A traumatic event is one that involves or threatens death, serious injury, or a threat to physical integrity, causing intense fear, helplessness, or horror in the individual. An example of a traumatic event could be a severe car accident where someone is seriously injured or witnesses a fatality. The intense fear and helplessness experienced during the accident can deeply impact the individual, making it a traumatic event.
Acute stress disorder symptoms include a mix of dissociative and anxiety-related symptoms, along with avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event. Dissociative symptoms may include emotional detachment, temporary memory loss, depersonalization, and derealization.