Recognizing Acute Stress
by Trevor Dumbleton
zone3
For those who are familiar with stress, there is a distinct
difference between regular stress and acute stress. While regular stress
is a part of daily life in the hectic world of today, acute stress is an
altogether different animal.
While stress is certainly a problem, considering that it can cause a
weakening of the immune system, problems with memory, an inability to
concentrate, and coronary disease, acute stress is something else. In
fact, acute stress can actually cause a complete mental and physical
breakdown.
Acute stress is caused by the most severe circumstances. It is often
the result of threatened or actual death, serious injury, or some form of
physical violation, such as rape. The person suffering from acute stress
usually feels some sort of revulsion or horror at the sight of the event,
or from the experience of the event. Then, after acute stress, the person
is at serious risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder.
Furthermore, the experience of acute stress can have lasting, even
permanent effects upon the person who suffered the acute stress and they
may not be able to fully adjust to life after the event.
Acute stress is, at its core, a form of psychological trauma, not
unlike physical trauma. The person is in such a form of mental distress
that the brain is almost incapable of coping with the stress and shuts
down. The person who suffers from acute stress feels a sense of numbness
and they are unable to connect to the world outside. They cannot adjust to
the reality that surrounds them and they are, in many ways, stuck in the
moment when they suffered the acute stress.
The problem with acute stress is that it creates a sort of loop tape in
the person's mind, in which they continually replay the event over and
over again without being able to stop it. The event is so completely
consuming and yet so terrible that the person who lived through it
continues to think about it until they are almost incapable of moving
beyond it.
Unfortunately, the results of acute stress are not merely limited to
inward issues. If left unchecked, acute stress can result in anxiety,
inability to concentrate, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even nervous
breakdown. Thus, acute stress is no minor issue. In fact, it must be dealt
with quickly in order to prevent serious repercussions upon the mind.
If the symptoms of acute stress, such as detachment, anxiety, or a
general desire to avoid anything that may remind the person of the event
that caused the acute stress, it is generally considered that the acute
stress has transitioned into post-traumatic stress disorder. Thus, anyone
who has suffered acute stress should seek some sort of treatment so that
this does not happen.
The first form of treatment that comes to most peoples' minds is
psychotherapy. The sessions with a psychiatrist or psychologist are at
least familiar to people and they are very useful for treating acute
stress. However, many people shy away from psychotherapy simply because of
the stigma attached to it.
Another method of therapy for acute stress is cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT). CBT is designed to help people deal with their problems or
fears through a combination of treatments all working toward the same
goal. The cognitive portion of CBT treats the mind and helps it think
differently about its memories. Then, the behavioral portion helps the
person by exposing them to things that will force them to confront their
fears or their problems. The behavioral method is already well known as a
treatment for phobias and the cognitive treatment is familiar from
psychotherapy. However, by combining these methods into one holistic
treatment, CBT can bring about some very good results.
Another method for combating acute stress and its aftermath is through
medication. Depending on the symptoms, a doctor might prescribe an
antidepressant, an anti-anxiety drug, or perhaps some other form of
medication. However, people must be very careful with these mood-altering
medications, since they do tend to alter the way they think. Thus, people
taking medications like these must monitor themselves and see how they
react to their effects.
Overall, acute stress is manageable and it is treatable. And it should
be treated, as it can lead to depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress
disorder, and even a complete mental breakdown.
Though people may think that they are handling it fine, acute stress is
a form of mental trauma that is essentially comparable to physical trauma;
the more severe the trauma, the more severe the results on the person.
Thus, anyone who has suffered from some traumatic experience that doesn't
seem to want to go away should seek treatment as soon as possible. Though
people can't change what happened to them, they can do something to
prevent the memories of it from taking over their lives.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LowerYourStress.com: for everything to do with stress. Get a free
ebook to help with your stress levels.
Depression Related Articles:
 Why Some Women are Desperate
Recognizing Acute Stress
Depression: A Treatable Illness
8 Things You Can Do For Someone Suffering from Depression
Anxiety and Depression Treatment - 5 Tips for Beating Depression
Midlife: Single & Depressed? Try Dancing
How to Cope With Stress and Anxiety
Omega 3 EPA: Nature’s Very Own Anti-Depressant
Stop Your Destructive Inner Voice
The Scoop on Stress
|
Go to Page: 