If fear is such an unpleasant experience, why do so many people enjoy and seek out feelings of fear brought on by roller coasters, scary movies, haunted houses and other such experiences? 2 Most individuals at some point in their lives have pretended to be sick in order to avoid school, work or some unpleasant activity in their lives.
How do we determine what is a normal frequency of this behavior? If you were an employer, what strategies would you incorporate to address this issue in the workplace? 3 Some people argue that antidepressants serve to curb productive behavior, destroy individuality, and blunt peoples emotions and quality of life. Are such concerns justified? What are your thoughts on appropriate uses of medication, and when therapy alone is sufficient?
Part 2 Instructions: Read the case study on Emma and answer the questions. You may put the 5 correct letters in section 2 (submission) by high lighting the correct multiple-choice answer.
Emma
With a brittle smile, blonde hair pulled back in a pony-tail, plaid button shirt, and ripped jeans, Emma entered the therapists office. She was a 25-year-old Caucasian woman. After graduating college, she got a job as a full-time receptionist for a physicians office. She was happy to work at a place that contributed to promoting health. She had difficulties in social interactions for most of her life and had been in and out of therapists offices, but things seemed to be getting much worse at work over the past year. Emmas desire to go to work has decreased. She thought that her past was behind her and that she had moved forward but she found herself remembering childhood events of abuse. She would zone out when talking to patients at her job and they would seem to get frustrated with her. Her other friends at work would comment to her, telling her you are losing your focus and you cant keep zoning out with patients. Sometimes Emma would feel her heart racing so much that she would leave the office to go outside, get some fresh air, and get a drink of water. Emma found herself feeling anxious when some male clients would raise their voice or move their hands suddenly around her. She stopped enjoying being at work and would sometimes call in reporting she was sick to avoid going to work. When she was at work she would spend more time watching the patients in the waiting room and continuously looking at the entrance door to the office, waiting to see if someone was coming into the office. She became less interested in talking with her fellow co-workers.
The most recent episode that was disturbing for Emma was when a male patient had brought his son with him to an appointment. The patient was in the waiting room with his son when Emma heard the patient raising his voice at his son. The patient called his son names and told his son Stop being stupid. You are worthless. You need to do what I told you to do. In that moment Emma remembered when her father would say similar things to her followed by hitting her across her face with any object within his reach. Emma began to feel her heart pound in her chest and she had a brief thought of wanting to help the boy. Her thought was immediately circumvented with thoughts of it doesnt matter what I do and I am helpless. Emma retreated to the office bathroom and locked herself inside. Her co-workers were worried about her and told the physician. The doctor talked with Emma and suggested that she may want to take some time to find a physician or psychologist to assist her with her concerns.
Emma noticed that as things were worse at work that she also was experiencing challenges at home. She was having nightmares again which would often lead to her waking up and staying awake for an hour or so afterwards. She would be very worked up and worried about her safety after waking up from a nightmare. She would check the house doors to see if they were locked and then cuddle on the couch with her tablet to watch a light-hearted comedy movie or show, in attempts to calm and distract her. When Emma woke from a nightmare in which she was really worked up, sweaty, and scared she would drink some wine with her movie to help her get back to sleep. She found herself drinking more alcohol at nights than she had before. Early
one morning, Emma decided to drink a bottle of wine and relax in the bath. She drank so much that she passed out in the bath and almost drowned.
