Acute stress response: what to know and how to act
Insidious enemy shelling carries not only physical destruction and a threat to health, but also severe stress. He is able to change the lives of people who are in the epicenter of disaster. Every time in the news we hear about victims who have suffered an acute reaction to stress. And the events of this morning are no exception.
An acute stress reaction is a temporary reaction that develops in a person in response to unusual (powerful) physical or mental stress. Such a disorder is difficult to identify, but it is extremely important to take timely measures.
Due to the acute reaction to stress, there may be:
- heart palpitations
- excessive sweating;
- panic
- hysteria;
- loss of orientation in space
- state of shock.
Acute stress disorder can result from a traumatic event and lead to:
- insomnia
- memory impairment
- irritability
- difficulty concentrating;
- excessive anxiety;
- feeling of helplessness and hopelessness;
- loss of interest in the usual affairs;
- desire to stand apart from others;
- inability to feel positive emotions;
- symptoms of re-experiencing a traumatic event.
Remember! Any of these conditions is a normal reaction to such events. This is not a sign of weakness or pathology. Such states must be lived and not try to extinguish emotions alone.
If your relatives or acquaintances are affected by an acute reaction to stress, do not delay, consult a specialist who will help the person affected and prevent the symptoms from developing into disorders.
The easiest solution in this situation is to see a family doctor who has been trained in mhGAP and is ready to provide mental health support. He will conduct a basic test and determine what kind of help is needed by the affected person.
Currently, every third family doctor in Ukraine is ready to help with mental health disorders - more than 70,000 medical specialists have undergone the corresponding training of mhGAP. To find a doctor in your area, use:
- online map on the NSZU website
- call 16-77
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
