Acute Stress Disorder
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) occurs in the days or weeks immediately following a traumatic event.
Acute Stress Disorder
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) occurs in the days or weeks immediately following a traumatic event. Many of its symptoms resemble PTSD—such as intrusive memories, avoidance, and hyperarousal—but the difference is timing: ASD lasts from 3 days up to 1 month after trauma. Not everyone who experiences ASD develops PTSD, but it is a strong predictor. Identifying and treating ASD early can help prevent chronic trauma-related disorders. In Saudi Arabia, where traumatic events like road accidents or sudden losses are relatively common, ASD often goes unrecognized because people assume the distress is simply a “normal reaction.” However, when symptoms are intense and disabling, professional support is crucial.
What constitutes Acute Stress Disorder?
Exposure to trauma followed by at least 9 symptoms from categories of intrusion, negative mood, dissociation, avoidance, and arousal, occurring within 3 days to 1 month after the event.
Symptoms and warning signs
- Flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or distressing dreams
- Dissociation: feeling “numb,” detached, or in a daze
- Avoidance of trauma reminders
- Hypervigilance, irritability, or exaggerated startle response
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Intense emotional distress interfering with functioning
Causes and risk factors
- Direct exposure to trauma
- History of trauma or mental illness
- Lack of immediate support system
- Severity and unpredictability of the traumatic event
Treatment approaches
- Early intervention: trauma-focused CBT is highly effective
- Psychoeducation: normalizing responses and reducing stigma
- Medication: short-term SSRIs or anxiolytics if distress is severe
- Supportive therapy: encouraging expression and social support
Why Act Center for Acute Stress Disorder in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia?
Our experienced trauma therapists in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia offer immediate support and early intervention to prevent the development of chronic PTSD.
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