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Abnormalities that Cause Fear, Anxiety and Distress

Case studies: Abnormalities that Cause Fear, Anxiety and Distress

According to Clarkin and Lenzenweger (1996) fear and anxiety are normal adaptive experiences in our lives. Indeed, normal fear is necessary because it prepares us psychologically to respond to dangerous situations. However, whenever one develops fear in response to a situation that is not inherently frightening then this condition qualifies to be called an abnormality. In this paper, abnormality will be evaluated using three case studies.

In the first case study this woman has acute fear of snakes. In particular, the woman becomes distressed and anxious if she sees pictures of snakes, snake toys or if she sees lives snakes (Simmons). This situation qualifies as an abnormality due to various reasons. Firstly, this is an abnormality because this young woman’s response is far out of proportion to the danger posed by the stimulus. In normal situations people develop fear of being attacked by snakes but in this scenario seeing pictures of snakes does not warrant one to become fearful and anxious. Secondly, this is an abnormality because scenes that have snakes invariably provoke immediate anxiety and distress in this woman. Thirdly, this woman has developed an avoidance behavior to scenes that contain snakes or snakes pictures. Fourthly, her avoidance behavior to such scenes is likely to cause impairment to her life. For instance, as a result of this abnormality this woman is unlikely to accept jobs in zoos where there are snakes or work in places where she is likely to see pictures of snakes.

The second case study involves a young man who does not want to move out of the house for fear of being affected by the evil waves (Simmons). This condition amounts to an abnormality because typically there is nothing inherently frightening about moving out of the house. In addition, this young man fears to move beyond the house because he associates the outside world with anxiety. Other factors that qualify this condition to be an abnormality are: there is marked fear that is unreasonable cued by the idea of moving out of the house, moving outside of the house almost invariably provokes an immediate anxiety, the young man tries to avoid the phobic situation by avoiding out of the house and by covering his bedroom window with the aluminum foil (Simmons). Most important of all this condition qualifies as an abnormality because the avoidance behavior of moving out is likely to interfere with his normal routine and his occupational functioning. Based on this argument this condition can be classified as a specific phobia because the young man has fear of moving outside the house and this fear comes only when he in a specific domain- outside the house.

In the third case study, this woman has an extreme fear of germs and bacteria (Simmons). This condition qualifies to be called abnormality due to various reasons. Firstly, this is an abnormality because the young woman has marked and persistent fear that is unreasonable. Secondly, exposure to things that she believes have germs invariably provokes an immediate anxiety and fear. Thirdly, the fear is caused by a specific thing- germs and bacteria. Fourthly, this woman avoids being target of fear by carrying out elaborate rituals that ensure she does not come into contact with germs and bacteria. Such precautionary measures include restricting visitors to her home is she believes they are not clean and emptying and filling the kettle so many times n order to make sure that the water is clean (Simmons). Such habits are likely to interfere with her daily functioning because she spends up so much time doing “unnecessary” activities, time which otherwise would have been spent doing constructive things. In addition, her behavior is likely to discourage visitors from coming to see her for fear of being turned away. Based on this argument, this condition also qualifies as a specific phobia because the fear is caused by a distinct thing- germs and bacteria.

References

Clarkin, J.F., & Lenzenweger, M.F. (1996). Major Theories of Personality Disorder. New York: Guilford Press.

Simmons, A. What do you mean by abnormal? Retrieved from < http://www.psychlotron.org.uk/resources/abnormal/AS_AQA_abnormality_definitionscases.pdf

The Three-Day Food Diary Record Analysis

Student’s Name

Professor’s Name

Course

Date

The Three-Day Food Diary Record Analysis

Introduction

A good menu should contain some protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber and also a little bit of fat. The three-day menu comprised of three meals which were taken at the intervals of morning, afternoon and night. The meals were considered as of breakfast, lunch, and dinner respectively. The menu for the three days was a balanced one as it contained all the elements of a balanced diet. Also there some supplements drugs to increase body health and to improve where there was a deficiency. The dietary supplements exist in numerous forms, for instance, the traditional tablets, drinks, powders capsules and energy bars. The most common supplements are vitamins D and E, for the minerals it includes iron plus calcium, and the herbs supplements include garlic and Echinacea. The examples of the specialty products include glucosamine, probiotics and also the fish oils. Moreover, to keep the body fit some physical exercises was introduced in practice and it included; jogging, bicycle riding and playing football.

