Acute Stress Response
Acute Stress Response
Michelle Miller
Liberty University
May 6, 2012
Abstract
Acute stress disorder and post-traumatic disorder are related in many of their symptoms, however acute stress disorder happens immediately following a traumatic event and never lasts more than a month. Acute stress disorder also shows signs of dissociation, which is associated with daydreaming or spacing out. Post-traumatic stress disorder victims have similar symptoms to acute stress disorder; however the symptoms persist for longer than a month. Treatment of both usually involves counseling and in extreme cases medications may be involved. Some victims of trauma tend to question their faith while others grow in their faith.
At 46 years of age Walter Bradford Cannon enlisted in the army in 1917 during World War I as a volunteer on a medical unit in Belgium. It was here that Cannon studied physiological shock and its causes, (Hagen). He went on later to test animals and their blood after being shocked because he wanted to learn more about what exactly causes this “shock.” Cannon tested a cat by taking its blood both before and after it was exposed to a barking dog. The blood of the cat indicated no adrenal hormones before being exposed to the dog, however after the exposure the cat’s blood contained epinephrine, (Hagen). Learning from his experiences, Cannon coined the term “acute stress response” in the 1920’s, which is also referred to as “fight or flight,” (Cherry, 2012). In his studies, Cannon figured out that the reactions in the body that rapidly occur following a stressful situation help the body to mobilize its resources to deal with the situation that seems threatening, (2012). This is when the term “homeostasis” took on a new meaning to Cannon, (Hagen). We still use the terms “fight or flight” and “acute stress response” today. Acute stress response, or disorder, is short lived, not lasting longer than a month. It is “characterized by three of the following
Michelle Miller
Liberty University
May 6, 2012
Abstract
Acute stress disorder and post-traumatic disorder are related in many of their symptoms, however acute stress disorder happens immediately following a traumatic event and never lasts more than a month. Acute stress disorder also shows signs of dissociation, which is associated with daydreaming or spacing out. Post-traumatic stress disorder victims have similar symptoms to acute stress disorder; however the symptoms persist for longer than a month. Treatment of both usually involves counseling and in extreme cases medications may be involved. Some victims of trauma tend to question their faith while others grow in their faith.
At 46 years of age Walter Bradford Cannon enlisted in the army in 1917 during World War I as a volunteer on a medical unit in Belgium. It was here that Cannon studied physiological shock and its causes, (Hagen). He went on later to test animals and their blood after being shocked because he wanted to learn more about what exactly causes this “shock.” Cannon tested a cat by taking its blood both before and after it was exposed to a barking dog. The blood of the cat indicated no adrenal hormones before being exposed to the dog, however after the exposure the cat’s blood contained epinephrine, (Hagen). Learning from his experiences, Cannon coined the term “acute stress response” in the 1920’s, which is also referred to as “fight or flight,” (Cherry, 2012). In his studies, Cannon figured out that the reactions in the body that rapidly occur following a stressful situation help the body to mobilize its resources to deal with the situation that seems threatening, (2012). This is when the term “homeostasis” took on a new meaning to Cannon, (Hagen). We still use the terms “fight or flight” and “acute stress response” today. Acute stress response, or disorder, is short lived, not lasting longer than a month. It is “characterized by three of the following
References: Effects of PTSD on Family . (2010). Retrieved May 12, 2012, from United States Department of Veterans Affairs: http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/effects-ptsd-family.asp Acute Stress Disorder Bracha, S., Ralston, T., Matsukawa, J., Williams, A., & Bracha, A. (2004). Does "fight or flight" need updating? Psychosomatics, 45(5), 448. doi:10.1176/appi.psy.45.5.448 Cherry, K Krupnick, J. (2002). Brief psychodynamic treatment of PTSD. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(8), 919-932. doi:10.1002/jclp.10067 Mash, D Ruzek, J. (2012). Active Coping Skills for PTSD. Retrieved may 12, 2012, from ptsd support services: http://www.ptsdsupport.net/ptsd_coping_skills.html Smith, S