Managing Performance Anxiety

Unfortunately, musicians do not always enthusiastically welcome all opportunities to perform for an audience of people. Instead of sensing excitement to share their music with an audience, musicians sometimes feel apprehensive and anxious. This anxiety, commonly called “stage fright,” can be a serious and debilitating problem. Unfortunately, the problem can start in youth and continue into the performance lives of adult musicians. The fact that even successful musicians struggle with performance anxiety shows that it is fundamentally unwarranted; it does not stem from being untalented or ill-equipped to perform. From a psychological perspective, a proper treatment strategy cannot be prescribed without first diagnosing the source of anxiety. This chapter looks beyond the physiological symptoms to define performance anxiety by its causes and the conditions that produce it. The three broad sources of performance anxiety, the person, the situation, and the task, are explained in detail, with treatment suggestions made for each.

Su Jok therapy by twist and seed method of therapy to reduce the level of fear on COVID-19’s patient: a case series

Patients with COVID-19 not only experience suffering from physiological symptoms but also psychological dimensions such as fear. Fear is part of life and the threat of self-existence will increase the fear level. Increased levels of fear will influence the process of healing by disturbing the immunity function. This case series reports the results of Su Jok therapy using the twist and seed method of therapy in reducing the level of fear of patients with COVID-19. Twenty cases of respondents with the average level of fear toward COVID-19 of ≥4 were included in this case reports. Fear level was measured by using the fear scale measurement (FSM). Su Jok therapy was conducted by twisting (120 times) and putting fenugreek seed on the joint of the patients’ index finger in Triorigin fixed joint correspondent of fear. Posttest of fear scale was measured after intervention in the intervals 5, 10 and 15 minutes. In all three interval measurements, there were significant improvements in the fear scale before and after Su Jok therapy (p=0.0001, p<0.05).

Reviewing Racial Microaggressions Research: Documenting Targets’ Experiences, Harmful Sequelae, and Resistance Strategies

In this article, we review the theoretical and empirical literature on racial microaggressions from 2007 to 2020 ( N = 138 articles). First, we refine racial microaggressions theory and update the definition to address mischaracterizations in the literature and clarify the term (i.e., “micro” refers to microlevel interactions rather than degree of harm). Next, we used four superordinate categories (i.e., pathologizing differences, denigrating and pigeonholing, excluding or rendering invisible, and perpetuating color-blind racial attitudes) in which to situate racial microaggression themes from the extant literature. Moreover, we consolidated and renamed existing themes to privilege targets’ perspectives (e.g., facing assumptions of inferior status and enduring exoticization). We then synthesized qualitative and quantitative research that shows harmful sequelae of racial microaggressions (i.e., psychological and physiological symptoms). Extending prior research on coping with gendered racial microaggressions, we describe empirical findings on collective, resistance, and self-protective strategies to mitigate the harmful impact of racial microaggressions. We conclude with directions for future research.

Prevelance of symptoms during menstruation and its management among adolescent girls

Background: Menstruation is a natural phenomena of the female reproductive cycle in which discharge of blood from the uterus exits through the vagina every month, it is the spontaneous onset of puberty. 75% of girls confront some problems associated with menstruation including delayed, irregular, painful and heavy menstrual bleeding. Menstruation can be accompanied with premenstrual and postmenstrual symptoms which include both physiological symptoms and psychological symptoms. It is important to treat both physiological and psychological symptoms with pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment approaches.Methods: The study was a prospective observational study done with a sample size of 650 subjects of 9 to 18 age group in whom menstruation already occurred were recruited from five different schools in regions of Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha. The study was conducted in 3 phases, where initially a predesigned well-structured questionnaire was provided to assess the attitude, awareness and practices.Results: Subjects experienced some or other type of symptoms and had better knowledge regarding menstrual symptoms and its importance of management when compared to subjects from other regions of India which was imparted from a developed and supporting society but still, they lacked some adequate and updated information on symptoms and management of symptoms during menstruation.Conclusions: So, this study laid the groundwork for discussion on menstrual symptoms, various approaches of treatment to the adolescent girls, providing them the information they lacked and better guidance.

A Comparative Study of Premenstrual Syndrome among Married and Unmarried Women

Premenstrual syndrome is characterized by a wide range of psychological, physical, and physiological symptoms. The study's goal was to evaluate and contrast premenstrual symptoms in married and unmarried women. The sample size was 300 women, including 150 unmarried and 150 married women selected by age group at SreeBalaji Medical College and Hospital's Obstetrics and Gynecology Out Patient Department. Data was collected from unmarried and married women using a premenstrual symptoms checklist. At the 0.05 level of significance, the value was confirmed to be statistically significant. There was a considerable difference in premenstrual symptoms between unmarried and married women, it can be deduced.

