feels that it is dangerous. Jack feels helpless and does not know where to seek for answers. He experiences crazy thoughts such as what if the condition is something more serious than what the doctor says. Since this breakdown started Jack is always nervous, fearful and shaky. Sometimes he experiences sleep disturbances, difficulty in breathing, chokes and he is unable to sleep comfortably. Some of his friends run away from him. This makes him feel isolated from other people. He can no longer control his worries and fear. He only wants to be with other people and does not want to stay near objects that might hurt him. He also hates public scrutiny, embarrassment and humiliation. Analysis of the Case Study In the above case study, it is evident that Jack suffers from the nervous system anxiety, which may pose numerous biological abnormalities. His symptoms show that he is probably suffering from either Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Panic Disorder. The characteristics of Generalized Anxiety Disorder include excessive anxiety and worries that are difficult to control, and somatic symptoms (Hazlett, 2008). People suffering from this anxiety suffer from some functional impairment such as chronic muscle tension and sleep disturbance. Victims of Generalized Anxiety Disorder also experience strained interpersonal relationships. Panic disorders or attacks refer to sudden radical increases in anxiety to a point where the victim may have difficulties in breathing, pulse rate increases, muscles tighten, and one may collapse (Wilson, 2012). These are the same problems that Jack has been facing in the last three weeks. Nervous system anxiety is an illness that can affect an individual in three levels: biologically, psychologically and socially. Biological abnormalities According to the Anxiety Care UK (2013), anxiety stimulates the autonomic nervous system (fight or fight response), which expresses itself in different physiological, bodily symptoms. These symptoms include fast pulse, panic attacks, shallow breathing, headache, sweat, insomnia and uncontrollable muscle tensions as seen in the case of Jack. The fight or fight response results from the coordinated discharge of the sympathetic system and the parasympathetic systems, and the secretion of hormones such as epinephrine (adrenaline) and cortisol (Edlin, Golanty & Brown, 2000). Sometimes, like in the case of Jack, the body may react inappropriately to the daily strains and toils. In such cases, adrenaline production may initiate to respond to minor stressors. The production of adrenaline for such purposes may not be necessary. The production of adrenaline sets a chain of reactions and the victim may start to sweat, suffer palpitations and feel sick, which may lead to a lot of anxiety. In some situations, the victim may begin to worry, which may exaggerate the anxiety. This may lead to unpleasant bodily sensations that may affect the body of the victim. Ideally, the autonomic and the sympathetic nervous systems respond in response to a person’s fears and anxiety. In order to restore balance, the parasympathetic nervous system turns of the stress reaction (Anxiety Care UK, 2013). However, the sympathetic system may malfunction, which leaves the victim in a state of alert. This condition puts strain on the victim’s mind and body. Continual anxiety like the one experienced by Jack may raise the blood pressure because of hormones and chemical reactions that occur in the body. Such occurrences may cause unpleasant bodily sensations and chemical reactions may lead to additional health problems on the victim’s body. Jack experiences breathing problems and chokes. The anxiety experienced by Jack is the cause of shallow breathing, which has some health and biological effects on him. According to Hall (1998), such feelings are not only unpleasant, but they can have extreme negative impacts on the victim’s physical health. Shallow breathing can cause low levels of oxygen in the victim’s blood. When the victim begins to experience breathing problems, the brain may interpret it as a sign of danger. This may trigger fight or fight response, which may not be necessary at that point. Consequently, the body may start to produce adrenaline and initiate chemical reactions that are not necessary. This may lead to a lot of anxiety, which may bring discomfort in the victim’s body. If the state of anxiety becomes common in the victim, then there is a cumulative effect if irritability, loss of appetite and mood swings. These effects can create nutritional deficiency due to altered eating habits. Consequently, these deficiencies can pose adverse effects to the central system, which can worsen the victim’s anxiety. Extreme fear and frequent anxiety can develop changes in the functioning of many body organs. Increased blood pressure may lead to heart disease. Anxiety can cause sickness in the stomach and cause stomach problems such as spastic colon and peptic ulcers (Rosen, 2003). This is evident in Jack’s case since he claims to experience a convulsing stomach. Psychological abnormalities Jack is a victim of psychological disturbances including severe depression and stress. According to A.D.A.M Inc (2011), the inability to adapt to stress relates to the onset of anxiety or depression. This implies that stress and depression are some of the psychological effects of the nervous system anxiety. Jack’s condition indicates that there is a repeated production of stress hormones. The repeated release of these hormones leads to hyperactivity in the HPA (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal) system, disrupting