It is estimated that acute stress disorder affects up to 7% of Americans.This number increases significantly in those with traumatic experiences such as war, natural disasters, or sexual abuse. Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is characterized by extreme anxiety and panic attacks following a traumatic event.
The symptoms can last for weeks or months after the acute trauma has passed, but most people make a full recovery within six months. If you are experiencing acute stress disorder symptoms more than six months after the acute trauma has ended, it’s important to seek professional help from your doctor or therapist before the condition worsens into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about acute stress disorder.
What is Acute Stress Disorder?
Acute Stress Disorder is a disorder that develops in acute situations. Acute stress disorder typically occurs the same day of the traumatic event, and it usually dissipates within three months. A person with acute stress disorder may have difficulty functioning socially, at work or school, or even with daily tasks. If acute stress disorder lasts more than one month after the traumatic event has ended, this is considered chronic PTSD.
Acute stress disorder can be caused by a multitude of events such as sexual assault, natural disasters, terrorist attacks and car crashes to name just a few. There are many symptoms associated with acute stress disorder including: feeling numb or detached from others; being easily startled; having trouble sleeping or concentrating on tasks; avoiding thoughts about what happened for the traumatic event; avoiding feelings or emotions about the event; having headaches, digestive problems, and/or rapid heart rate; feeling irritable; and more.
Is acute stress disorder considered a mental illness?
Acute stress disorder is not a mental illness. It’s acute stress, or acute traumatic stress, which can result from an event that violates the person’s sense of safety or psychological well-being.
Many people experience acute traumatic events during their lifetime and do not develop acute stress disorder. Acute trauma may include natural disasters, physical assault, sexual assault or attempted rape, terrorist attack or hostage situation. The symptoms are primarily emotional responses to the event rather than reactions to any specific diagnosis.
Symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder
Stress symptoms vary from person to person. You may have acute stress disorder if you start having symptoms soon after a traumatic event, such as acute stress disorder. These symptoms usually show up within three days of the stressful event but can happen later in some cases. People who experience acute stress disorder might have:
Headaches are the most common acute pain that people experience, and can be triggered by everything from stress to medications. Headache is characterized by an unpleasant sensation in the head, often accompanied by sensitivity to light or sound. The frequency of headaches varies greatly between different individuals; some may only experience them once every few months while others might get them weekly or even daily.
Headache can be acute or chronic. Acute headache is any pain that lasts for less than three months, while chronic pain persists beyond the acute phase. Headaches are generally harmless and typically resolve on their own within a few days or weeks, without causing permanent damage to the brain. However, in some cases acute headaches may indicate an underlying neurological problem. If acute headache is associated with other acute neurological symptoms, such as weakness or numbness in any part of the body, then it may indicate that there is an underlying disease process that requires medical attention.
Chest pain or discomfort is one of the acute stress disorder symptoms that you need to know. The chest pain or discomfort can be acute, which means that it lasts for less than four hours. If the chest pain is acute, it’s not caused by an ongoing medical condition and may be treated at home with rest and medication for pain. If you think you’re having an acute stress disorder attack, please call emergency services right away.
Acute Stress Disorder is a mental health condition that comes on after an acute traumatic event. Unlike Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, acute stress disorder does not manifest as disturbing flashbacks and nightmares of the original trauma, but instead manifests as symptoms such as sweating, trembling, and nausea.
Acute stress disorder can be caused by any acute stressful event such as sexual assault or natural disasters. Acute stress disorder is diagnosed when these symptoms last for four days or more. Treatment for acute stress disorder typically involves psychotherapy and medication to reduce the intensity of symptoms until they subside altogether.
If you experience symptoms similar to those described above please seek immediate help from a medical professional so that you do not suffer any long term effects from this debilitating disease.
It’s natural to feel dizzy when you are in acute stress.
The reason for this is the adrenaline rush which occurs in acute stress. Adrenaline has an effect on your blood pressure, heart rate and breathing that can make you feel lightheaded or even faint. It also reduces the amount of sugar in your blood stream, which could lead to feelings of weakness or trembling limbs.
Symptoms like these are not always a sign of acute stress disorder but they should be taken seriously if they last for more than a few minutes at any point during acute stress episodes. If you have these symptoms it’s important to get medical help right away before acute stress becomes chronic and causes lasting damage to your health.
Can acute stress disorder cause chills or hot flashes?
Chills are a result of the body’s response to external stimuli, such as cold temperatures. They can also be caused by an acute stress disorder when the individual is experiencing high levels of anxiety. However, there are other conditions that may lead to chills which you should consult your doctor about in order to receive proper treatment.
Hot flashes are usually experienced during menopause where hormones change and trigger hot flashes that come on suddenly and last for 10-20 minutes before they go away again. It is not possible for acute stress disorder to cause this type of symptom because it does not have any hormonal triggers associated with it. If you experience any kind of symptoms related to acute stress disorder you should consult your doctor immediately.
Many people experience acute stress disorder, and it’s nothing to worry about.
A person with acute stress disorder may feel unreal or detached from themselves or the world around them. The symptoms are temporary and will go away over time without any treatment. If acute stress disorder is left untreated for a long period of time, it can lead to other mental disorders like depression or schizophrenia. Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is not caused by anything that happened in the past but rather something happening currently; however, your thoughts on what has happened before can make you more susceptible to acute stress disorder if not properly dealt with through therapy.
It is important to remember that ASD occurs when an individual experiences severe emotional distress due to extreme fear or trauma which overwhelms their ability to cope or integrate the experience. This is a protective response that helps them avoid thinking about the trauma and prevents them from being overwhelmed.
Can Acute Stress Disorder Get Worse?
Acute Stress Disorder is a condition that affects people who have experienced or witnessed acute traumatic events. It can take many forms, but it always includes an acute reaction to the event in question. The diagnosis of acute stress disorder falls under post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related disorders. The symptoms are severe enough to interfere with one’s daily life, which include: nightmares, flashbacks, trouble sleeping or concentrating on tasks at hand. Acute Stress Disorder often goes away after about four weeks without professional intervention; however if the individual does not receive treatment for acute stress disorder then it may become chronic and turn into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). People who suffer from acute stress disorder will need help managing acute stress disorder symptoms before acute stress disorder can get worse.
Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder
Hospitalization is not necessary for acute stress disorder treatment. Acute stress disorder typically lasts less than 6 months. The acute stress disorder treatment includes psychiatric or psychological counseling, medications, and psycho-social therapy. A key component in acute stress disorder treatment is the advising of healthy lifestyle habits that include good nutrition, exercise, and an improved sleep schedule. Acute stress disorder is a temporary condition that can be controlled with the help of acute stress disorder treatment.
In Conclusion
Acute Stress Disorder is a serious medical condition that can have debilitating effects on an individual. Symptoms often include acute anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and insomnia. If you or someone you know suffers from acute stress disorder symptoms, call 911 immediately for emergency response services. It’s also important to see your doctor so they may prescribe the appropriate medication to treat acute stress disorder symptoms in order to prevent them from becoming chronic conditions which are more difficult to manage over time.
Acute stress disorder sufferers will find relief when their symptoms are addressed with treatment options such as cognitive behavioral therapy combined with prescription medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or benzodiazepines. Finally, it’s imperative not make any major life changes until acute stress disorder has resolved. Any major lifestyle changes can trigger acute stress disorder symptoms to flare up again, so allow your acute stress disorder treatment to take effect before beginning any new projects or commitments.
