Stress Disorder - Symptoms, Risk factors and Treatment

Acute stress disorder is often a temporary condition that occurs after any traumatic event that causes psychological distress. The symptoms of acute stress disorder may remain from 3 to 30 days. However, if they last longer than that, you must visit a healthcare provider. 

Symptoms 

The symptoms of acute stress disorder resemble that of post-traumatic stress disorder. The signs and symptoms may include;

Intrusion symptoms- A condition when a person is unable to forget the traumatic event. They can not stop the flashbacks of that event from their mind. 

Mood- The person may have a low mood, sadness and may experience negative thoughts.

Dissociative symptoms- The person is unaware of their surroundings. They have an altered sense of reality. Moreover, they are also unable to remember parts of the traumatic event that happened. 

Avoidance symptoms- People going through stress disorder mindfully avoid people, social gatherings, thoughts, and places that recall them of the traumatic event. 

Arousal symptoms- the person may be unable to sleep at night- a condition called insomnia or may have other sleep difficulties. 

People with acute stress disorders may also have symptoms of anxiety and depression. 

The symptoms of anxiety include;

• Apprehension
• Motor tension
• Lightheadedness
• Sweating
• Abnormally high heart pulse
• Abnormally high breathing rate
• Pain in the upper abdomen
• Dizziness 
• Dry mouth
• Not being able to calm down 
• Inability to concentrate
• Can not stop thinking and worrying about the same thing
• Cold hands and feet
• Unable to fall asleep 
• Avoiding things extremely which causes you to fear.

The symptoms of depression may include;

• Feeling angry and agitated
• Losing interest in activities in which you were interested before
• Crying and feeling of hopelessness
• Loss of concentration
• Laying on couch/bed for a long time
• Avoiding exposure to friends and family
• Thinking negatively
• Feeling tired all the time
• Lack of energy
• Alterations in eating habits-either overeating or loss of appetite

Causes

Acute stress disorder can occur following any traumatic event. It can occur due to reasons like;

• Losing a loved one
• Receiving threats of death 
• Getting any serious injury
• natural calamities like earthquake or thunderstorms
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Getting raped or sexually assaulted
• Undergoing domestic abuse
• Receiving a diagnosis of terminal illness
• Surviving a traumatic brain injury

Tips to Get Rid of Anxiety

Engage Yourself in Different Activities

Do not let negative thoughts or the ones that bother you engage your mind. Instead, you can engage yourself in different interesting activities like painting, drawing, or pottery. These kinds of activities help you to connect with yourself and refresh your mind. They let your brain get rid of negative thoughts going on in your mind. List down the activities that you enjoy and incorporate them into your routine. Doing that will lift your mood, help get rid of anxiety, and eventually let you feel better. 

Talk to Someone

Pouring your heart out is essential to get rid of the thoughts that are bothering you. Speak to someone in your family or friend whom you trust. Tell them about the thing that is making you feel bad. A heart-to-heart conversation with a loved one can help in finding out solutions to your problems. Moreover, if you are upset with someone you love, talk to them. Do not avoid talking due to the fear of losing that person. Lack of communication can be dangerous for any relationship. Therefore connecting is essential. 

Get A Good Night Sleep

Sleeping is an essential component of keeping yourself healthy. If you want to stay fit, both physically and mentally, you must take a proper good night's sleep. When you do not sleep well at night, you constantly feel agitated in the daytime. Furthermore, when you sleep at night, your body repairs and heals itself that helps you get rid of many diseases and stress. 

Treatment 

Your healthcare provider will prescribe the treatment depending upon the severity of the depression and anxiety associated with stress. They may prescribe antidepressants, anxiolytics, and psychotherapy to cope with anxiety disorders. 

Conclusion 

Acute stress disorder may go on its own, sometime. In the meanwhile, you should help yourself to forget and get rid of that traumatic event. If you are unable to cope on your own, you should visit a healthcare provider soon.