Psychological Disorder Analysis

Introduction

Maria came in to the office today seeking help for some problems that have become more than she can handle. Maria states that she is 42 years old and is having trouble sleeping, that she is restless and jumpy, and that she is having a hard time concentrating which is causing her difficulties with her job as an accountant. It is difficult to make a diagnosis with this little bit of information so I will need to ask her some basic follow up questions.

Interview

I need to establish what exactly brought Maria here today and discover what may have lead to her symptoms. My first question would be to have Maria express the feelings and concerns she has that brought her to the place where she felt she needed medical help.

Getting information about her personal life and inquiring as to whether anyone else has contributed to her current symptoms will also be beneficial in establishing a cause. Understanding her current role in her friendships and family dynamics could potentially help to discover if Maria is overwhelmed. It would be helpful to see if Maria has had the symptoms at any other point in her life and the ultimate goal is to discover what may be causing Maria's symptoms so that we can set up a good treatment plan for her. I went on to ask Maria the following questions.

1. What feelings or emotions have led you to seek out therapy?

Maria has stated that she has come to therapy because she is unable to handle the above-mentioned symptoms for another moment. She is worried that this is going to start having serious repercussions on her life if she does not get help.

2. Are there any other individuals that have contributed to these feelings?

Maria is not able to directly associate any particular individual to her feelings. However, she has come to the conclusion that when she is at work and her employer needs something done her minds begins to race and she has trouble deciding where to start.

3. What do you feel is the worse thing that can happen by exploring these feelings?

The client is worried that by coming to the office today she will receive a diagnosis that will require her to open up to her employer and family about her current situation. She is concerned that she will be ridiculed or even let go from her current employment.

4. How would you describe your current family and friend relationships?

Maria has shared that she has a couple of close friends and she is married with a child. She also has a sibling that seems to have some of the same issues but that he self medicates with alcohol. Her parents are both caring and supportive.

5. Are there any types of memories from previous experiences that may have led to your current feelings?

Maria says that she feels as though she has always been different. While in school her teachers would send notes home alerting her parents to the fact that she was fidgeting during the lesson and that her homework was usually a mess. As she got older and moved out on her own Maria recalls that she had a hard time getting to class on time and that she always procrastinated when she had important stuff to do. Her husband tells her quite often to quit shaking her leg while she is sitting or "relaxing".

6. If you could change anything about yourself would you and what would that be? Why?

The main thing Maria would like to change about herself is her organizational skills. She goes on to explain that due to her disorganized life she is anxious because she is never prepared. When she goes to bed at night she lays there thinking about everything that she needs to do but then never follows through because everything is a mess.

7. What types of therapy have you tried before and were they helpful? Have you tried other forms of help, such as medication, meditation or have you self medicated with drugs and alcohol?

Maria explained earlier that her brother has used alcohol to help him but that even though she has succumbed to the temptation a couple of times it is not ongoing. Her parents had taken her to her normal pediatrician when she was younger but he just said she was being a kid and that she just needed to be more mature.

8. What are the positive things in your life?

Maria enjoys her job even though it is a struggle. Her personal life is what helps her thrive. She is successful with her work but says having a loving husband and child is what makes it worth it.

9. How do you respond to critical evaluations about yourself?

While growing up Maria shared that the other kids always picked on her because she was impatient and would not play right. This led her to feel unworthy and even to this day she has a hard time handling critical remarks. If she is told that she would be more productive by clearing of her desk she takes it has a personal attack and spends the rest of the day fuming.

10. What do you hope to achieve during our sessions?

Maria wants to work on her understanding why she is so restless and unfocused. She wants to be able to get her work done well so she does not have to worry all the time.

Diagnosis

After spending some time with Maria and going over