Stress Response Syndrome is an adaptation disorder of a temporary nature that occurs after experiencing severe stress in life. Usually, it occurs three months after the event and lasts on average only six months. Psychotherapy and a sympathetic attitude on the part of loved ones can significantly help people with this syndrome.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Encouraging the One You Love to Heal
Step 1. Encourage her to heal
You may notice that he is having a hard time and that he needs help. She probably doesn't even know what's bothering her or doesn't want to acknowledge that something is wrong. Therefore, you should encourage her to heal, but not force her. Don't give her an ultimatum. Instead, tell her that you are worried and that you think she would be better off asking for help.
- Try saying to her, "I love you and I'm worried. Since a change has occurred, you may not be able to manage it. I think that, to get better, you should ask for help."
- Offer your support so that she decides to heal. Give her a hand to make appointments, take her with the car, organize yourself with school, work or family. Help her where it is needed.
- If you speak to her with kindness and understanding, she will be more likely to accept your help and advice.
Step 2. Suggest psychotherapy
It is one of the best treatments for stress response syndrome. Often, to help people, verbal therapy (or talk therapy) is used, thanks to which the patient, confiding in a mental health professional, has the opportunity to talk about the most stressful factors or the most important changes in his life and analyze what he feels. The therapist helps him develop his ability to adapt to reality.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy intervenes by helping the patient to replace negative and unhealthy thoughts with more positive ones.
- Some mental health professionals may use art therapy (or art therapy), particular therapeutic activities, music therapy, or other types of therapies to help patients overcome the stress response syndrome.
- To find a psychotherapist, contact your doctor or the ASL psychologist. Also try contacting some mental health center and ask if they offer treatments for stress response syndrome. You can also do an online search to find out if there are professionals specialized in this sector in your area. Read the opinions left by other people (if you find any) and check the credentials.
Step 3. Ask if you need to take any medications
Usually, no drug therapy is required to treat this syndrome. However, certain medications can be used to treat underlying or concomitant problems, such as an anxiety disorder or depression.
- For example, if your stress response syndrome is accompanied by depression, your doctor may prescribe a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Other drugs, such as benzodiazepines, can be addictive and, therefore, are preferable to avoid them in the prolonged treatment of anxiety.
- Medicines can also be prescribed for insomnia.
Step 4. Try group therapy
Group therapy can be an alternative for those suffering from stress response syndrome, as it is not always easy to manage symptoms. Group therapy offers the person you love a safe environment in which they can discuss their symptoms and learn about how others have been able to cope with their own problems. It will also allow her to socialize and prevent isolation.
Family therapy can also be a solution. It is useful when there are problems in the family caused by this syndrome or that have favored its development
Step 5. Attend a support group
Your loved one could benefit from joining a support group. It is not a therapy, but a collection of people who share and face the same difficulties. It offers social support, which is extremely important in recovering from trauma and more difficult life changes. By attending a support group, you will have the opportunity to meet people who have had similar experiences to yours.
- He can look for a support group that focuses on a particular problem. For example, there are support groups for divorced people, cancer survivors, bereaved and similar problems.
- Search the Internet for a support group operating near you. You can also inquire at a mental health center or hospital by asking if there is one in the area.
- If you don't know where to start, try this page. You can also take into consideration family counseling centers, present in almost all ASLs. They host various operators, such as the gynecologist, the social worker, the midwife and psychologists with different specializations: child, family, group, individual psychotherapy and so on.
Step 6. Offer her the possibility of consulting a specialized center
People with stress response syndrome can go to a mental health center if their symptoms have begun to significantly interfere with daily life, if they have another mood disorder or have an addiction problem.
Specifically, the Mental Health Centers (CSM) carry out outpatient psychiatric activities. Teams made up of doctors, psychologists, sociologists, social and health workers, psychiatric nurses work there. Other professionals with pedagogical and rehabilitative skills (such as educators, psychosocial rehabilitation therapists and animators) can integrate the team that carries out multiple integrated prevention, treatment and rehabilitation activities. In addition, the Departments of Mental Health make use of important structures, such as university psychiatric clinics and affiliated nursing homes
Part 2 of 3: Support the One You Love
Step 1. Help her set goals
Stress Response Syndrome is a temporary disorder, so it is important that the person you care about sets short-term goals that will help them cope with their problem and receive the most appropriate treatment. She may also set these kinds of goals during psychotherapy, but if not, offer your help.
- For example, he might try to reconnect with friends and family, apply management skills learned in therapy sessions, or adopt anti-stress techniques.
- For example, you could help her by encouraging her to call or text a family member or friend at least once a day. Another goal could be to do yoga four times a week.
- Try asking, "What goals can you set? How about calling a family member at least once a day?"
Step 2. Treat it with understanding
You cannot understand what she is going through or even why she is not dealing with what happened to her, especially if you have experienced it in person. However, she is trying to handle a change in her life in a totally different way than yours. It is normal for everyone to react in their own way. Therefore, you had to show her all your understanding.
- Don't judge her because she can't "move on". He can't suddenly put it all behind him. It will cost you some time to process what happened to you and move on. Remind her that you love her and support her.
