What is acute stress disorder?
There are different psychological effects of stress that can result in different stress disorders. A person with acute stress disorder symptoms can have an acute stress reaction during the first month after a traumatic event. Often, this involves feeling afraid or on edge, flashbacks or nightmares, difficulty sleeping, or other symptoms. If your loved one has symptoms that last longer than a month and make it hard to go about daily routines, go to work or school, or handle important tasks, he or she could have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).