What Can Trigger Acute Stress Disorder and How to Deal With This Condition : Dealing with traumatic events could be stressful and tiring. The after-effects of the event could cause one emotional grief or show physically debilitating symptoms. Acute system disorder (ASD) is the human condition one develops post a traumatic event.
It is essential that one seeks treatment for ASD. According to key findings released by CDC, 2.2% of adults in the US have ASD. The condition might be long-term for some adults, and they might need to seek continuous support. If the symptoms are left unattended, they could possibly develop into another condition known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The article will look at ASD, its triggers, symptoms, and treatment options.
What is Acute Stress Disorder?
Acute Stress Disorder or ASD is a type of anxiety disorder that you can develop if you have faced a traumatic event recently. The symptoms of ASD typically start showing in the month after the event has occurred. The condition can last anywhere from 3 to 30 days. If left undiagnosed or untreated, the symptoms could persist well beyond a month, and you could develop PTSD.
What Can Trigger Acute Stress Disorder?
Any event that causes feelings of extreme stress, fear, grief, loss, helplessness, horror could trigger ASD. You could be a victim of the event. You might be a witness, or being confronted by the whole traumatic experience could leave an impact on you.
Some of the events that could trigger ASD are:
- Death of a loved one
- Domestic violence
- Sexual abuse
- Home invasions
- Mugging
- Accidents
- The threat of grave injury to others or yourself
- Threat to the life of others or yourself
The severity of your condition could depend on the nature of the traumatic event one experiences.
What Symptoms Does Acute Stress Disorder Show?
- Often feeling negative emotions like sadness, hopelessness, defeat, or self-harm.
- Having nightmares and flashbacks of the event.
- You block your memories and avoid thinking about the event.
- Finding it difficult to separate reality and dreams.
- You are often restless, your mind keeps racing, and you are easily irritated or stressed out.
How to Deal with Acute Stress Disorder?
You cannot control or possibly avoid trauma all together in life. But, you can seek treatment as soon as possible that will help process your feelings and cope with the event. If diagnosed with ASD, you are at an additional risk of developing other conditions like anxiety and depression.
The human condition of ASD could be treated by any of the following therapy types.
Psychiatric Evaluation
It is best to get a psychiatric evaluation done by a medical professional. Every person reacts to trauma in a unique way. Thus it is essential to understand a patient’s specific needs. Diagnosing ASD is the first step towards choosing the appropriate treatment depending on the severity of your condition.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT involves talking through one’s negative thought patterns to understand the cause of the triggers and identify underlying issues, if any. CBT is one of the preferred therapy types as people have shown faster recovery and less likelihood of developing PTSD.
Exposure Therapy (ET)
ET involves revisiting the traumatic event in detail with the guidance of a therapist. Revisiting the events over time could weaken the hold the painful memories have on your mind. It could also help you process the event and your feelings towards it better.
Medication
In conjunction with therapy, you could also be prescribed medications temporarily to help relieve additional symptoms such as insomnia or anxiety.
Coping with traumatic events could take a toll on your mind and body. The human condition of ASD is a natural response of the mind protecting itself. Do not shy away from seeking treatment. Timely therapy sessions and medication could help alleviate the symptoms of ASD and help process the event better.
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