Stress Disorder Treatment
Stress disorder or stress-related disorders are conditions that develop after experiencing traumatic events. These highly stressful events threaten a patient’s or their loved ones’ safety.
6–8%
Global population affected by stress-related disorders annually (WHO estimate)
1 in 5
Adults experience significant stress or anxiety symptoms at some point in life
50–60%
People report improved mental health with therapy, stress management, and lifestyle changes
70–75%
Treatment Gap: Many individuals with stress disorders in India do not seek professional help
Introduction
A stress disorder occurs or gets triggered when the mind and the body are not able to process these emotions or events. The defining feature of a stress disorder is that these involve a persistent fear of potential threats. A stress disorder arises from a reaction to a real, harmful event as opposed to nervousness that could arise from an assumed attempt or more.
Types of Stress Disorder
Depression and Anxiety:
- Anxiety is a natural reaction to challenging situations. The condition can adversely affect concentration of a patient and more. However, common symptoms of anxiety, if aggravated, can disrupt the daily functioning of a patient. These symptoms include restlessness, worry, difficulty concentrating and even physical discomfort.
- Depression is more than temporary sadness. This mental health condition affects emotions, thoughts and behaviour causing persistent helplessness. Patients lose interest in activities and socialising. As a consequence, patients experience fatigue, sleep changes and in severe cases also opt for self-harm to escape a situation.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder develops after a patient suffers from life-threatening events. The symptoms include flashbacks of events, persistent intrusive thoughts and even nightmares. This can hamper the functioning of a patient in routine and cause depression.
Adjustment Disorder
Adjustment disorder occurs within 3 months of the occurrence of a traumatic event. Patients often suffer from anxiety attacks and excessive worry while struggling to cope with new pressures.
Burnout
Burnout is defined as a condition of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged periods of stress. The stress could be a consequence of fatigue, reduced motivation and lack of personal well-being.
Stress Disorder Symptoms
Emotional and Psychological Signs
Stress can lead to irritability, anger issues, impatience and cause overwhelming worry. Thoughts tend to race, creating difficulty relaxing or concentrating. Patients tend to feel depressed and fearful more than usual. Severe and chronic stress can worsen existing mental health conditions leading to recurrence of suicidal thoughts.
Physical Signs of Stress
Stress hormones can trigger multiple physical symptoms. Patients suffer from breathing issues, frequent panic attacks, headaches, fatigue and even digestive issues. Frequent sweating, dizziness, muscle spasms and skin problems are also common in some cases. Intense stress further aggravates these physical health conditions.
Behavioural Changes
Stress can cause permanent behavioural changes. Poor decision-making skills, weak concentration and memory retention gets affected. Patients become irritated, restless or withdraw themselves from reality and worry constantly. Overeating or undereating, substance abuse and reduced physical and mental activity are other signs and symptoms of a stress disorder.
Stress Disorder Treatment
1. Treatment Medication
Anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication are often prescribed to patients suffering from stress disorders. While antidepressants treat insomnia, anxiety, concentration problems and PTSD, anti-anxiety medication helps reduce overthinking and control anxiety.
2. Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
A form of talk therapy that helps patients recognise and change negative thinking patterns. For instance, therapists help patients recognise triggers that lead them to think about harmful beliefs about themselves.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure Therapy is a behavioural treatment that helps patients re-experience traumatic memories in a safe and a controlled environment. By gradually confronting their fears, patients learn healthier coping mechanisms. Certain therapists also opt for virtual reality tools to re-create traumatic memories to assist their treatment.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a therapy that helps patients process distressing memories. The aim is to reduce emotional reactions to trauma and adopt a more practical approach towards healing. This therapy is a combination of guided eye movement and other bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess traumatic experiences.
Individual and Group Therapy
Patients experiencing trauma-related difficulties may benefit from individual counselling or even group therapy depending on the severity of the condition. While individual therapy gives an opportunity to the patient to vent out the emotional stress, group therapy provides a supportive environment to the patient.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
DBT or Dialectical Behaviour Therapy teaches four skills to a patient to cope with his or her situation. They are mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation and interpersonal skills. Patients are trained to manage their emotions independently, improve relationships and balance accepting their reality while working towards bringing about a positive personal change.
3. Rehabilitation Care
Rehabilitation care in India includes structured outpatient care to those who are in the early stages of stress disorder. However, patients suffering from anxiety and depression could be suggested a residential or an inpatient program. Symptoms of patients are studied repeatedly.
Patients suffering from severe PTSD are provided with supervised care in case they are not able to function properly in routine. They are also offered multidisciplinary care which includes relaxation exercises and taught breathing techniques.
Rehabilitation programs are always conducted offline wherein patients are interviewed extensively so that recurrence of symptoms can be analysed timely.
In case the therapist identifies symptoms of depression or anxiety or any other disorder, patients are strongly recommended to opt for residential programs. The family is involved in every stage of the process.
4. Supportive Intervention
The medical health professionals at Calida Rehab Centre provide a secure environment to the patient. The purpose of this step is to enable a patient to manage his or her stress while going on their routines independently.
Therapists recommend patients to follow certain breathing techniques when distressed. Patients are educated about muscle relaxation for different muscle groups to release tension.
Here are certain activities for a patient suffering from sudden stressful attacks or event:
- Humming or slow singing to release pent up emotions gradually.
