Ivana cannot sleep (UNIRI-03-EN)
- This course is presently not described -
- EMOTIONS
- Anxiety or severe fear
- Fear of trauma recurrence
- Feeling out of control
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Feelings of fragility and/or vulnerability
- Helplessness
- Mood swings, instability
- BODY
- Extreme fatigue or exhaustion
- Greater startle responses
- Hyperarousal
- Sleep disturbances, nightmares
- THOUGHTS
- Difficulty making decisions
- Intrusive memories or flashbacks
- Preoccupation with event
- Reactivation of previous traumatic events
- Strong identification with victims
- BEHAVIOUR
- Argumentative behaviour
- Decreased activity level
- Difficulty expressing oneself
- Intense use of prayer
- Restlessness
Situation
Ivana, a 35-year-old woman, was hospitalized three days ago because of serious abdominal pain. Since her arrival, she has been preoccupied with safety, asking for a constant reassurance that nothing bad will happen. Each night she was determined to stay awake praying and refused to go to sleep till she was exhausted and bedded down. The night shift personnel complained about her behaviour.
Trauma-Informed Response
A night shift nurse educated in trauma-informed approach asked the patient what happened to her to behave like that. The patient told her about her experiences during the series of earthquakes in the region she is coming from.
The nurse recognized and acknowledged the patient’s problems as posttraumatic signs and symptoms and informed other medical team about it.
They applied empathetic supportive approach to patient and acknowledged her fears and worries. She opened to them even more and accepted professional mental health assessment and treatment they offered to her.
The hospitalization continued with much better adherence to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and less preoccupations and worries. Sleep quality improved and tension decreased.
Ivana was grateful to medical stuff for their trustworthiness and capacity to understand her problems related to trauma experience providing her safe and pleasant environment for healing and recovery.
Contributor
Assoc.Prof. Marina Letica Crepulja, MD, PhD (UNIRI-MEDRI)
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