My menu plan consists of even some snacks to keep the body satisfied all along the day. In some meals, some wine was incorporated to help in the food digestion. My menu is thus divided in three days as each day comprised having some different meal starting from breakfast to dinner. Also, the diet supplement, as well as the kind of physical exercise, carried out was entirely different. The following is the menu and activities done for each day.

Day One

The day one meal plan comprises of about 2250 calories. Among these calories, 55 percent is arising from carbohydrates, 25 percent from the proteins in the menu besides 20 percent fat. Also, it contains 34 grams of fiber. However, for nutritional purposes as well as keeping fit the Day One meal plan should have plenty of water, adequate vegetables containing various types as well as colors and enough legumes. Moreover, for proper hygiene, the food ought to be prepared and stored safely. It is also recommended that for good health, the nutrition should comprise of two serves of fruit as well as about five to six serves of vegetables per day. Therefore in my meal menu plan these should be added, and some protein needs to be reduced a bit. However the day one meal exists as a balanced diet as it balanced all the products required for a complete balanced diet. The type of diet supplement for the first day of the meal plan is L-glutamine which is necessary for the restoration of energy. This is significant for the recovery of the energy which was lost during the day’s activities for example riding the bicycle for two good hours.

Day Two

Day two menu plan consists of consuming a variety of food products, starting from the morning with a heavy breakfast. A good meal for this day is significant because of the busy day ahead at school. Carbohydrates are also in plenty for providing the necessary energy since this day entails playing football in school, an activity that requires much energy. Also, diet supplements are Creatine which is essential for boosting performance and Vitamin C for increasing the immune function of the body.

The Day Two whole menu consists of about 2150 calories. This is an excellent meal as it exists in the recommended range of calories of a healthy balanced diet meal. In the meal, 51 percent of the calories come from the carbohydrates, for example, the whole wheat English muffin, the whole bread and the tomatoes in the menu. The proteins occupy 28 percent of the total calories, while the fats contribute 21 percent. Moreover, the meal contains 30 grams of fiber. Again carbohydrates which are the energy giving food contributes the largest share as it is recommended. The meals for this day looks perfect as they tend to contain vegetables in plenty which is essential. However, the proteins need to be reduced slightly and increase some percentage towards the greens.

Day Three

The third-day record of dietary recall form is a healthy meal which comprises of about 2260 calories. In this meal, 55 percent of all the calories came from the carbohydrates. Proteins contributed 25 percent while the fat contained 20 percent. The meal also included some 50 grams of fiber. This is an excellent meal as it covers all the necessary elements of a balanced diet in some recommended proportions. The day’s meal is rich in fiber compared to the other two previous days which is a recommendable act. The supplements for the day are also there, for example, the Glucosamine which is vital for the general body health. Also, another diet supplement incorporated in the meals is Beta Alanine which is used for boosting endurance. The planned physical activity for the day is performing some jogging both at school and at the home compound. The only crucial thing that seems to be insufficient in the day’s meal is vegetables. Vitamin C minerals, as well as dietary supplements that are rich in vitamins, are of necessity in the day’s meal.

Nutritional Analysis

Good nutritional value is significant for the healthy living of an individual. When good eating habits, for instance, having a balanced diet and taking regular exercises are implemented, the risk of poor health due to poor nutrition is low (Geissler et al., p.32). Therefore, proper nutrition that is typically centered on healthy eating is an indispensable factor that helps individuals to stay healthy and to remain active.

What Causes Poor Nutrition

Poor eating habits are leading contributor to poor nutrition. It includes under or overeating, lack of enough healthy foods on a daily basis, consuming a lot of food which tends to be low in fiber, high or low in salt, sugar plus fats.

The Effects of Poor Nutrition

Poor nutrition can affect the individuals’ well-being as well as their daily health and thus reducing their aptitude to live an enjoyable and active life. It can result to stress, weariness and contribute to some nutritional illnesses and some other health problems for example; obesity, type-2 diabetes, tooth decay, high blood pressure, eating disorders, osteoporosis, high cholesterol among others.

Steps to Good Nutrition

An excellent method of maintaining proper nutrition is by having a lot of different healthy foods from the five groups of food on a daily basis. Aim for five serves of vegetables as well as two serves of fruits daily. Consume fresh water instead of the sugary drinks. Also, it is recommendable only to eat occasionally the fatty, salty and sugary foods and if so, then in small amounts (Thompson et al., p.45). It is also good to plan for the meals and also buy healthy ingredients.