the normal levels of serotin. Serotin is the brain chemical that plays a key role in controlling feelings. According to A.D.A.M Inc (2011), some people are at a higher risk of an overactive HPA when they experience stress. Stress is a psychological abnormality affects the feelings of pleasure and accomplishment. This is probably the reason why Jack experiences weird thoughts, terrible dreams and severe anxiety. From the case study, it is evident that Jack experiences several phobias that lead to behavioural changes. These phobias include specific phobia and agoraphobia. Specific phobia entails identifiable objects and situations that produce intense anxiety (Baucum, 2006). It involves anything in the environment that poses a danger or risk to the victim. This is evident in the case study as Jack does not want to stay near objects that might cause an accident. Agoraphobia involves anxiety about being in anonymous places where help might not be available (Baucum, 2006). Jack experiences this psychological abnormality since he does not want to be left alone. Schizophrenia is another possible psychological problem that a victim of anxiety might face. The brain contains a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which produces inhibitory effects that dampen and stabilize communications in the brain and other body parts (Nairne, 2009).). This neurotransmitter is of significant interest to psychologists because of perceptions that it might cause schizophrenia, a psychological process that disrupts thoughts and produces hallucinations and delusions (Nairne, 2009). In the case study, Jack experiences awful dreams, which could be delusions and hallucinations. They are clear symptoms of psychological abnormality caused by neural system anxiety. As much as nervous system anxiety leads to numerous psychological effects, these effects may in turn increase the anxiety. According to Rosen (2003), while some behaviour seems to be an outcome of anxiety, these behaviours can also cause the victim to become anxious. This may lead to complex psychological problems that may be difficult to address. In summary, the psychological consequences of anxiety include behaviour and personality patterns, and consequences that relate to psychological defences. Signs of memory loss indicate that Jack may be experiencing dissociation. Dissociation refers to the structural separation of mental processes such as perception, identity and memory (Ahuja, n.d). Memory loss experienced by jack is a clear sign of the psychological effects of the neural system anxiety. While psychological issues are health issues by themselves, they may result in permanent biological effects mediated by stress hormones (Nicolopoulou-Stamati, Hens & Howard, 2005). This implies that biological effects may lead to psychological effects and vice versa. Social dynamic disturbances In the above case study, Jack experiences some social dynamic disturbances that result from the anxiety. He believes that nobody understands him, not even the doctor himself. Though Jack wants to stay close to someone, some people tend to isolate Jack, something which irritates him. Jack exhibits some aspect of social anxiety, results from the fear of doing wrong and facing embarrassment in front of people. According to (Toufexis, Hammack & Triggle, 2006), patients who suffer from social anxiety (also called social phobia) find social situations so unpleasant and tend to isolate themselves from other people. They face the fear of embarrassing themselves or facing negative judgements from other people (Swartz & JHMI, (2007). Although Jack does not want to stay alone, he also fears that people might harass and humiliate him in public. Social phobia relates to panic disorder because panic attacks often accompany the symptoms of social phobia. Therefore, neural system anxiety cause the victim to feel social alienated. This is probably why Jack fears to stay in public and believes that nobody understands his condition. Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that the nervous system is an extremely sensitive part of the human body. Interference with the nervous system can cause numerous biological, social and psychological effects. Some of these effects are also causes and stimulators of the nervous system anxiety. It is critical for victims, and health practitioners to identify these disturbances earliest possible and take the appropriate action. Some of the possible solutions include taking proper diet, doing exercise and controlling the anxiety when it arises. Above all, it is crucial for victims like Jack to seek for medical assistance. References A.D.A.M Inc. “Stress and Anxiety” Nytimes.com. Retrieved 20 March 2013 from http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/stress-and-anxiety/possible-complications.html Ahuja, V. (n.d) Textbook of Postgraduate Psychiatry. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Publishers Anxiety Care UK (2013) “The biological effects and consequences of anxiety” Anxietycare.org. Retrieved 20 March 2013 from http://www.anxietycare.org.uk/docs/biologicaleffects.asp Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. M. (2009). Abnormal psychology: An integrative approach. Australia: Cengage Wadsworth. Baucum, D. (2006). Psychology. Hauppauge, N.Y: Barron's. Bhatnagar, S. C. (2002). Neuroscience for the study of communicative disorders. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 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Retrieved 20 March 2013 from http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/ANXIETY.HTM Read More