Characteristics Of Acute Stress Disorder

Few people are untouched after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. The mind receives the influence and knows the consequences. Thus, disturbances occur after a few days or weeks. Psychology refers to these as acute. Even though you may not be aware of it, everyone experiences trauma at some point in their lives.

No one is free of mental health problems. In fact, this type of disorder is possibly one of the most common. You can experience it when a loved one dies, or when you witness an accident. Being a victim of an abuse is also a factor.

Each person treats this type of experience differently. Some people also have strategies for dealing with traumatic events. On average, it is quite common to occur in states with high emotional stress, intense anxiety, sleep disorders, behavioral changes and emotional ups and downs.

Acute stress disorder: Symptoms, causes and coping strategies

Acute usually occurs when a person undergoes a major event. However, this situation can be complicated if you do not address it properly. Thus, you risk your health if you do not seek expert help.

Studies such as the one conducted at the University of New South Wales by Dr. Richard Bryant indicate that it is crucial for a person diagnosed with acute to receive adequate treatment. It is the only way to prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

This clinical category emerged during World War I. However, they referred to it as grenade shock at the time. This term described a reality where the experiences on the battlefield resembled projectiles aimed directly at the brains of young soldiers. Explosions in the central nervous system left them in despair and with a rather altered state of mind.

Symptoms

A person has acute when they suffer from a series of physical and mental manifestations for at least three days in a row after experiencing a traumatic experience. It is important to know that they face post-traumatic stress disorder if the symptoms last more than a month.

These are some of the criteria DSM-V ( Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ) uses to make a diagnosis:

• Intrusive thoughts. A person has increasingly difficult memories in the form of flashbacks. These intrusive memories bother them and often appear in dreams.
• Symptoms associated with the state of mind. These manifest themselves as anguish, fear and constant distress.
• Dissociative symptoms. A person often experiences a feeling of not being present, of not believing that something terrible actually happened. In addition, time seems to go slower, and they may feel immersed in it.

• Excitement. Difficulty sleeping and concentrating, difficulty making decisions, and difficulty communicating with friends, family, and partners.
• Avoidance behavior. It is common for a person who has just experienced something traumatic to try not to think to avoid what they saw and felt.

What are the causes of acute stress disorder?

Not everyone who goes through a traumatic experience will develop an acute stress disorder. In fact , mainly those who previously suffered from a mental illness (such as depression) develop this more often. Even those with an avoidant coping style or who have had previous trauma are more likely to develop this.

Similarly, we need to understand the central nervous system to understand the mechanism of acute stress disorder.

• The body activates an automatic fight or flight response  when you experience a frightening or threatening event.

• This type of disorder is an evolutionary mechanism that allows humans to survive dangerous situations.
• These are intense experiences where the nervous system releases large amounts of adrenaline and noradrenaline. These hormones cause tachycardias, alertness, fear, muscle aches, etc.
• The most striking part is not only that people tend to remember a traumatic event over and over again. We also fear that something like this will happen again. The anguish is increasing and it feels like there are threats everywhere. Every stimulus is frightening and the mind remains trapped by the bad experience.

Treatment for acute stress disorder

A person must undergo therapy to avoid more exhausting and even chronic conditions after the acute diagnosis. At the very least, studies conducted at the University of Bergen support the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy.

Strategies such as cognitive restructuring, relaxation techniques, and imaginary or vivid exposure enable progress and improvement in many of these patients.

To conclude, remember that everyone goes through a traumatic experience at some point in life. Thus, you need to seek help to deal with the impact, alleviate the symptoms and learn some coping strategies. You just can not do all things alone.