Psych Stories, Episode 1: Sarah's Challenges

Introduction

• Sarah, a freshman at MTSU, living on campus.
• Experiencing difficulties in her first semester.

Health Issues

• Suffers from severe headaches 3-4 times a week.
• Hard time concentrating and completing schoolwork.
• Concerned about potentially failing classes.
• Fear that headaches might indicate a serious condition, like a brain tumor.

Relationship Challenges

• Long-term relationship with her boyfriend.
• Boyfriend diagnosed with depression for about a year.
• Antidepressants prescribed, but not effective.
• Difficulty managing the relationship due to boyfriend's condition.

Advice and Solutions

• For Relationship:

  • Antidepressants typically increase serotonin and norepinephrine, which should help.
  • Encouraged to talk to boyfriend's doctor to find suitable medication.

• For Headaches:

  • Suggests that Sarah likely doesn't have a brain tumor.
  • Offered to order an fMRI for peace of mind.
  • Recommended keeping a headache diary including:
    • Time of day headaches occur.
    • Dietary intake, noting caffeine and sugar.
    • Sleep patterns.
  • Plan to review diary in a few weeks to identify potential triggers.

Next Steps

• Sarah agrees to maintain a headache diary.
• Follow-up meeting planned to analyze headache patterns and discuss further actions.

Conclusion

• Comprehensive approach to tackle both personal and academic challenges faced by Sarah in her freshman year.