Unfortunately, many people will experience a stressful event in their lives — a medical emergency, a natural disaster, a traffic accident, or a global COVID-19 outbreak. And, regardless of the traumatic event, everyone will react differently to it. It is not necessary to be present during a traumatic event for it to impact us; we can be affected if we witness another person go through one or learn of one that a relative or close friend has gone through.
Acute stress disorder (ASD) is a mental health condition that can develop quickly following a traumatic event. A person suffering from acute stress disorder is likely to have a strong emotional reaction to a traumatic event in the month following the event. If they begin or continue to have a reaction after one month from the trauma, they have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Individuals with ASD cannot function at work or school or in social situations as they did before the event. Additionally, it may discourage a trauma survivor from seeking assistance.
Symptoms
Physical symptoms are caused by stress hormones such as adrenaline (epinephrine) and an overactive nervous system. Palpitations or chest pain and breathing difficulties are common. Other symptoms include stomach pain, nausea, and excessive sweating. These symptoms typically manifest minutes or hours after the traumatic event and resolve within a few hours or days. However, in some instances, the symptoms can last weeks.
There are five distinct subtypes of acute stress disorder symptoms, which include the following:
Dissociation. Following a traumatic incident, this category of symptoms includes an altered sense of time and detachment from one's own body.
Intrusion. These symptoms may include flashbacks to the traumatic incident, nightmares about it, or any other intrusive thoughts.
Arousal. Symptoms include difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, irritability, and a charged state of mind.
Avoidance. Includes avoiding stimuli that trigger memories of one trauma, such as specific locations, feelings, or even people. (Remember, individuals who naturally behave in this manner may be more prone to acute stress disorder.)
Negative mood. Usually manifest as an inability to experience positive emotions and a constant state of depression.
Many people recover from acute stress disorder when they are removed from the traumatic situation. Most people recover when given appropriate support in the form of understanding, empathy for their distress, and the opportunity to describe what occurred and their reaction to it. Psychological debriefing is a brief therapeutic intervention conducted immediately following a traumatic event to allow traumatised individuals to "talk it all out." While some people have found such intervention beneficial, others have been re-traumatised by discussing the situation that caused them distress in the first place.
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