Question

Read each Scenario. State the primary Psychological Disorder described in each scenario. Identify and discuss the main points that led you to the diagnosis?

SCENRIO #3

I was shopping at the supermarket when all of a sudden I was overcome by this feeling of doom. My heart was racing a mile a minute, I was sweating, I was having hard time breathing and my whole body felt flush and hot, like it was on fire.

I was terrified; I didn’t know what was happening to me. I didn’t know if I could get home. Should I scream for help or will they think I am crazy? I talked to myself as I walked to my car. It seemed like everything was moving in slow motion.  

I finally got home and tried to figure out what just happened. I was exhausted but I felt safe in my own home. I figured it must have been an isolated incident and I would be fine.

However, over the next month I experienced multiple incidences with similar symptoms…heart racing, scared I was going to die, loss of control, hard to breathe, etc. Every time I had to leave the house to run errands I would worry about having another incident.

It got to the point that I became afraid to leave my house for fear that another attack would occur. If I did go out I had to be near the exits, in aisle seats at movie theaters, near bathrooms just in case I had another spell and had to rush home. The fear was taking over my life.

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER:

EVIDENCE:

Answer 1

Psychological disorder - Panic disorder

Panic disorder is type of anxiety disorder in which individuals suddenly experience intense fear or anxiety even when there is no real danger. It is accompanied by physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, chest pain, nausea, headache, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath. The individual who experiences these panic attacks may avoid places that triggered these attacks. They also live in constant fear of having another panic attack.

Evidence -

Feeling of doom

Heart racing a mile a minute

Sweating

Hard time breathing

Feeling flushed and hot

Dizziness/Faintness (everything was moving in slow motion)

Feeling exhausted after experiencing an attack

Multiple incidents of panic attacks (recurrent panic attacks results in panic disorder)

Fear of places that trigger these attacks.

Developed agoraphobia (fear of leaving one's own house or fear of places that cause panic attacks)

Quality of life was being affected