Missionary
Medical
Moment
A brief summary of a current topic of medical interest to missionaries.
Topics are updated frequently; if you have a topic or question, let us know!
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MISSIONARY MEDICAL MOMENT
Acute Stress Disorder
"...And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came
to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and
came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for
himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O
LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers."
Kings 19:3,4 NASB
How do we respond when under threat of danger, or when exposed
to violent and traumatic events? Even those of great faith, such
as Elijah in the verse above, can experience physical and emotional
exhaustion when faced with such threats of actual death or serious
injury. Elijah so much wanted to distance himself from his
traumatic situation that he even asked to die. People do not have
to actually experience a traumatic event themselves, but rather may
be witness to such an event. Traumatic events may affect an
individual (violent personal attack such as sexual assault,
robbery, physical attack, kidnapping, being held hostage, or even
unintentional events such as severe automobile accidents or being
diagnosed with a life-threatening illness), or groups of people
(large scale natural disasters, accidents with multiple injuries
or deaths, high publicity crimes of violence).
Whether the circumstances involve direct personal experience, or
witnessing an event that involves death, injury, or a threat to
the physical integrity of another person, either may be
accompanied by feelings of intense fear, helplessness, or horror.
When exposure to such events occurs, and is accompanied by such
feelings, a pattern of reactive symptoms often follows, known as
Acute Stress Disorder.
Symptoms of the acute stress disorder typically resolve within
four weeks of the traumatic event. When symptoms persist for
longer than one month, the symptom disorder known as Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may be made; we will examine
PTSD in next month's Medical Moment for Missionaries.
Classical symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder which can occur during
the traumatic event, or after experiencing it, may include the
following:
- a sense of numbing, detachment, or absence of emotional
responsiveness. The person may look and feel "mechanical"
in their reactions and responses
- a reduction in awareness of surroundings (sometimes
described as "being in a daze")
- feelings of being separate from one's surroundings or
even being distant from one's self
- difficulty recalling certain details of the traumatic
event
- persistent re-experiencing of the event through thoughts,
dreams, mental images, and unwanted memory of reliving the
event, and distress on any exposure to reminders of the
event
- avoidance of anything that might arouse memory or
recollections of the event
- physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety and increased
arousal, such as sleep disturbances, poor concentration,
increased "startle response", excessive sweating, dizzy
spells, and physical restlessness
- distress and impairment of normal functioning as a result
of the above symptoms
Such responses to traumatic events can occur at any age, in both
men and women. Those who already live under stressful
circumstances (such as mission service in remote or politically
unstable areas) may be at higher risk for more intense symptoms.
While the symptoms of an acute stress reaction typically subside
over days or weeks, they can be improved by allowing the person
to talk about the event and express their feelings. Trying to
"avoid talking about it" actually may increase the likelihood
of persistent symptoms.
Very importantly, adequate rest and nutrition will help
(see the scriptural record of the angel's response to Elijah's
symptoms: 1 Kings 19:5-8).
Other Missionary Medical Moments
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