mental health disorders
Acute Stress Disorder
Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder
Self-care Psychotherapy Sometimes medications Many people recover from acute stress disorder once they are removed from the traumatic situation and given appropriate support in the form of understanding, empathy for their distress, and an opportunity to describe what happened and their reaction to it. Some people benefit from describing their experience several times. Friends and loved ones can often provide this support. Otherwise, doctors or other mental health care professionals are helpful. Sometimes doctors temporarily give medications to relieve anxiety or help people sleep, but other medications (such as antidepressants) are usually not given unless they are prescribed to treat a co-occurring disorder. Self-care is crucial during and after a crisis or trauma. Self-care can be divided into 3 components: Personal safety Physical health and practical support Mindfulness Personal safetyis fundamental. After a single traumatic episode, people are better able to process the experience when they know that they and their loved ones are safe. It can be difficult, however, to gain complete safety during ongoing crises such as domestic abuse, war, or an infectious pandemic. During such ongoing difficulties, people should seek the guidance of experts on how they and their loved ones can be as safe as possible. Physical healthcan be put at risk during and after traumatic experiences. Everyone should try to maintain a healthy schedule of eating, sleeping, and exercise. Medications and substances that sedate (for example, antianxiety medications) and intoxicate (for example, alcohol) should be used sparingly, if at all. Practical support includes assistance with housing, legal support, insurance, and other issues that need to be addressed but can be overwhelming. A mindful approachto self-care aims to reduce the feelings of stress, boredom, anger, sadness, and isolation that traumatized people normally experience. If circumstances allow, at-risk individuals should make and follow a normal daily schedule (for example, get up, shower, get dressed, go outside and take a walk, and prepare and eat regular meals). It is useful to practice familiar hobbies as well as activities that sound fun and distracting: draw a picture, watch a movie, or cook. Interactions with family and friends and community involvement can be crucial, even if it is difficult to maintain human connection during a crisis. Stretching and exercise are beneficial, but self-soothing techniques such as counting one's own breaths, meditating, or self-hypnosis can be equally helpful. Under stress, people can become short-tempered, even with those they care about. Friends and family can be expecially helpful in reaching out and providing expressions of concern and comfort. Sending a nice note, making someone cookies, and offering up a smile may not only be a nice surprise for the recipient, but they can reduce the hopelessness and shame that tend to be part of the experience of trauma. Education can help the person understand the stress response and the natural course of symptom improvement. Cognitive-behavioral therapies can help by allowing the person to process traumatic memories in a safe setting, correct maladaptive thoughts about the trauma or responses to it, and discuss the trauma in one's own words once the person is able to do so. No medications are particularly helpful in reducing the symptoms of acute stress disorder or preventing it from developing into full-blown Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) . Medications may be given to help with insomnia, anxiety, and agitation, but prolonged use appears to interfere with recovery. 