Is Acute Stress Disorder Less Severe Than PTSD?

What’s the difference, and how can EMDR help?

Acute stress disorder (ASD) and PTSD are diagnoses that occur after traumatic experiences, whether it be a car wreck, abuse, assault, or something similar. Both can create significant impairment in people’s mental health and also have problematic consequences in your day-to-day life.

They are classified as anxiety disorders in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – what we use to diagnose clients).  It’s true that they’re similar in a lot of ways, but the duration and onset are quite different. That is why it’s easy to get them confuses and have questions comes up including if Acute Stress Disorder is less severe than PTSD. In this article, we’ll hopefully provide a good answer for that.

But regardless of the severity, there's hope: both can be treated with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy. At EMDR Therapy Nashville, we offer therapy services with certified and compassionate therapists who can help you or your loved one struggling with these disorders regain balance in their lives.

What is Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)  

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) refers to the discomfort and disruptive symptoms that appear within 3 days to 4 weeks after a traumatic episode. Granted, it is similar to PTSD and many confuse it but it is not the same. Now, is it less severe than PTSD? Not necessarily.

Let's look at some of the symptoms: 

  • Anxiety

  • Intense fear

  • Feeling of helplessness

  • Emotional numbness

  • Intrusive memories

  • Dissociation

  • Avoidance of situations, people or events related to the trauma experienced.

These reactions appear after only a few days after the event.  First off, there can be some confusion because we don't know exactly why some people react to trauma differently than others. Some experience intense symptoms very quickly, others much later, and others never. The good news? There is an effective and efficient treatment for it.

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)  

Okay, now let's move on to PTSD. As you will see, it is quite similar to Acute Stress Disorder (ASD). It occurs in people who lived through traumatic situations that, like Acute Stress Disorder, have had a significant impact on future functioning and discomfort.  It is diagnosed after at least a month after the original traumatic event. Both disorders share many of their symptoms, for example:

  • Anxiety and intense fear

  • Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts

  • Avoidance

  • Emotional numbness

  • Panic attacks

  • Hypervigilance

For someone to be diagnosed with PTSD, it requires that they have several more symptoms than ASD. 

Key Differences Between ASD and PTSD

Let's list the key differences between ASD and PTSD. The first is the duration and onset. As we saw in the previous section, ASD has a short duration, about 3 to 30 days after the traumatic event.

PTSD, on the other hand, has a much longer duration, lasting more than 30 days after the traumatic event. That is why the term “post-traumatic” is used. 

More info:  So if after 30 days after the traumatic event you feel intense anxiety, dissociation, nightmares, avoidance of events, situations or people associated with the trauma, etc., and not only that, but they increase in intensity, then we are no longer talking about ASD but PTSD.

For example, people with ASD feel the symptoms very intensely, even if only for a short period of time. This strongly hinders their work and social life. Intrusive thoughts of the event may block their conversation or train of thought, creating problems or misunderstandings in their social interactions.

People with ASD can also dissociate, which is a defense mechanism the brain has when experiencing intense stress or anxiety. This causes them to lose touch with their surroundings (environment) and makes it difficult for them to complete tasks or hold responsibilities.

However, these symptoms end after about a month either with the help of EMDR or sometimes on their own. For EMDR for ASD our therapists at EMDR Therapy Nashville can utilize a recent event protocol to speed the processing of the event, resolve it sooner, as well as help to avoid the transition to a PTSD or ongoing diagnosis.

In the case of PTSD, these can last for years if left untreated. A person who is in a constant state of hypervigilance, anxiety, avoiding situations and people, having nightmares, and irritability can have a significant impairment in their social and professional life. Their ability to sustain jobs or relationships for long periods can become very challenging, sometimes even ruining their financial and emotional stability. 

When ASD is treated early, it is easier for the person to deal with the symptoms effectively, and they do not become chronic and much more difficult to manage than a person with PTSD.

Is Acute Stress Disorder Less Severe than PTSD? 

It is difficult to determine objectively whether one disorder is less severe than the other. We can say that PTSD has a longer and more intense duration, but people with ASD suffer very similar symptoms as those with PTSD.

However, it should be noted that everyone experiences trauma differently and uniquely. The severity of either varies person to person and their ability to cope with symptoms like anxiety, flashbacks, dissociation, etc. Thus, ASD is not necessarily less severe than PTSD.

We can’t always prevent trauma from happening – it’s unfortunately just part of life sometimes.  What is controllable however is working on it early to prevent ASD from turning into PTSD by not being addressed in time. That is why we stress the importance of early intervention, whether it is you or a loved one you suspect is struggling with one of these. This helps prevent the long-term consequences and emotional distress related to these disorders.

