Differences between acute stress and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

At some point, we all come to present levels of stress. This is to a certain extent normal in everyday life, because routine and unforeseen events sometimes generate this experience.

However, it is good to understand that there are important differences in terms of stress levels and the origin of it. In this article we will deal with clarifying What are the differences between acute stress and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?.

To clearly establish the differences between these two types of stress, we will first see a summary of each of them, and then we will go on to establish the specific differences that exist between the themselves.

• Related article: "Types of stress and their triggers"

What is acute stress?

This type of stress occurs in the subject after having experienced some kind of adverse circumstance in your life or after witnessing someone else's misfortune. For example, a car accident, a particularly difficult breakup, etc.

It is very similar to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, since the symptoms are almost the same. One of the most significant differences between acute stress and post-traumatic stress disorder is, yes, the prevalence of these symptoms in the person.

In general, the symptoms of acute stress disorder usually last between three days to a maximum of one month. The intensity of the stress and its consequences on the subject's general health will depend on the severity of the event that has occurred. Its severity is subjective (seriousness depends on the perception that the subject gives to the event).

Symptoms are characterized by the presence of intrusive thoughts, which are related to the negative experience they lived, causing the person to feel threatened in certain situations that remind him of the event, even when the context does not represent a real threat.

Other symptoms may be:

• affective lability (sudden and rapid mood swings)
• Affective flattening (Emotionally numb)
• Alterations of consciousness (feeling that they are not real)
• Difficulty staying focused
• Sleeping problems
• Recurring dreams related to the traumatic event

To establish the diagnosis of this disorder the intensity and prevalence of these symptoms in the subject should be assessed. These must be intense enough to affect at least three significant areas in the subject's life.

Regarding the prevalence, it must be expressed between three days and a month; after this period the symptoms should begin to decrease naturally.

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder is characterized by intense feelings of anxiety and worry in situations that for the affected person represent a similarity or are related to some traumatic event that has happened in his life, and even just remembering what occurred.

As occurs with acute stress disorder, in this case the subject has intrusive thoughts related to past trauma, and levels of anxiety that intensify in situations that the person identifies as similar to those of the trauma in question.

For example, a subject who has been in a car accident once could develop post-traumatic stress disorder; Which would generate a feeling of fear in some occasions when he thinks of cars.

The intensity of the distress must be sufficient to affect three areas of the person's life, but in this case, the prevalence of symptoms is usually greater than one month. In the most intense cases, the symptoms could last up to a semester.

Differences between PTSD and acute stress

Below we will see a list of differences between acute stress and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

1. The time when symptoms appear

While in acute stress the characteristic symptoms begin shortly after suffering the traumatic event, in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder the symptoms start after at least one month has elapsed.

It could happen that before presenting the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder the person shows the symptoms of the acute stress, but it would not be until after a month that the intensity of the symptoms began to be significant.

2. The prevalence of symptoms

In cases of acute stress, the symptoms begin to decrease after a month, and may happen that the subject overcomes his trauma and can face the situations that remind him of the event traumatic.

With regard to post-traumatic stress, the prevalence of symptoms is greater, and can last even 6 months, depending on each case.

final consideration

To conclude, it can be said that the most decisive differences between these two types of stress are the onset of symptoms and their duration in the patient.

The treatment for both cases is similar. This includes from psychotherapy sessions with the subject and family members. Cognitive-behavioral therapies are one of the most implemented in these cases, and can be combined with the administration of an anxiolytic indicated by the doctor.

Bibliographic references:

• Bisson, J.I., Cosgrove, S., Lewis, C., Robert, N.P. (2015). Post-traumatic stress disorder. BMJ. 351:h6161.
• Herman, J. L. (1992). Complex PTSD: A syndrome in survivors of prolonged and repeated trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress. 5 (3): 377 - 391.