treatment of acute stress reaction
Last reviewed 03/2022
The aims in treatment are fourfold:
- reduce the emotion by:
- sympathetic listening
- short-term anxiolytics when required
- encouragement to recall the event and to express emotion
- denial and repression should subside as anxiety is reduced
- the patient becomes able to recall the distressing events
- expression of emotion is encouraged
- improve coping strategies
- alternatives to maladaptive coping strategies are presented
- help with any long-term consequences of the stressful reaction such as disability