Guide To Treating Acute Stress Disorder

Individuals who have experienced a traumatic event may be at risk for developing an acute stress disorder. This condition typically affects individuals who have witnessed an event or been part of a traumatic event. Essentially, any event that inspires severe emotions of fear, helplessness, and horror can lead to developing an acute stress disorder.

The symptoms are usually disassociative in nature. Individuals may feel numb or detached. They may even be unable to remember the event itself. Or, similar to post-traumatic stress disorder, individuals may revisit the event psychologically. There are a few ways to treat acute stress disorder. Learn about them now.

Individual Psychiatric Evaluation

Before a proper treatment can be administered, it is critical for patients to first be evaluated by a psychiatrist. They will determine the severity of the patient's acute stress disorder. This individual psychiatric evaluation has a few different factors to it and makes up just one part of many other mental tests patients may be given. Initially, the psychiatrist will examine the patient's appearance, as this can help determine the overall state of their physical health this way. Eye contact is another avenue they'll test patients in. Patients will also be tested for orientation, meaning if patients can tell who they are, where they are, and what time it is. This can be difficult for individuals who keep reliving the traumatic event. The same goes for memory, which will also be tested to determine more information regarding acute stress disorder.

Reveal more tips on how to treat acute stress disorder now.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Sessions

One of the treatment options psychiatrists and doctors might suggest is cognitive behavioral therapy. This is a bridging of two different therapy treatments: cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. Cognitive therapy revolves around mood and the thoughts patients have while behavioral therapy focuses on actions and behaviors. With cognitive behavioral therapy, the psychiatrist will work with patients to find a more balanced and constructive way of dealing with stressors. By doing so, it can limit the negative response patients have to those stressors. In a structured setting, the therapist will go over certain situations or triggers that lead patients to experience acute stress disorder symptoms. Through careful and consistent re-training, patients can slowly begin to develop new patterns of thoughts and behavior towards those stressors and triggers that result in a constructive reaction rather than one linked to acute stress disorder. It is common for therapists to ask patients to keep a journal. This can be used to identify triggers more easily.

Discover additional acute stress disorder treatments now.