Acute Stress Disorder Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Acute Stress Disorder?
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is a psychological disorder that can occur in response to a traumatic event. It is characterized by intrusive memories, flashbacks, and nightmares of the traumatic event, as well as feelings of numbness and detachment. ASD can last anywhere from three days to one month after the trauma has occurred.Those who have experienced a traumatic event may be more likely to develop ASD than those who have not. Traumatic events that may trigger ASD include natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, violent assaults, sexual or physical abuse, terrorist attacks, war-related scenarios, or car accidents. People with pre-existing mental health conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may also be more susceptible to developing ASD following a traumatic experience. Symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder include difficulty sleeping or concentrating; feeling detached from family members or friends; being easily startled; feeling on edge all the time; experiencing strong reactions when reminded of the trauma; avoiding activities that can trigger memories of the trauma; extreme guilt or shame related to the experience; irritability or outbursts of anger; difficulty remembering details about what happened during the traumatic event; and recurrent nightmares related to the trauma. Treatment for Acute Stress Disorder usually involves psychotherapy combined with medication if needed. Treatment typically focuses on helping individuals process and work through their thoughts and feelings about their traumatic experience in order to reduce distress associated with remembering it. Therapy focuses on providing education about how PTSD works so individuals can better understand their experiences and learn coping skills for managing symptoms like anxiety and hyperarousal. Medications such as antidepressants are often used in conjunction with therapy in order to reduce symptoms like insomnia or intrusive thoughts/images related to PTSD reminders so individuals can focus more on their recovery process during therapy sessions. Although acute stress disorder is generally short-term in nature, it is important to seek professional help if you are having trouble managing your symptoms in order prevent further complications from occurring due to delayed treatment seeking behavior.