A Friend Has Complained to You About Being Sick for Much

question 6

Essay

A friend has complained to you about being sick for much of the last month. He tells you that his allergies are unusually bad this semester and he has caught cold after cold. The week before finals, he found out his parents were getting a divorce, and the same week his girlfriend told him she was in love with his best friend. The dorm was so noisy he was unable to study for exams-if he had even been able to stay awake. He has tried drowning his troubles by drinking, but drinking only made him feel worse. What can you tell your friend about his stress level and how stress can affect his body? Include in your discussion the fight-or-flight response and the general adaptation syndrome. Suggest at least three ways your friend can begin to handle the stress in his life.

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Definitions:

DSM-5

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a comprehensive classification of mental disorders used by healthcare professionals.

Dysthymic Disorder

Dysthymic Disorder, now known as Persistent Depressive Disorder, is a long-term form of depression marked by persistent low mood and other depressive symptoms.

Hopelessness

Sense that the future is bleak and there is no way to make it more positive.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

A form of depression that lasts for at least two years, characterized by a persistent depressed mood and other symptoms.