Stress-related emotional and behavioural impact following the first COVID-19 outbreak peak

The COVID-19 pandemic poses multiple psychologically stressful challenges and is associated with an increased risk for mental illness. Previous studies have focused on the psychopathological symptoms associated with the outbreak peak. Here, we examined the behavioural and mental-health impact of the pandemic in Israel using an online survey, during the six weeks encompassing the end of the first outbreak and the beginning of the second. We used clinically validated instruments to assess anxiety- and depression-related emotional distress, symptoms, and coping strategies, as well as questions designed to specifically assess COVID-19-related concerns. Higher emotional burden was associated with being female, younger, unemployed, living in high socioeconomic status localities, having prior medical conditions, encountering more people, and experiencing physiological symptoms. Our findings highlight the environmental context and its importance in understanding individual ability to cope with the long-term stressful challenges of the pandemic.

Morphological and Anatomical Analysis of Vegetative Organs of Avena pilosa (Roem. & Schult.) Bieb.

The article provides information about the structural features of the fodder plant — Avena pilosa (Roem. & Schult.) Bieb., which is widespread on winter pastures in Azerbaijan. As a result of the morphological-anatomical analysis, important structural elements were identified, as well as the morphophysiology and adaptation of this species. As a result of adaptation to drought conditions, this plant showed signs of strong xerophilization. Xerophytes — plants for which the aridity of the norm. Common symptoms of xerophytes — a small evaporating surface, and other structural and physiological symptoms are very diverse. Reduction of leaf area is the main morphological feature of xerophytes

Horse Preferences for Insolation, Shade or Mist Curtain in the Paddock under Heat Conditions: Cardiac and Behavioural Response Analysis

The horse’s welfare and, consequently, the emotional arousal may be connected with stressful environmental conditions. This study aimed to determine whether horses show behavioural or physiological symptoms of thermal discomfort and if their behaviour and cardiac parameters are related to freely chosen insolated (IS), shaded (SH), or water sprayed (with a mist curtain (MC)) areas in a paddock under heat conditions (29–32 °C, 42.0 ± 1.5% humidity). Twelve adult horses freely moving in the paddock were studied during a 45 min solitary turnout. Six cardiac variables, locomotor, and non-locomotor activities as well as rectal temperature before and after the test were monitored with regard to the area of staying. Horses did not show clear preferences regarding the time spent in IS, SH, and MC, although preferences of particular horses differed considerably. When staying under IS and MC conditions, the horses showed a higher level of relaxation compared to SH. Horses did not exhibit symptoms of thermal discomfort while staying in the sun. Free choice between the three areas differing in environmental conditions could be a crucial factor in maintaining body temperature as well as emotional arousal at similar levels. Thus, the provision of a shade and mist curtain in paddocks seems to be reasonable.

Challenges in management of gastrointestinal cancers in pregnancies: A report of three cases

Gastrointestinal cancer occurs in approximately 1 in 13,000 pregnancies, making up 4% of malignancies detected in pregnancy. It is a complex and challenging condition to diagnose and manage and is often only detected in its more advanced stages. This is partly due to symptoms of gastrointestinal cancer being incorrectly attributed to physiological symptoms of pregnancy, as well as concerns about the safety of diagnostic investigations in pregnancy, both of which may delay diagnosis and lead to disease progression. Challenges in management also arise from under-treatment in pregnancy due to concerns about the impact of surgery or chemotherapy on the pregnancy. We present here three cases of gastrointestinal cancer diagnosed in pregnancy in our centre and discuss the challenges and pitfalls one may encounter in the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal malignancies in pregnancy.

Assessment of prevalence of Anxiety in adult population and development of anxiety scale: A study of 819 patients with anxiety disorder

Objective: To develop an indigenous anxiety scale for adults and to assess the prevalence of anxiety among the adults. Methods: Descriptive explanatory research design was carried out from 1st January 2018 to 31st May 2019 at the Department of Psychology, University of Gujrat. The indigenous anxiety scale for adults was used for data collection. Scale consisted on three sub scales which are used to assess the cognitive symptoms, behavior and physiological symptoms through CFA value and alpha reliability. Sample of adequacy is .965, Confirmatory Factor Analysis value .914, alpha reliability .974 were taken as standard. In cognitive symptoms subscale’s alpha was 0.958, Behavior subscale .943 and Physiological symptoms subscale alpha was α .912. Results: The prevalence of anxiety in 20-29 years individuals exhibited 17.5% (male 38.8%; female 62.2) symptoms of anxiety. 30-39 Years people showed 12.9% (male=56.9%; female=43.1%), 40-49 years individuals showed 16.5% of anxiety and in late adulthood 50-60 years old people showed highest level of anxiety 22.10% (male=68.3%; female=31.7). Conclusion: The anxiety scale for adults is a reliable indigenous scale for measuring anxiety in adults. Further, the prevalence rate of anxiety in adult population is alarming indication and middle and late adulthood suffered more anxiety as compare to early adulthood. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.2158 How to cite this:Bano Z, Ejaz M, Ahmad I. Assessment of prevalence of Anxiety in adult population and development of anxiety scale: A study of 819 patients with anxiety disorder. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(2):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.2158 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.