Exposure Therapy and Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)

Exposure Therapy

• Helps individuals overcome fear and anxiety by confronting and processing traumatic experiences in a supportive setting.
• May involve imagining feared situations or real-life exposure to situations that trigger stress-related symptoms.
• Often used to treat PTSD, phobias, and other anxiety disorders.

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)

• A stress-related disorder that can develop in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event.
• Symptoms: feeling detached, intrusive memories, flashbacks, negative mood, and hyperarousal.
• Duration of symptoms: between three days and one month.
• Symptoms typically resolve on their own, but if they persist, there is an increased risk of developing PTSD.

Treatment for ASD

• Supportive therapy, such as trauma-focused CBT.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: a structured process to help reprocess traumatic memories and reduce emotional and physical distress.

Definition of Stress

• A psychological and physiological response to events that disrupt our equilibrium, make us feel threatened or challenge our ability to cope.
• A complex psychological and physiological response to internal or external stressors that are perceived as challenging or threatening.

Types of Stress

• Acute Stress: short-lived, response to a specific event or situation.
• Episodic Acute Stress: frequent episodes of acute stress, feeling constantly under pressure or on edge.
• Chronic Stress: long-term exposure to stressors, such as ongoing work-related demands or relationship difficulties.
• Traumatic Stress: result of a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster or physical or sexual assault.
• Developmental Stress: related to life transitions and milestones, such as going through a divorce or changing jobs.

Impact of Stress on the Body and Mind

• Physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal effects.

Stress-Related Disorders

• A group of conditions that develop as a result of prolonged or excessive stress.
• Can affect individuals of all ages and backgrounds, and have a significant impact on quality of life.

Adjustment Disorders

• A common and often overlooked stress-related disorder that can affect individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
• Occur in response to significant life stressors, such as job loss or divorce.
• Symptoms: emotional, behavioral, physical, and cognitive symptoms that interfere with daily functioning.
• Duration of symptoms: within three months of the stressor, and should improve or resolve within six months.

Burnout

• A stress-related condition characterized by emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion, as well as feelings of cynicism and detachment.
• Often the result of prolonged exposure to stress, particularly in work or caregiving environments.
• Symptoms: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced performance.