Acute stress disorder more common than thought
Survivors and witnesses to traumatic events can suffer mental and physical symptoms – known as acute stress disorder (ASD) – that can last weeks – even years – after the event.
Anyone can suffer ASD, regardless of age, sex or ethnic background and it can follow any kind of trauma like violence or sexual assault; a disaster (bushfire, earthquakes, floods); a sudden illness; or a death in the family.
About two thirds of people witness, or are involved in, one or more of these kinds of trauma at some stage in their lives. After the event, people suffering from ASD may experience:
• shock and disbelief at what happened;
• fear and apprehension that it might happen again;
• anger at the unfairness and senselessness of it all;
• shame and guilt for not having acted differently and somehow being to blame.
They may have trouble sleeping, get tired easily, have trouble concentrating, and experience nightmares, flashbacks and feelings of ‘reliving’ the experience, which happen without warning.
Usually over a period of weeks the symptoms fade and life returns to normal.
If the symptoms go on for more than four weeks, the condition is called post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At this stage the person needs professional help.
They should talk the issues through with a GP and then if the symptoms persist, get a referral to a psychologist – in private practice or via the local community health centre.
The most effective treatment is trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy in which the person is encouraged to confront their memories in a safe and controlled way.
The Australian Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health has released a set of guidelines for people with ASD and PTSD and for health workers to help them manage these conditions.
See
www.acpmh.unimelb.edu.au
