Which of the following is a nonpharmacologic strategy for anxiety?

Study for ELNEC 4: Symptom Management in Palliative Care Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Hints and explanations included! Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a nonpharmacologic strategy for anxiety?

Nonpharmacologic approaches to anxiety focus on reducing physiological arousal without using medications. Relaxation techniques and guided imagery work by triggering the body’s relaxation response, which counteracts the fight-or-flight state. Slow, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mental visualization help lower heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension while promoting a sense of calm. Over time, these practices can lessen anxious thoughts and improve coping, making them useful in palliative care where minimizing drug side effects is important. In contrast, sleep deprivation worsens anxiety by increasing stress and reducing the ability to cope, and stimulants like tobacco and high-dose caffeine raise arousal and can heighten anxiety symptoms. They do not serve as helpful strategies for managing anxiety and can contribute to greater distress. So, the best choice is relaxation and guided imagery because it provides a direct, safe way to reduce anxiety without medications, supporting overall comfort and well-being.

Nonpharmacologic approaches to anxiety focus on reducing physiological arousal without using medications. Relaxation techniques and guided imagery work by triggering the body’s relaxation response, which counteracts the fight-or-flight state. Slow, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mental visualization help lower heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension while promoting a sense of calm. Over time, these practices can lessen anxious thoughts and improve coping, making them useful in palliative care where minimizing drug side effects is important.

In contrast, sleep deprivation worsens anxiety by increasing stress and reducing the ability to cope, and stimulants like tobacco and high-dose caffeine raise arousal and can heighten anxiety symptoms. They do not serve as helpful strategies for managing anxiety and can contribute to greater distress.

So, the best choice is relaxation and guided imagery because it provides a direct, safe way to reduce anxiety without medications, supporting overall comfort and well-being.

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