Acute Stress

Acute Stress

If you are familiar with stress, you would know that there is a distinct difference between regular stress and acute stress. On the one hand regular stress is a part of daily life in the hectic times we live in opposed to acute stress which is another ball game all together!

Normal stress is known for causing a weakening of the immune system, memory lapses, lack of concentrate and coronary disease - acute stress is something totally different, seeing that it can cause a complete mental and physical breakdown.

Extreme circumstances, like death in the family, serious injury, or some form of physical violation, such as rape are the main causes of acute stress. Often, the person suffering from acute stress usually feels some sort of disgust or horror at the sight of the event, or from the experience of the event.

Having gone this far, 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 adapt to every day life after the event.

Acute stress (also called psychological trauma), is not unlike physical trauma, because the person is in such a form of mental distress that the brain is almost incapable of coping with the stress and completely "shuts down". The person who suffers from acute stress usually experiences a sense of numbness and are unable to connect to the world outside.

Acute stress is known for creating a sort of loop in the person's mind. This means that they continually replay the event over and over again. Because of the impact that the specific event(s) had in their lives, it is all they think about and become incapable of moving forward.

The symptoms of acute stress, such as detachment, anxiety or a general desire to avoid anything that may remind the person of the event causing the distress, will reveal the fact that the acute stress has transformed into post-traumatic stress disorder. By now, the person should have consulted someone to prevent the situation from going out of control.

Psychotherapy is the first thing that comes up when one finds yourself in this situation. These sessions with a psychiatrist or psychologist are familiar to most people and will help to treat acute stress. Although many people shy away from psychotherapy, because of the stigma attached to it, it is very successful.

Another method of therapy for acute stress is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which  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 change its thoughts regarding memories. The behavioral portion helps the person by exposing them to things that will force them to confront their fears or problems. The behavioral method is already well known as a treatment for phobias and the cognitive treatment is familiar from psychotherapy.

Medication is the other obvious method for treating the condition. The prescription depends on the symptoms, a doctor might prescribe an antidepressant, an anti-anxiety drug, or whichever is suitable to your situation. It is advised to be extremely careful with mood-altering medications, since they do tend to alter the way you think. It is important to monitor yourself when taking these drugs and report any mood changes.

Be informed that acute stress is firstly treatable and secondly manageable. And it should be treated, as it can lead to depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even a complete mental breakdown. Don't think you are tough and that you can handle the situation yourself. Anyone who has suffered from some traumatic experience that doesn't seem to want to go away should seek treatment as soon as possible. Although you  can't change your past, you can surely do something to cope with the future.

Stress Management Is A Learned Technique!
Here I will begin with something that happened many many years ago....

How to Recognize Stress Before it Turns Into Anger
After a stressful day as a computer programmer, Jim pulled into...

How To Choose A Stress Test
Copyright 2005 Trevor Dumbleton Many people in this world need to...

Coping With Stress In The Workplace
Stress at most jobs is unavoidable. It could be caused by a...