What is Acute Stress Disorder

Introduction

An acute stress disorder response usually occurs when certain stressful events occur. Acute usually indicates that the symptoms are quick and do not last long. Stress and anxiety are symptoms when exposed to events.

It is believed that acute stress disorder occurs after unexpected crises such as traumatic events, serious accidents, domestic violence, sexual assault, or sudden bereavement. Severe stress reactions are commonly seen in people who have experienced major disasters or terrorist incidents.

What is Acute Stress Disorder

Symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder

Within minutes of responding to a stressful situation, the symptoms of the condition develop very quickly. Some symptoms are:

While stress is prevalent in most people, acute stress disorder (ASD) is a condition that has the following characteristics.

It is the death of a dear person after a severe incident or trauma, major accident, serious injury or incident, danger to oneself, etc.

Either it is directly affected by the trauma or by someone who has witnessed the incident closely.

The person goes through severe stress within a month of the incident and can live anywhere from one day to more than a month.

Seen in people who have had trauma and may eventually cause full-blown post-traumatic stress disorder.

Anxiety, mood changes, emotional trauma (fluctuations), poor concentration and sleep, irritability and a desire to be alone.

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Unpleasant recurring dreams.

Avoid situations and people that can cause anxiety and stress.

Emotionally sluggish

Stress hormones like epinephrine usually cause Nausea, nervousness, headaches, abdominal pain, difficulty in breathing and chest pain.

Feeling emotionally isolated, lethargic, or unaffected.

There is not much information about the real surroundings. It can also be frightening.

Feeling disconnected with people around, emotionally and physically.

There may be episodes of disruptive amnesia, where they are not able to recall the trauma.

They avoid stimuli that can induce a memory of the event, including talking about related people, places, objects, ideas, or activities.

They can be recurring images of events, including confusion, flashbacks,, and recurring thoughts.

Management of Acute Stress Disorder

Treatment is usually not required as symptoms go away when stressful episodes are over. It is helpful to talk to family and friends or understand the symptoms. Some people may experience extended symptoms. The following can be done:

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT):?

This is a treatment where a person can talk to an experienced therapist to understand the patterns and triggers that make up the problem.

The purpose of the therapist is to help a person change his way of thinking and avoid thoughts and become more realistic and calm. Generally, when CBT is used for severe stress disorder patients, it is known as trauma-focused CBT.

Counseling:?

This is usually done when symptoms are more severe or persistent. This is helpful because it helps to find out how to deal with stress and its symptoms. Psychiatrists help people with counseling, and many online resources can be helpful.

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Management:

The first step is to diagnose to confirm that there is indeed ASD.

This occurs through detailed discussion with the patient and may take some meetings.

Cases of drug abuse and other psychological problems should be ruled out.

People with suicidal tendencies need to be hospitalized to avoid injury to self or others.

Education about the situation and empathy is critical to help them deal with the situation.

Hypnosis therapy can be used to elicit feelings, fears, and thoughts, which can help one to come to a conclusion and also manage the situation.

If necessary, they may need to assist in terms of housing as living alone can be harmful. There are good chances of hurting yourself and others.

Staying with close friends or family not only helps avoid injury but also provides moral support for the person, which can aid recovery.

Medications such as anti-anxiety and selective-serotonin re-uptake inhibitors used in the treatment of depression. It depends on whether the person presents with anxiety or depression.

Cognitive therapy can help in rapid recovery and prevent acute stress disorder from completely turning into post-traumatic stress disorder.

If a significant traumatic event has occurred, prevention can be achieved by seeking professional help. This will improve coping mechanisms and reduce the effects of stress. If you have any concerns or questions, you can always consult a specialist.

Presence of Acute Stress Disorder

The following are the number of cases of acute stress disorder seen worldwide every year:

• Generally 1 to 10,00,000 cases.
• General age group.
• An acute stress response can occur at any age.
• Normal gender.
• An acute stress disorder can occur in any gender.
• Laboratory tests and procedures for the diagnosis of acute stress response.

Time for Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder

Below is the specific time period for properly treating acute stress disorder under expert supervision, while the time period of treatment for each patient may vary:

Six months – 1 year

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The Following Laboratory Tests And Procedures Are Used To Detect Acute Stress Disorder:

Physical examination:?

To detect medical problems

Psychological assessment:?