- For example, you might say to her, "I know you have gone through a major change in your life. I understand that you are having a hard time coping with the new situation, but I am by your side."
Step 3. Listen
He probably needs an ear to listen to him. Since stress response syndrome occurs after a major life change or severe stress, perhaps your loved one would benefit from talking to someone about what happened to them. Offer to listen to it if it needs it.
- She may feel the need to talk about what has happened to her several times because she is analyzing her feelings and reworking the change or trauma she has undergone.
- Tell her, "I'm here if you need to talk. I'll listen to you without judging you."
Step 4. Be patient
Although in most cases the stress response syndrome is overcome within six months, this rule does not necessarily apply to everyone. Your loved one may have a harder time coping with stress. So, be patient with her as she goes out of her way to recover. Don't push her and tell her she isn't trying hard enough. Let me fix the problem on his own time.
- If you are already suffering from depression or an anxiety disorder or are abusing drugs, it may take longer to recover or even develop other mood disorders.
- Tell her, "Take your time to recover. Don't compare with other people. Follow your own pace."
- If the symptoms persist for more than six months, it is plausible that she has generalized anxiety or some other disorder, such as panic attacks. In these cases, he should consult a therapist or psychiatrist.
Step 5. Discourage negative talk
People with stress response syndrome feel desperate and depressed, and feel that nothing can get better. This attitude can lead them to speak negatively about themselves and life. Try to discourage this kind of talk by reminding the person you love that they will get over everything and be fine.
For example, you can say to her, "I understand that you feel this way for everything you have been through, but remember that it is fleeting and that it will be okay."
Step 6. Encourage her to stay active
Stress Response Syndrome can lead to people being alone for a long time doing nothing. Encourage the one you love to see friends and family and keep busy. Invite her to do something together so that she gets out of the house or help her be more active.
- Push her to resume her favorite hobby or find a new and engaging passion.
- You can invite her to eat out, go to the movies, take a class together, or go for a walk. If it's your partner, suggest a romantic date or an evening to spend together.
- Try saying: "Let's go to dinner at your favorite restaurant" or "Why don't we meet up with some friends to see a movie?".
Step 7. Help her develop healthy habits
Another way to allow your loved one to recover from a life-changing event is to establish a healthy routine, consisting of regular exercise, proper nutrition, and sufficient sleep. This lifestyle can help you cope with stress and negative physical symptoms.
- Eating healthily means incorporating all food groups into your daily diet. Consume lots of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, lean proteins and complex carbohydrates. Avoid processed foods, refined sugar, and simple carbohydrates.
- According to the "President Council on Fitness Sports and Nutrition" (body that promotes physical activity in the United States), it is necessary to train at least 30 minutes at moderate intensity for five days a week, for example brisk walking, jogging, going biking, gardening, weight lifting, or dancing.
- Also, you need 7-9 hours of sleep every night.
Part 3 of 3: Understanding Stress Response Syndrome
Step 1. Learn about Stress Response Syndrome
There are no two people who deal with stress response syndrome in the same way. To help your loved one, you should inform yourself as much as possible about this disorder. By doing this, you can get a better idea of what he is going through. This syndrome occurs after severe stress or a change that has significantly affected one's life. Usually, it appears three months after the event with symptoms of an emotional or behavioral nature.
- Normally, it lasts about six months. Sometimes some symptoms are prolonged.
- This condition falls under the adaptation disorders.
- To learn more about this syndrome, buy a book or take a look at the library. You can also find information material on the Internet or speak to a mental health professional.
Step 2. Learn to recognize the symptoms
Stress Response Syndrome develops when symptoms are more severe than the cause or significantly affect various aspects of daily life, including school, work, and social interactions. This disorder can occur at any time in life, although it happens more often during adolescence, middle age, and old age. Symptoms include:
- Impulsive, aggressive or defiant behavior. The person may be absent from school or work, seek fights, or abuse alcohol or drugs.
- Sense of depression, sadness and despair. The person may cry or isolate themselves.
- Symptoms of anxiety, such as nervousness or tension, but also acute and chronic stress.
- Abnormal heartbeat or other health problems.
- Chills, tremors or spasms.
Step 3. Identify the triggers
Stress Response Syndrome can be caused by major life transformations or severe emotional stress. The event can be serious or insignificant, positive or negative, but in any case for the sufferer it becomes a considerable source of stress and change. People are unable to cope or accept what has happened and develop the disorder. Here are some triggers:
- Divorce;
- Disappearance of a loved one;
- Marriage;
- Birth of a child;
- Loss of job or financial problems;
- Problems in school;
- Family problems;
- Problems of a sexual nature;
- Medical diagnosis;
- Physical trauma;
- The fact of having survived a natural disaster;
- Retirement.
Step 4. Learn about the different types of stress response syndrome
There are different types of this syndrome, also referred to as adaptation disorders. Symptoms vary according to the type of syndrome you are suffering from. The six main subtypes include:
- Disorder of adaptation with depressed mood;
- Disorder of adaptation with anxiety;
- Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood;
- Disorder of adaptation with altered conduct;
- Adjustment disorder with mixed emotional and behavioral alterations;
- Disorder of adaptation, unspecified.
