Suffer or witness a traffic accident, be assaulted, witness the death of a loved one . . . These experiences have a significant impact on the brain, to the point that our lives and psychological health can completely change weeks later. .
Few people emerge unhinged after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. Does the impact receive the mind and, after a few days or weeks, change, consequences, disturbances occur?All of this is part of what we call acute stress disorder, a psychological condition experienced by thousands of people at some point in their lives.
- No one is immune to mental health problems.
- We are not mistaken in saying that this type of disorder is probably one of the most common.
- We can suffer when we witness a traffic accident.
- But also when we witness the death of a loved one.
- Theft or aggression are also associated factors.
Each person treats these kinds of experiences differently, there are those who face these events with stronger strategies, however, on average, it is quite common for such situations to result in high fatigue, intense anxiety, sleep disturbances, behavioral changes. emotional ups and downs.
Let’s look a little more at what this disorder is all about
Acute stress disorder usually occurs when a person is living in a high-impact event, however, this situation can be complicated if not treated or treated inappropriately, if we let them go and the person does not ask for specialized help, there is a risk of very serious psychological problems.
A study conducted at the University of New South Wales by Dr. Richard Bryant indicates that once a person is diagnosed with acute stress disorder, it is essential that they receive appropriate treatment to prevent and prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Out of curiosity, this clinical category arose during World War I, yet the label and name it received were different: shell shock, the term was intended to describe a reality in which the experiences lived on the front were like projectiles directed directly into the brains of young soldiers. Explosions in the central nervous system that left them in a very altered state of mind.
Acute stress disorder can be diagnosed when a person experiences a number of physical and psychological manifestations for at least three consecutive days after having experienced a traumatic experience, it is important to know that if symptoms persist for more than a month, we will already experience post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
For diagnosis, we can follow the criteria of DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders):
Not everyone who has suffered trauma develops acute stress disorder; we know, for example, that someone who has suffered from a psychological disorder (such as depression) develops it more often, as well as someone who has a avoidable coping style or who has already suffered previous trauma.
On the other hand, to understand the mechanism of acute stress disorder, we have to take a trip through the central nervous system. Let’s understand this process:
As noted, it is necessary that once acute stress disorder is diagnosed, the person undergoes therapy to avoid more exhausting or even chronic conditions. We have studies, such as the one conducted at the University of Bergen (Norway), that test the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy.
Strategies such as cognitive restructuring, relaxation techniques and imaginary or live exposure facilitate progress and improvement in most of these patients.
In conclusion, once again we insist that we can all go through a time of great difficulty at some point in our lives, in order to manage its impact, alleviate symptoms and develop coping strategies it is essential to have the help of specialists. moments when we simply can’t solve problems alone.