Acute stress disorder Hypnotherapy Brisbane

1. What is acute stress disorder?
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is a short-term mental health condition that occurs in the weeks following a traumatic event, causing intense fear, anxiety, dissociation, and other distressing symptoms.

2. What causes acute stress disorder?
ASD is triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a serious accident, physical assault, natural disaster, or sudden death of a loved one.

3. What are the symptoms of acute stress disorder?
Symptoms include intrusive memories or flashbacks, emotional numbness, detachment, trouble concentrating, sleep disturbances, irritability, heightened startle response, and feeling as if the event is happening again.

4. How is ASD different from PTSD?
ASD occurs within 3 days to 1 month after the trauma. If symptoms last longer than a month and cause ongoing distress, the diagnosis may shift to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

5. Can hypnotherapy help with acute stress disorder?
Yes, when used gently and carefully. Hypnotherapy can help process traumatic memories, soothe the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and promote emotional healing without retraumatizing.

6. How is acute stress disorder treated?
Treatment can include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused therapies, hypnotherapy, grounding techniques, medication (for severe anxiety or sleep issues), and building a strong emotional support system.

7. Can ASD heal on its own?
Some people naturally recover within a few weeks with support and self-care, but others may need professional help to fully heal and prevent the development of PTSD.

8. What helps someone recover from acute stress disorder?
Safe emotional support, talking about feelings (when ready), gentle grounding techniques, building healthy routines (like good sleep and nutrition), and reducing exposure to additional stressors.

9. Is it important to seek early help for ASD?
Yes. Early intervention can significantly reduce the risk of developing long-term PTSD and helps you process the trauma before it becomes deeply entrenched in the mind and body.

10. When should someone seek professional help for acute stress disorder?
Seek help if symptoms are severe, persist beyond a few weeks, interfere with daily life, cause feelings of hopelessness, or if there are thoughts of self-harm.