If you’ve recently experienced a traumatic event and are finding it hard to feel like yourself again, you may also wonder whether your symptoms are temporary or something more serious, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In 1994, acute stress disorder was identified as a way for people who recently endured trauma to access professional support before the symptoms evolved into a more significant mental health.1
Trauma has an emotional impact on many, and sometimes that impact is felt for a while. According to Cleveland Clinic, acute stress disorder affects between six and 33% of individuals who survive a trauma. The rate varies depending on the kind of trauma someone has experienced.
Whether your trauma symptoms are short-lived or you’ve been struggling for a while, Columbia Mental Health can help. We support clients at any point in their mental health journey, offering clinical excellence and compassion. Our locations provide anxiety and PTSD treatment, as well as a host of psychiatric care services, throughout the Washington, D.C., metro area.
What is acute stress disorder?
Acute stress disorder is a short-term mental health condition that may arise within days of someone experiencing trauma. It’s a common reaction to events that involve physical harm, emotional shock, or threat of death, such as a car accident, assault, natural disaster, or sudden loss. Symptoms typically begin within three days of the trauma and can last up to a month. During this time, the brain is processing the intensity of the experience. If left untreated, however, ASD can sometimes develop into PTSD.
Signs and symptoms of acute stress disorder
People respond to trauma in different ways. Some symptoms are immediate and intense; others are subtle or delayed. An event that qualifies as traumatic is also different across people. The signs below are common among individuals experiencing acute stress disorder:
- Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks: Recurring nightmares, mental images, or unwanted memories of the traumatic event.
- Emotional detachment: Feeling disconnected from yourself or others; difficulty experiencing emotions.
- Dissociation: Memory gaps, feeling as if the world isn’t real, or perceiving events as if you’re outside your own body.
- Heightened anxiety: Trouble sleeping, feeling jittery or on edge, increased irritability, and exaggerated startle responses.
- Avoidance behaviors: Deliberately avoiding people, places, or situations that remind you of the trauma.
- Negative mood: Persistent feelings of fear, hopelessness, or guilt—even when you’re physically safe.
These responses are common and valid—it doesn’t mean you’re weak or overreacting. It means your mind and body are responding to something that matters.
These symptoms can affect your daily routines, relationships, and overall well-being. If you recognize these patterns in yourself, support is available at Columbia Mental Health.
Acute stress disorder vs. PTSD: How to know when your symptoms have evolved
Many people confuse acute stress disorder with PTSD, and for good reason—they share overlapping symptoms. However, there are important differences in timing and scope.
Onset
- Acute stress disorder: Symptoms are noticed within three days of the traumatic event.
- PTSD: Symptoms persist beyond a month.
Duration
- Acute stress disorder: Three days to one month.
- PTSD: More than one month.
Symptoms
- Acute stress disorder: Emphasis on dissociation, anxiety, and re-experiencing.
- PTSD: Also impacts mood, avoidance, and functional impairment.
Treatment
- Acute stress disorder: Early intervention to prevent PTSD.
- PTSD: Long-term trauma-focused therapy.
Understanding these distinctions can help you seek care early or understand the type of therapeutic intervention you might need for significant healing. A licensed mental health professional can offer an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.
How therapy can help after experiencing trauma
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or numb after a traumatic event, you don’t have to face those symptoms alone. Participating in trauma-informed care helps those who have endured a difficult event process their emotions safely.
At Columbia Mental Health, our therapists offer a multidisciplinary approach to trauma to help you reclaim your life. The sooner acute stress disorder is addressed, the better the chances of preventing long-term effects or progression into PTSD.
Do you need mental health support in the Washington D.C. metro area?
If you’re dealing with the aftermath of trauma and living in the Washington, D.C. metro area, reach out to us. We serve communities across Virginia and Maryland and offer convenient telehealth therapy and psychiatric care options for those who prefer virtual support.
Our therapists and psychiatric providers will work with you to understand your experience and develop a care plan, including a treatment technique that best fits your needs. This may include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, exposure therapy, or other approaches tailored to your needs. Our therapists personalize care based on each individual’s goals and responses to treatment.
You don’t have to make sense of it all on your own, and you don’t have to wait.
Call Columbia Mental Health today and begin healing
Columbia Mental Health is here to help you manage your mental health. Give us a call today at 703.682.8208 to learn more.
For new clients, please click here [appointments page link] to schedule an appointment. For existing clients, please click here [location page link] and find your office location to contact your office directly.
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