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Acute stress disorder is a psychological condition that is because of experiencing a traumatic event.
Between approximately 14% and 33% of people who experience a severely traumatic event develop acute stress disorder.
At a Glance
After experiencing a traumatic event, many symptoms can follow.
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Experiencing negative symptoms after a painful event is known as acute stress disorder.
If these symptoms last for longer than one month, it can be classified as PTSD.
Medication and psychotherapy can help.
How Long Does Acute Stress Disorder Last Exactly?
This means that in some instances, acute stress disorder could be viewed as a precursor to PTSD.
By some estimates, around half of the people diagnosed with acute stress disorder are likely to develop PTSD.
What Do the Symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder Look Like?
The symptoms of acute stress disorder and PTSD are very similar.
Some examples include:
Arousal Symptoms
Arousal symptoms are more physical symptoms than those in other categories.
They are also more likely to interfere with your daily functioning.
You could also present an abnormal MRI (brain imaging scan) in certain scenarios.
If symptoms of acute stress disorder are present for more than a month, then its classified as PTSD.
So, What Causes Acute Stress Disorder?
Acute stress disorder is triggered by either experiencing a traumatic event directly or witnessing a traumatic event.
Some of the risk factors include:
Is There Treatment for Acute Stress Disorder?
Treatment for acute stress disorder typically involves the use of medication and psychotherapy.
Additional types of effective psychotherapy includecognitive processing therapy (CPT)andprolonged exposure (PE).
However, in some severe cases, it might be used alongside psychotherapy.
In some instances, if left untreated, it can develop into PTSD.
Getting an early diagnosis and seeking treatment is crucial!
Here are other tips to help you cope with this condition:
Acute stress disorder is a short-term condition.
This means that with the proper treatment, you may begin to feel some relief from your symptoms.
Some people can even recover on their own.
yo reach out to amental health professionalif you’re experiencing painful symptoms related to a traumatic event.
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