Acute Stress Disorder: What Is It?

Few people are unharmed after witnessing or having experienced a traumatic event. The mind receives the impact and, after a few days or weeks, changes occur. This is how acute stress disorder emerges, a psychological condition that thousands of people experience at some point in their lives.

No one is immune to a mental health problem. We are not wrong to say that this type of disorder is probably one of the most common. We can suffer from it when we witness a traffic accident, or when we witness the death of a loved one. Being the victim of a robbery or an assault are also associated factors.

Each person deals with this type of experience in their own way. Some face these types of events with good strategies. But usually such a state leads to severe exhaustion, intense anxiety, sleep disturbances, changes in behavior and emotional disturbances. Find out more about this disorder below.

Acute stress disorder: symptoms, causes and coping strategies

Acute stress disorder usually appears when a person is going through a high impact event . This situation can be complicated if left untreated or improperly treated. If allowed to pass, if the person does not seek expert help, they run the risk of being in a very serious psychological state.

Studies such as the one conducted at the University of New South Wales by Dr Richard Bryant indicate that once a person is diagnosed with such a diagnosis, it is essential that they receive adequate treatment to avoid and prevent the disorder. post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This clinical category emerged during World War I.

However, the label and the name it received were different: shell shock . This term was intended to describe a reality in which experiences at the front lines were like projectiles aimed directly at the brains of young soldiers. Explosions on the central nervous system which profoundly altered their state of mind and which brought them down.

What are the symptoms ? Acute stress disorder can be diagnosed when a person experiences a series of physical and psychological manifestations for at least three consecutive days after having had a traumatic experience.

If the symptoms persist for more than a month, we will already be dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. To establish the diagnosis, we can follow the criteria of the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders):

• Symptoms of intrusion. The person is captured by memory, by scenes that come back to him again and again in the form of flashes. These intrusive memories cause great suffering and can also appear in dreams.
• Symptoms associated with state of mind. Anguish, fear, constant despair …
• Dissociative symptoms. It is common to experience a feeling of unreality, not to fully believe what has happened. In addition, time seems to slow down and the environment is as if suspended in a strange sphere …
• Symptoms of excitement. Difficulty sleeping and concentrating, difficulty making decisions, connecting in the same way with friends, family, partner …
• Symptoms of avoidance. It is very common for the person who has just experienced a traumatic episode to make an effort not to think, to avoid what he sees, what he feels …

What Are the Causes of Acute Stress Disorder?

Not all people who have experienced trauma develop an acute stress disorder. We know, for example, that a person who already suffered from a psychological disorder (such as depression) is more likely to suffer from that disorder.

This is also the case for a person who has an avoidant coping style or who has already suffered previous trauma. Furthermore, to understand the mechanism of acute stress disorder, we need to take a trip to the central nervous system.

• When we experience a frightening or threatening event, the body activates an automatic response oriented to face the threat or to flee.
• We know that this type of disorder developed as an evolutionary mechanism. And this, to allow us to survive dangerous situations.
• These are high intensity experiences in which there is an excessive release of adrenaline and norepinephrine in the nervous system. These hormones generate changes: tachycardia, feeling of vigilance, fears, stiffness …

• Not only do we tend to keep reminding ourselves of the traumatic event, but we also fear that something like this might happen again. The anxiety is increasing and we stop seeing threats everywhere. Any stimulus terrifies us, everything is experienced with panic and the mind is captivated by this experience.

How is it treated?

As previously stated, once the acute stress disorder is diagnosed, the person should undergo therapy. This is to prevent this condition from becoming powerful and chronic. Some studies like the one conducted at the University of Bergen (Norway) support the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy.

Strategies such as cognitive restructuring, relaxation techniques, or imaginary or live exposure facilitate progress and improvement in most of these patients. We insist once again that we can all go through such a time.

In order to manage its impact and alleviate the symptoms, it is essential in any case to rely on the help of experts. There are times when we just can’t cope with issues on our own.

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