- Engaging all the 5 senses to divert attention and deal with problems accordingly.
- Giving yourself a cold shock to slow down reactions and the pace of thoughts.
- Going outside for a walk or a run to refresh the mind and analyse feelings one by one.
Aftercare and Relapse Prevention
A complete stress disorder treatment includes community-based support services. By conversing with patients suffering from the same disorder, a patient gains functional ability which helps him or her manage triggers independently.
Therapists conduct scheduled and unscheduled clinical reviews to monitor symptom trajectory. Mental health experts identify early signs of functional decline. Therefore, timely therapeutic modifications are introduced before a patient’s condition worsens.
Timely risk assessment, latest psychoeducation, and collaborative care planning remain central to the treatment. Long-term patient recovery is focused on, even if it means admitting the patient to the facility for a routine check-up.
Treatment Pathway
Stage | What Happens |
Assessment | Patient behaviour is assessed to categorize the stress disorder the patient is suffering from. Therapists try to analyse the cause of the stress disorder and identify stressful situations. The patient’s personal life is also analysed at the same time. |
Stabilisation | Psychotherapy is initiated depending on the type of stress disorder a patient is diagnosed with. The aim is to minimise stress or the feeling of depression. The aim of the therapy is to control the patient’s reactions to triggers. |
Active Phase | Regular therapy sessions are essential, therefore, these sessions start as soon as the diagnosis is over. Therapists monitor medication intake. Patients and their families are counselled about various types of disorders and the specific one that the patient is suffering from. They are informed about the duration of treatment and the approach adopted to treat the disorder. |
Review | Progress is carefully monitored to watch out for any signs or symptoms of relapse. Therapy is initiated and patients are introduced to certain self-help support groups, if necessary. |
Maintenance | Intermittent therapy sessions are introduced for the emotional well-being of the patient. This step is essential for long-term recovery of a patient. |
Treatment Duration
- Initial improvement: Patients develop a general understanding of stress disorders in the first week. Patients are kept under constant supervision to control the frequency of anxiety attacks or depressive thoughts.
- Active treatment: This stage of the treatment lasts a few weeks to learn if the behaviour worsens. Patients are prescribed medication and accordingly, therapy is initiated.
- Maintenance: Patients are under constant supervision in case he or she opts for residential treatment plans. This reduces chances of relapse and helps monitor the frequency of stressful episodes. Patients are encouraged to manage their condition independently.
- Rehab: Rehab is recommended in case the patients do not feel better within 30-180 days of completion of psychotherapy. Therapists re-start the therapy or even prescribe medication depending on the condition of the patient.
When Is Rehab Recommended?
Patients are recommended rehab under the following circumstances:
- Rehab is recommended to patients if and when impairment of daily functioning of a patient starts. In case he or she is not able to carry out routine tasks, rehabilitation must be initiated.
- In case the patient is not showing improvement with the outpatient program, rehab must be suggested.
- Certain times, stress has an irreversible effect on basic health parameters like blood pressure. In case that happens while therapy is going on, rehabilitation must be considered.
- Substance abuse and isolation from society are major red flags that must be taken seriously. Patients must be admitted in rehabilitation centres as soon as they get addicted to a substance while the treatment is going on.
Start Treatment
Begin your treatment plan with a confidential consultation with the best therapist. Feel free to call us, message us on WhatsApp or book an appointment online. You can even request for a treatment plan via mail.
However, treatment plans depend on the condition of the patient. Medication and therapy are always provided under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional.
Call our 24-hour free confidential helpline.
Treatments
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our treatment programs, admission process, and what to expect during your recovery journey
Is there any treatment without medication?
Yes. Initial stages of stress disorder can be managed without medication. However, the therapist might prescribe medication in case the disorder worsens. Not only is psychotherapy essential to maintain the emotional and intellectual well-being of a patient, it is also important to prevent relapse.
By what time is the improvement among patients noticeable?
Improvement is generally noticeable within the first 3 weeks once the medication starts. With therapy in itself, gradual progress appears over several months. Symptom management is effectively done over time and structured coping strategies are introduced for independent management of disorder.
What is the duration of the treatment for anxiety disorder?
The duration of the treatment depends on the severity of the disorder. While some patients require immediate medical intervention along with psychotherapy, others might oh need therapy in case it is the first stage of the treatment.
Is there any treatment plan available for full-time employees who cannot leave their jobs?
Yes. Once a patient is able to confirm that he feels anxious only once a while, therapists can arrange online therapy sessions with them. Intermittent sessions for the patients can be arranged. Therapists can also opt for an impromptu check on patients to confirm that the progress is linear.
Experts Who Will Guide Your Recovery
Dr. Prashant Dasud
Designation: M.D. (Psychiatry)
Experience: 14+
Illnesses:
Depression & Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia & Psychotic Disorders, OCD, Drug & Alcohol Addiction, Sleep Disorders
Geriatric Mental Health Issues
Dr. Santosh Pawar
Designation: M.D. (Radiodiagnosis)
Experience: 12+
Illnesses:
CT / MRI, Dementia & Memory Disorder, Neuro-radiological Evaluation, pine & Nerve Imaging,Head Injury & Neurological, Diagnostic Support for Mental Health
Dr. Neha Shetty
Designation: M.D. (Psychiatry)
Experience: 11+
Illnesses:
Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia & Psychosis, OCD, Drug Addiction,Mental Health Issues
