Page 15 - Boca Club News - December '22

Boca Club News, Page 15

Mental Health Memo: from page 14

have done better. He found it difficult to concentrate at work develop a treatment plan to explore his symptoms more We began with helping him put his feelings into words
because he was becoming easily startled by any loud noise, fully. To work through the ASD, I focused on Cognitive using techniques that would help ease his anxiety. We
and it was impacting his ability to work. He started feeling Behavioral Therapy (CBT) a top-down strategy to help were able to increase his connection to his emotions and
inadequate, comparing himself to others and felt everyone him make sense and provide perspective with his cognitive his reactions and reduce the impacts of the triggering
was doing better than him and making more money, and that symptoms. CBT is an effective treatment for ASD, used in responses. Instead of just focusing on the worst that could
he would never reach their level. He was also having bouts the early stages of the traumatic response to help challenge happen, we worked on how he could include positive self-
of anger and found himself snapping at his wife whenever he unhealthy thought processes and emotions connected to talk and identify the progress he was making, rather than
became irritable. It was taking a toll on him, both physically the trauma. negative thinking which is a typical response in ASD.
and emotionally. We started treatment by incorporating mindfulness into I used CBT interview strategies to help calm his nerves.
The Diagnosis: After our initial session, Jeffrey was our sessions so he could slow down and observe his thoughts. The technique helps you to understand what is causing you
showing signs of Acute Stress Disorder (ASD). The disorder I had him make lists of the thoughts he was ruminating about. to be anxious, how it will impact you if you continue to
is characterized by acute stress reactions that typically occur This would allow him to look at the effects they were having think this way, and how you can look at healthier ways to
within one month after a person is exposed to a traumatic and how they were hurting him and getting in the way of his think about the situation. He was able to look at his initial
event. The disorder may include signs of increased stress, work life and relationship with his wife. We incorporated interpretation and find alternatives.
negative mood, avoidance and dissociation. Some may have compassion and care with the need to help Jeffery process Together, we came up with specific goals for him to
difficulty concentrating, an inability to experience positive his thoughts, and he was able to become more present and work on, and he was able to write down affirmations and
emotions, sleep disturbances and irritability. aware of his reactions and acknowledge the reality of the encouraging statements to redirect his thinking. I also had
Jeffery could not get through a regular day without falling trauma that he was trying to avoid. him work on a gratitude list to help him make a conscious
into the cycle of worry, sleeplessness and irritability. He was He also shared that after the accident he had to deal with effort when interacting with his wife. A study of couples
finding it more difficult to tolerate the uncertainty at work so many doctors and specialists to heal the physical issues, found that individuals who took time to express gratitude
and communicate with his wife. that it brought up his old feelings of not being good enough. for their partner not only felt more positive toward the
During our discussions he noted he was having additional While he was in physical therapy, he felt limited, like he other person but also felt more comfortable expressing
symptoms, such as flashbacks, rapid heart rate, and feelings couldn’t do anything. He started feeling worthless, and that concerns to each other about their relationship.
of guilt about the accident. It was making him want to is when he began comparing himself to his coworkers and Results: Jeffery had a noticeable reduction in his anxiety.
dissociate because the psychological distress was too much. having feelings of inadequacy. He had trouble sleeping, He was able to recognize any early triggers and process his
The effects were almost unbearable, causing him to resort and when he would get to work the anxiety would kick in. thoughts in a more useful way. As treatment progressed,
to such avoidance tactics as snapping at his wife whenever We worked on his tendencies to avoid his physiological rather than jumping to conclusions and taking things
she complained he was being distant and wasn’t listening responses and snapping at others when he became irritated. personally, he is now able to be more positive, see different
to her. Jeffery felt he should be able to just shake off the I helped him practice experimenting with new ways to perspectives, and move through the situation. He has
uncomfortable feelings and get back to the way he was before approach the problems at work. new resources and coping skills that have enabled him
the accident. I used cognitive restructuring to build his awareness of to be aware of his thoughts and emotions; identify how
Trauma can cause your brain to remain in a state of his behaviors and then reduce his reactions to the stresses he situations can influence his emotions, and work through
hypervigilance and trap you in a constant state of strong was facing. After the accident, he began having maladaptive any dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors to have better
emotional reactivity. Being in a negative mood state can thought processes around the memories of the accident and outcomes. He has since regained his social skills with other
also alter the way we think. Jeffery was trapped in this state bringing it into other areas of his life. I gave him homework people at work and has learned to move past the negative
and was continuing to think about the accident. This is a sheets to look at the cognitive distortions that he was relying comparisons. Jeffery feels more confident with problem-
common reaction to trauma, and since his symptoms were on, so he could become aware of his negative tendencies. solving skills and regulating his emotions when they arise
happening within a month after the accident occurred, it He was using “should” statements like “I should be able to without having anxiety attacks and he is sleeping better. He
was clear he was suffering from acute stress disorder, and shake it off.” He was also catastrophizing his failures if he is much more open to exploring other options and dealing
that if left untreated it can lead to post-traumatic stress didn’t reach his own expectations for certain goals he had with change. CBT targets current problems and symptoms
disorder (PTSD). set. He’d have extreme thoughts that it was over, and he and is typically delivered over 12-16 sessions in either an
The Treatment: In order to help Jeffrey minimize the would never succeed again. We worked together to help him individual or group format.
impact that his thoughts and feelings were having in his trade his negative thoughts by replacing them with more
personal, professional and social life, it was important to adaptive thinking.

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