Acute Stress Disorder

Case Study 4: Joanne, age 32, is involved with the first man that really counts in her life. As the couple has become more intimate, Joanne has started to have flashbacks about an uncle who touched her sexually when she was only eight years old. She is distressed to find out that she is shutting down feelings about her boyfriend and distancing herself from him. Although she has been sexual with other men, she says she can’t stand to let herself be sexual with someone she loves and trusts. She startles easily and reports a general increase in anxiety. She is very angry that she has to deal with the feelings about the incidents with her uncle that happened so long ago. She says that she thought she had gotten beyond all that.

I believe this patient has acute stress disorder, a lesser form of posttraumatic stress disorder. Many war veterans have this form of anxiety disorder, and therapist use the cognitive behavioral treatment. This treatment aims to change cognition, patterns of thought around the traumatic incident. Going through this treatment also prevents from having the more serious disorder of posttraumatic stress disorder. It has been know that psychological debriefing and anxiety management groups have also tackled this problem. Anyway really to “talk it out” with someone or a group of people can help. Even though therapists can make these suggestions, solving a psychological crisis can really be a feat that is tough to overcome.