Acute Stress Disorder

What is Acute Stress Anxiety Disorder?

Matthew was robbed at gunpoint while driving home. Anytime he remembers the incident, he gets anxious and sometimes screams in fear.

Femi had a terrible accident; he, however, managed to survive. These days, whenever he drives, he drives in fear and strong anxiety.

Rita’s fiancé abandoned her to marry her friend. Rita was heartbroken and disappointed. Since then, she has developed some form of hatred for guys, so when she is approached, she gets irritated and acts irrational.

The three examples above are what we call Acute Stress Anxiety Diosrder.

Acute Stress Anxiety Disorder is an intense and dysfunctional reaction that one exhibits after a devastating, significant traumatic experience that occurs within a month or two. If the reactions persist longer than two months, an individual is advised to consider getting a clinical diagnosis for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What are the symptoms of acute stress anxiety disorder?

People with acute stress anxiety disorder often times experience the following symptoms:

• Intense fear whenever the traumatic event is remembered.

• Pounding heart rate

• Obstructed breathing

• Headaches or body aches

• Sweating

• Fatigue

• Nightmares

• Avoiding reminders of the traumatic events

• Disturbed concentration

• Disrupted sleep patterns

What are the causes of acute stress anxiety disorder?

The causes of acute stress anxiety disorder are mostly within the boundaries of psychological and social factors. Psychological factors such as personal experiences, personality differences, or exaggerating our thoughts about traumatic events can put us at risk of developing acute stress anxiety disorder. Social factors such as the environments we live in can remind us of traumatic experiences, thus putting us at risk of developing acute stress anxiety disorder.

How can acute stress anxiety disorder be managed?

The treatment can be broadly grouped as follows: Psychotherapy (e.g., relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, acceptance and commitment therapy, etc.). Lifestyle modification (e.g., exercise, quality sleep, stress reduction, etc.). Use of anti-anxiety medications, which are often prescribed by psychiatrists. You must know that the use of anti-anxiety medications should be your last resort. It is only needed if the situation is worse and beyond control.