Acute Stress DisorderAcute stress disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that is diagnosed within a short period of time after a traumatic event that threatened one's personal safety or life. The trauma that provoked the stress disorder must be one that was witnessed or experienced directly by the patient and that resulted in feelings of helplessness and intense fear. Examples of such events might include a rape, natural disaster or time in combat. Symptoms are generally seen within a month after the event occurred. The earlier the symptoms present and are diagnosed, the better the prognosis usually is. Symptoms of Acute Stress DisorderThere are a number of symptoms that might appear after a particularly traumatic event. These symptoms might include:• A feeling of numbness or detachment from others • A temporary loss of memory about details of the event • A lack of awareness of an individual's surroundings • Anxiety symptoms such as irritability, sleep problems and an inability to concentrate • Re-experiencing the event through dreams, flashbacks or recurrent thoughts • Avoidance of people or situations that might bring back recollections of the event 
To be diagnosed as an acute stress disorder, the symptoms should last between two days and four weeks and be severe enough to get in the way of the patient's daily social and vocational activities. The sooner the symptoms are identified and diagnosed, the more effective treatment can be.
Treatment OptionsMedication has not been proven to work specifically on the stress disorder symptoms, although it is sometimes prescribed to treat the anxiety or depression that often accompanies this disorder. Instead, most doctors will use psychotherapy to address the problem. There are a couple of types of psychotherapy that have been proven effective in treating this type of anxiety disorder.Exposure therapy is a common treatment for the stress disorder, and will use clinical relaxation and imagery techniques to gradually expose the patient to the details of the trauma. Another type of therapy, known as cognitive therapy may also be used to treat this type of anxiety disorder. Instead of exposing the patient to details of the traumatic event, this therapy will allow a patient to deconstruct their negative feelings about the event so that he can deal with the accompanying anxiety. Alternative TreatmentsSome patients will also choose alternative therapies for dealing with acute stress disorder. These might include sessions of acupuncture, biofeedback or relaxation exercises such as yoga.
Massage
can also be a useful tool for treating the stress disorder, but it should not be used on a patient who has suffered from physical abuse, such as in a rape or mugging situation. These alternative therapies can be used in conjunction with traditional treatments like psychotherapy and medication for best results.
If the stress disorder is not treated effectively in a fairly punctual manner, it can develop into post traumatic stress disorder, which can be harder to treat. That is why it is important for an individual who has experienced a traumatic event to seek professional help as soon as possible so treatment options can be explored right away. Return From Acute Stress Disorder To Anxiety Disorders
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