Conclusion

The three-day menu meal which I prepared was an excellent one as it contained all the five group of foods; carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, fats, and vitamins. The calories that these foods produced are in the range of the recommended ones, and therefore it exists as a good plan menu meal. Some diet supplements are also evident from the menu, and they assist a lot in the general functioning of the body. Although the menu meal plan had some problems, it is vital to conclude that it was an excellent one.

Works Cited

Geissler, Catherine, and Hilary J. Powers, eds. Human nutrition. Oxford University Press, 2017.

Thompson, Brian, and Leslie Amoroso, eds. Improving diets and nutrition: food-based approaches. CABI, 2014.

The three fundamental problem-solving steps include understanding the problem

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MGT 312T

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Date

The Problem Solving Cycle

The three fundamental problem-solving steps include understanding the problem, finding strategies, and implementing them. Every single solution is geared towards a guaranteed return. Before engaging in problem-solving, a business like Arrow Furniture needs to identify the worth of putting resources towards finding a solution (Galley). Considering the description of the issue at Arrow Furniture, it is clear that there is an absolute need to put effort to correct the problems that continue to evolve.

Arrow Furniture has some given information which is given in general terms. There is a need to explain the unknown to create a better understanding of the problem in technical terms. Because the threat is imminent but has not yet materialized at least not on a large scale, the leadership at Arrow Furniture needs to understand what is the available information and what are the restrictions to respond to the problem. These restrictions include the timelines, how much resources the business can comfortably commit to dealing with the imminent threat pf competition. This information is what informs the strategies for dealing with these problems.

The strategies will revolve around finding other motivating factors beyond finances because it is clear Arrow Furniture does not have the liberty to increase its costs because of the need to reduce prices in response to the rising competition. One strategy may include offering financial incentives as recognition and reward for exemplary performance. The business may also create a system responsible for a motivated workforce where the strategy revolves around motivating individuals using a range of incentives specific to their needs. It is evident that many workers want job security, which can be used to take the pressure off the issues of financial incentives and support the reduction of labor costs.

The next step is implementing these strategies. Implementation involves performing operations such as doing the required calculations, documenting the records accurately for referencing. Arrow Furniture should also have periodic reasoning checks to ensure that the decision or reasoning is sound. The three problem-solving steps are more of a cycle, and with the evolution of problems, the decision-makers need to go back to understanding implementing more strategies and implementing them until the solution is found and the return is achieved.

Coaching employees

It is the role of managers to get the best out of their subordinates, and a coaching process is the best way to generate positive change. The process of coaching involves giving feedback, giving support and direction as well as asking open-ended questions. The coaching process is easy on paper, but it is such a challenge to implement it alongside all other demanding roles of a manager. But when a manager can effectively apply coaching into their style of management, the performance of employees starts to improve. The most effective coaching process is one that employs a combination of four steps beginning with goal setting, developing an action plan, finding ways to overcome obstacles, and assessing the progress before repeating the cycle all over (Ngunyen).

Setting goals involves identifying the need or desire, which entails what level of positive performance a manager expects from their employees. This then informs the action and steps to be taken or defining how one sees yourself achieving the desired result. The implementation of the action plan will, of course, be faced with unforeseen obstacles, and it is important to identify these obstacles. This step also involves defining the resources or support required to facilitate the implementation of the action plan. The last step is assessing the progress of the coaching cycle, which entails defining when to check these goals and evaluating the entire process to see what it took to accomplish it.

As mentioned, coaching overcomes costly performance problems as well as strengthen the skills of employees (McCarthy). The manager is able to delegate more roles to employees and allow the manager to focus on managerial responsibilities such as planning. Coaching is about enabling the workers to work smarter, which translates to better productivity. Coaching is also about mentorship, which means talent to replace a manager as they advance to a more advanced role is made available. Working closely with an employee and working to improve the skills of the employees is a motivating factor that helps improve retention. Coaching is also cost-effective as compared to formal training.

Works Cited

Galley, Mark. “Problem Solving – 3 Basic Steps.” Simple Effective Root Cause Analysis Techniques | The Root Blog, 27 Nov. 2017, blog.thinkreliability.com/problem-solving-three-basic-steps. Accessed 20 Jan. 2020.

McCarthy, Grace, and Julia Milner. “Managerial coaching: challenges, opportunities and training.” Journal of Management Development 32.7 (2013): 768-779.

Ngunyen, S. “The Benefits of Coaching Employees.” Workplace Psychology, 15 Aug. 2017, workplacepsychology.net/2010/08/28/the-benefits-of-coaching-employees/. Accessed 20 Jan. 2020.