Guide To Treating Acute Stress Disorder

Exposure Therapy

One last method to treat acute stress disorder is to undergo exposure therapy. Perhaps one of the more extreme measures, this form of therapy is often associated with anxiety disorders. The idea behind it is to expose an individual to their triggers in a safe environment where no danger can befall them. With enough exposure, they no longer associate that trigger with fear. Instead, their brain is rewired to understand the trigger will not harm them. In regards to acute stress disorder, exposure therapy can reintroduce them to the triggers associated with the traumatic event. By breaking these triggers down into small challenges for them to slowly become used to and realize they're not in danger of, patients can create new behaviors to those triggers. Since this form of therapy can sometimes seem extreme, it is also important to know the patient can stop the procedure at any time.