Becoming Aware of Acute Stress Disorder
Acute Stress Disorder is a relatively new diagnosis, as the American Psychiatric Association (APA) included it in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health.
Despite the fact that its symptoms are quite similar to those of post-traumatic stress disorder, it is nonetheless a distinct clinical diagnosis. A person suffering from acute stress disorder is distressed immediately after experiencing a distressing incident, and the symptoms last between 3 and 30 days. Direct or indirect exposure to a traumatic incident is possible.
Meeting an accident, witnessing violence, or coping with a threat are all examples of direct exposure. Distressing incidents involving close relatives, family members, or loved ones are examples of indirect exposure.
Acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms that remain longer than four weeks match the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. Acute stress disorder was removed from the classification of anxiety disorders in the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health in 2013 and is now classified as a trauma and other stressor disorder.
Acute stress disorder is very common in those who are exposed to significant disasters or terrorist events. According to a survey released by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, most persons develop ASD shortly after experiencing a traumatic event.
Everyone reacts differently to stressful events, but it’s crucial to be aware of the potential physical and psychological consequences. It’s impossible to say how many people suffer from acute stress disorder.
When traumatic events are significant or persistent, the probability of getting acute stress disorder (ASD) is higher.
Prevalence of Acute Stress Disorder
According to the survey, one or more stressful incidents occur in the lives of 20-90 percent of the population. However, only 1.3-11.2 percent of people with acute stress disorder (ASD) suffer long-term psychological difficulties, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Who’s at Risk?
Acute stress disorder can affect anyone, however, the likelihood of having it increase if you have the following factors:
- Abuse, violence, sexual assault, and other horrific situations are all things that a person with ASD had to deal with
- Experiencing dissociative symptoms in horrific situations in the past
- Experiencing problems with your mental health, such as (PTSD)
- Experiencing brain damage, handicap, and other life challenges
- being under the age of 40
- being a woman
Symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)
Acute stress disorder symptoms are comparable to those of PTSD and other stress disorders, however, they are divided into five categories.
Intrusive Symptoms
When a person with acute stress disorder begins to experience traumatic events through nightmares, flashbacks, recollections, illusions, or dreams.
Dealing with Negative Emotions
- When a person’s mood or energy is low, they have unpleasant thoughts and feelings of sadness.
- You may find it difficult to begin or finish important duties, or you might find it hard to tell people about the traumatic occurrence.
Symptoms of Detachment
Loss of a sense of reality, lack of awareness of surroundings, difficulty to recall parts of the traumatic incident, and feeling emotionally unresponsive are some ASD symptoms.
Avoidant Symptoms
A person with acute stress disorder avoids circumstances and events that remind them of a traumatic incident in the past when they have this type of symptom.
Arousal Symptoms
Insomnia and other sleep difficulties, inability to concentrate, and anger or violence, both verbal and physical, are examples. Individuals with acute stress disorder may also feel tight or on edge, and might be easily shocked.
Symptoms of acute stress disorder (ASD) last anywhere from three to four weeks and have a severe impact on one’s ability to operate.
Treatment Options for Acute Stress Disorder
Many people recover from acute stress disorder after they have been through an extreme experience. People with ASD can get better quickly if they receive adequate treatment and have the opportunity to speak up about their experiences.
Some people find it beneficial to repeat their experiences. Often, this support might come from friends and loved ones. Doctors and other healthcare experts can be advantageous in alternative situations. Physicians sometimes prescribe medications to help people cope with worry and sleep better.
In order to treat acute stress disorder, your doctor may utilize one or more of the following approaches:
- A psychiatric evaluation to identify the issues you’re having.
- If you’re on the verge of self-harm or suicide, you’ll be admitted to the hospital.
- Will inform you about the ramifications of this disease.
- To improve your chances of recovery, mental health experts will propose psychotherapy, preferably cognitive-behavioral theory.
An Approach that is Mindful
Self-care seeks to alleviate the stress, boredom, anger, despair, and loneliness that people with acute stress disorder (ASD) frequently feel. If circumstances permit, at-risk individuals should establish and adhere to a daily routine, such as getting up, showering, dressing, going outdoors for a walk, and preparing and eating regular meals.
Stretching and incorporating physical movement into one’s daily routine is also crucial. People can become so engrossed in the trauma or tragedy, so it’s a good idea to divert their attention to something else, such as reading a book or solving a puzzle.
An individual with acute stress disorder may feel “stuck” during and after a trauma, so finding activities that change the feeling state can be a relief: laughing, watching a funny movie, doing something goofy, or drawing with crayons.
Professionals typically recommend that individuals who have experienced significant traumatic situations have regular visits for at least six months.
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) Preventative Measures
There is no surefire strategy to avoid developing acute stress disorder, just as there is no guarantee that you will never have to face a horrific event in your life. There are, however, a few things you may do to reduce your odds of having such awful recollections.
Taking medicine as soon as possible after dealing with a distressing incident may minimize the risk of developing ASD. Individuals who work in a situation where there is a high likelihood of encountering traumatic events, such as in the military, have a higher risk of developing Acute Stress Disorder.
Debriefing and counseling sessions can also help lower their chance of acquiring acute stress disorder. These types of training entail the reenactment of traumatic situations to improve the ability to withstand such incidents without being mired in them.
A Point to Keep in Mind
Acute stress disorder and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are closely related and have many of the same symptoms. PTSD, on the other hand, is a chronic psychiatric disorder, whereas ASD is a short-term condition that usually recovers within a month.
A doctor may test a person for PTSD if they have symptoms of acute stress disorder for more than a month. Mental health professionals recommend it to have a consultation at the appropriate time to avoid delaying your condition.
