Case Study

Case Study

Case Study
Michelle Jones
Missouri State University
 
Case Study # 1:
I. What are the causes of stress in Jennifer’s life?
                  The causes of Jennifer’s stress is due to the long commute time to and from work, Jennifer’s miscarriage eight months earlier, Jennifer’s In-law’s pressure to have a baby, Jennifer’s mother passing away two years earlier and her father’s health rapidly deteriorating; coupled with the choice of placing her father in a skilled nursing care facility within the next few months, against his wishes.  
                    For Jennifer, stress at work is not alleviated.   She runs a tight ship and everyone counts on Jennifer’s ability to prepare lists to assure that everything is done according to schedule.   Jennifer takes pride in never letting her co-workers down.   Yet, Jennifer finds herself making frequent mistakes at work, unable to keep up with housework, and feels tired and overwhelmed.   She has begun to question her effectiveness as an employee, wife, daughter, and potential mother.  
II. How is stress affecting Jennifer’s health?
                  Jennifer’s immune system is weakened by stress due to the increase of a hormone called cortisol.   Immune system is what keeps a person healthy form all kinds of diseases, from relatively benign ones like the common cold to more serious ones like bronchitis.   What few people know is that stress, and more importantly chronic stress, weakens the ability to fight of illnesses.   The physiological effects of stress on the body include chest pain, insomnia or sleep disturbances, constant headaches, hypertension, and ulcers.   Furthermore, stress may be responsible for certain heart ailments.   The hormones produced during a state of stress increase blood pressure and heart rate.   This increase will put too much pressure on the arteries.   This could cause them to thicken, and eventually led to heart disease.
III. How are these stressors impacting Jennifer’s...