To diagnose acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Doctor for diagnosis of acute stress disorder.

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of the acute stress response:

Psychologist

Problems of Acute Stress Disorder if Untreated

Yes, acute stress disorder causes complications if it is not treated. The list below is of complications and problems that can arise from leaving the acute stress disorder untreated:

• Depression.
• Anxiety.
• Eating disorders.
• Suicidal thoughts and actions.

Procedures for the Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder

The following methods are used to treat acute stress disorder:

Psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy: Helps control symptoms of depression, anxiety disorder, fear, and mental disorder

Self-care for Acute Stress Disorder

The following self-care tasks or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of acute stress disorder:

The Following Actions May Help Patients With Acute Stress Disorder:

Join Support Group:?

Help find ways to deal with the disease.

Learn About Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:?

Helps to understand and provides knowledge about the disease.

Stay Connected With Supportive And Caring People:?

Provides comfort and helps in curing disease.

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15 Home Remedies for Acute Stress

Basil

Basil can help you get rid of stress. Chew some basil leaves in the morning daily. Apart from this, you can have basil leaves in hot water and drink it.

Green Tea

If you take a cup of green tea with honey and lemon. It will help you to get rid of stress.

Lavender Oil

This oil is usually used for fragrance. But with the help of this, you can get rid of stress too. For this, pour it in bathwater and take a bath.

Learn to Relax

Taking rest for a while gives us the strength to face bad situations. While relaxing, you can listen to your favorite song or read books of your choice.

Do Exercise

Exercise is necessary to stay healthy, and by exercising, we get rid of any depression, stress, and anxiety.

Milk and Almonds

Milk and almonds are an easy home remedy to relieve stress, as it is present in everyone’s home. Include five almonds in your diet with warm milk. You can also take 1 gram of black pepper with milk or honey 2 or 3 times a day. This will relieve stress.

Coconut and Dhanwantari Oil

Massaging oil relieves stress on its own. If stress is present, massaging the whole body with Kshirbala oil, Dhanvantari oil, or coconut oil also helps in reducing stress.

Apart from this, massaging oil makes the blood circulation throughout the body smooth, and other diseases do not occur.

Sex

It is believed that if the married life of a person is better, then he is not stressed, and he handles it when there is mental stress. So if you are married, then you should have sex when there is stress.

Exactly touching, kissing, and stimulating the partner releases particular hormones in the body that reduce stress. This is why sex is considered a way to relieve mental stress.

Chamomile Tea

Insomnia is also believed to be a cause of acute stress. In this case, chamomile acts very effectively. It keeps the muscles and nerves calm and removes the problem of insomnia, which also relieves mental stress. Also, it improves digestion and reduces stress. Consuming chamomile in the form of tea is more beneficial.

Iodine

You will be familiar with the importance of iodine in our body. But do you know that due to lack of it, our brain is not able to function properly. Potato, yogurt, garlic, etc. can also be used for iodine.

Omega-3

According to experts, regular intake of omega-3 leads to increase of cells from a neuron in our brain. Therefore it is considered the best source to avoid depression.

If we talk about omega-three sources, then fish, dry fruits, mustard seeds, soybean, cabbage, fruits, and green beans are the main ones.

Massage

When a person has mental tension, the muscles of his body are stressed. Massage is very beneficial in such a situation. Therefore, whenever you have mental stress problem, massage the whole body with some edible oil.

It is also a better option if you can go to the parlor and get a facial massage. This not only brings confidence but also completely relieves mental stress.

Music Therapy

A person also experiences mental stress due to various psychological reasons. One has to focus on positive things to deal with it. Therefore listening to music is considered a better option. It works to relieve stress. Music of one’s choice, including classical music, relieves mental stress.

Laugh

Studies have found that laughing changes the chemicals in the body and brain, causing mental stress due to which the mind is beautiful. You can watch and listen to a comedy film, show or another video to be happy or laugh loudly and openly.

Read newspaper jokes, comics, or join a comedy club to laugh. Remember, the more you laugh, the more mental stress will be away from you.

Meditation

It is an ancient one, and for centuries, people are resorting to meditation to relieve mental stress. It works like a medicine, and if mediation is done regularly for many years, then the person’s ability to cope with psychological stress develops. Therefore every person should do meditation to keep the mind calm.

Note: Depression Cure does not provide any type of medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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