EMDR Therapy for the Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD 

You’re presumably at this page because you’ve heard of EMDR or are learning more about it now.  For a recap, and please feel free to dive in to other blogs about trauma, EMDR is a revolutionary treatment that can effectively ameliorate trauma-related symptoms, such as the two disorders mentioned in this article: ASD and PTSD.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was created by Francine Shapiro in the 80's, and it does not require you to talk in detail about the traumatic event you experienced (we know how difficult and painful that can be). Let me explain in more detail. EMDR is based on the principle that traumatic memories are not processed in a “normal” way. They get stuck or frozen in the brain. Do you know what that translates to? They can't be processed correctly. The result? The symptoms we mentioned above.

EMDR for Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)

Using EMDR therapy for people with ASD is crucial. This prevents it from turning into a diagnosis of PTSD. I recommend starting therapy as soon as the first symptom of the trauma, or in fact, as soon as the event occurs to kind of prevent the most disruptive and uncomfortable patterns from consolidating.

When EMDR therapy is introduced in the first few days or weeks after the event, symptoms such as hypervigilance, avoidance, intrusive thoughts, etc., can be diminished or resolved. Therefore, the risk of developing into PTSD is considerably reduced.

EMDR for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

When we are dealing with PTSD, EMDR therapy focuses on working with the most distressing parts of the memory and the symptoms related to the memories of the event (hypervigilance, avoidance, flashbacks and so on). 

Yes, it can take a little more work to get the brain to process these memories correctly, but EMDR therapy is there to do exactly that. One study found that people with PTSD stopped being diagnosed with PTSD after as few as about 6 sessions of EMDR. The fact that the memory is being reprocessed in a safe and controlled environment motivates clients to keep going deeper in their healing journey.

The world's most recognized health organizations endorse the effectiveness of EMDR therapy. That is why the WHO and the APA name it as the first type of treatment to address trauma. In addition to reducing symptoms in a short period of time, it also produces positive effects that are sustainable over time, i.e. permanent and lasting change.

EMDR Therapy Nashville

At EMDR Therapy Nashville we are dedicated to helping people overcome trauma-related symptoms. Whether the event was recent or happened a long time ago, our trained therapists can treat ASD or PTSD with the effectiveness, compassion, and the vast majority of the time positive results.

We understand the scars that trauma leaves on the lives of those who suffer from it. We do not take this lightly and we are committed to helping you move on from the past and rebuild your life, a dignified and fulfilling life worth exploring.

EMDR Therapy Nashville therapy sessions are personalized. We tailor the process to the unique needs of each client. Remember what I said at the beginning? Everyone experiences trauma differently.

If you suffer from ASD, EMDR therapy can help you desensitize the emotional responses related to the trauma and prevent it from turning into PTSD. If you are dealing with PTSD, our experienced and empathic therapists will make sure you feel safe and confident enough to reprocess those traumatic events that are deeply ingrained in your brain. 

But we know that you are more than your trauma. Our approach with clients is holistic, that is, we are not only interested in getting your trauma resolved, but we want to help you work on your emotional well-being and sense of resilience.

Choose EMDR Therapy Nashville if you want to experience this type of therapy under the care of experienced and compassionate therapists who truly value your well-being. At our clinic you will never feel judged or left out and we will be with you every step of the way to your freedom.

Book Your Appointment Today

I hope that the difference between ASD and PTSD is now clearer. To recap, both are disorders that come after a traumatic event. The difference is that ASD is diagnosed after the first few days of the event and has a duration of about 30 days.

On the contrary, PTSD is diagnosed when these symptoms are prolonged or intensified after 30 days. Is one of them more severe than the other?  Not necessarily, each person has a unique resilience capacity, and some people suffer more from the symptoms of trauma than others, regardless of their duration.

However, one key difference is that it can be helpful and important to prevent an ASD from developing into PTSD. Why? Well, imagine someone living with constant fear, anxiety, emotional numbness, and all the other symptoms associated with trauma. Their whole life can be affected and the more time passes, the more the troubling outcomes can be compounded.

At EMDR Therapy Nashville we offer therapy services that can treat both disorders. If you, a loved one or someone you know is going through the heartbreaking effects of trauma, you (or they) are not alone. Contact us and book an appointment to learn more about how we work and how this type of therapy can benefit you. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Does EMDR Therapy Work For Trauma? (Yes)