Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is a short-term trauma response that develops in the days or weeks immediately following exposure to a traumatic or deeply distressing event.
It is the mind and body's immediate reaction to an experience that has overwhelmed the normal capacity to cope.

Acute Stress Disorder can follow any event that involves actual or threatened death, serious injury, sexual violence or other forms of severe threat. This includes road traffic accidents, physical assault, witnessing violence, sudden bereavement, medical emergencies, natural disasters, workplace accidents and other shocking or life-threatening events.

ASD is different from normal stress or upset following a difficult event. It involves a cluster of specific symptoms that significantly impair daily functioning and that persist beyond the immediate moment of the event.
By definition, ASD occurs within one month of the traumatic event. If symptoms persist beyond one month, the condition may develop into Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Early, effective intervention is crucial. Research consistently shows that addressing trauma symptoms promptly and with the right therapeutic approach significantly reduces the risk of ASD progressing into long-term PTSD. Hypnotherapy is one of the most effective early interventions available.