Psychological Issues Impacting on Health Needs

Psychological issues impacting on health needs
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Psychological issues impacting on health needs
Relationship between psychological health and physical wellbeing
As mentalhealth.org.uk (2015) states, the distinction often used to differentiate mind and body does not exist. This is observed while considering both mental and physical health. Deprived physical state can negatively affect the well-being of the mind. Similarly, poor psychological state will often impact negatively on the physical condition of the body, increasing its vulnerability to certain conditions. Jim, 73, was identified to have vascular dementia twelve months ago, which has negatively affected his physical health. When the symptoms got serious he stopped going for social excursions in the fear that he would lose his way. He also stopped cooking nutritious food for himself and taking pills for his chronic bronchitis a clear indication of how his psychological condition is affecting him. This as Mentalhealth.org.uk (2015), points out, is to be expected since dementia causes a decline in psychological abilities and in turn affects physical health. In the case of Jim he stopped taking drugs for chronic bronchitis which might adversely affect his physical health. The fact that Jim can no longer be able to make out direction to and from the brawling club nor be able to independently take his drugs shows the impacts of his psychological condition on his independence. He also stopped cooking good food for himself and this might bring serious consequences to his body and worsen his condition. This is also a good indication that he is no longer motivated to live a healthy life. Through all this, Jim did not share his condition with his buddies at the bowling club or explain to them why he seemed so confused and forgetful. He instead chose to suffer in silence and to the confines of his house alone without the knowledge of his children who lived in different regions of the nation a clear sign of stigmatization. Such tendencies, observes Boardman (2010), are common with patients of mental illness since they are scared of voicing their problems since society discriminates against mental patients. Society locks up mental patients and does not care about their need for autonomy or social inclusion.
How health care professionals can support patients with vascular dementia
Mentalhealth.org.uk (2015) points out that once a patient has been diagnosed with dementia the first course of action by the health care professionals should be to assist the person to stabilize the symptoms. In Jim’s case, health care professionals can assist him in taking him to a mental care facility. This will first ensure that Jim is well taken care of. Whichever way the professional decides to go, it will be important to encourage the autonomy of the patient by making the final choice with the patient’s choice in mind (Boardman, 2010). Next the professional can help him to make necessary lifestyle changes, chief among them is exercise. Physical action in whichever form is a good way to maintain one’s physical health and psychological state as well. Research has shown that performing exercise stimulates the relea...