Understanding what are our altered states of consciousness?
You may ask what altered states of consciousness are. You may wonder what happens in comas or vegetative patients. We have many questions about these scenarios.
Do we work on them? Does this operate under what conditions and what do we look for? Be aware that powerlessness and uncertainty can make these circumstances difficult.
Comas can occur for several reasons. It can be caused by vehicle accidents, strokes, brain haemorrhages, or tumour lesions.
Coma is a state of reduced consciousness and loss of reaction to external stimulation. This suggests the patient cannot respond to these stimulations.
We no longer feel the ache that makes us remove our hand from the source. No longer smell burning, and we can't hear or respond to loved ones' words.
These are examples to consider. Normal responses to external stimuli are absent. The Glasgow Scale measures altered states of consciousness in different degrees.
This scale measures verbal, motor, and eye-opening pain and call responses. Simple tests are performed on the patient to determine his response to external stimuli. The scale measures the individual's response.
After these exercises, we calculate the patient's affection index. They receive the lowest rating if they do not respond to stimuli. They don't lose consciousness if they answer all of them.
The assessor will have a neurological mental map of his/her patient's circumstance and can intervene accordingly. You must keep it if they pay little attention. We must create all attention-grabbing scenarios.
Five senses. Some used more. See, touch, smell, hear, taste. Blind folks who use their other senses more finely are well known. They masterfully developed the other senses to compensate for what they lack.
In altered states of consciousness, it's important to evaluate and use preserved senses. External input activates our brain's sensory centres. Thus, we must activate these sectors.
To activate these areas, we must stimulate the patient's preserved sensations. We'll also achieve something crucial: the patient will react more easily if we apply familiar, emotional stimulations.
The reaction can be practically imperceptible, thus the professional working with this patient must be patient and alert to body changes like stimulation reactions. A tiny index finger movement till the pupils changed. Everything matters. Every body alteration tells us something.
After confirming that this sense elicits a response, the professional will insist. We want the patient to always respond to this stimuli, not get used to it. Habit would reduce reaction intensity, thus we want it to increase, which indicates brain engagement.
We find working with these people tough because daily changes are small. Long-term, stimulation is enjoyable because our brain's flexibility allows us to gain a lot. We want to send all the courage in the world to coma patients and their loved ones because if they keep insisting, results will arrive.