Acute Stress Disorder

Support for the Shock After the Storm

What Is Acute Stress Disorder?

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is a mental health condition that can develop in the days or weeks after experiencing a traumatic or intensely stressful event. It’s the brain and body’s immediate response to trauma, flooded with fear, shock, and hypervigilance. If left untreated, acute stress can linger and may develop into Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

At Alleviant Integrated Mental Health, we recognize that healing from trauma begins the moment it happens. Our brain-based, whole-person approach helps calm the nervous system, support emotional processing, and prevent long-term effects so you can begin to feel safe again.

 

Common Symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder

Acute Stress Disorder often shows up within hours to a few days after a traumatic event. Symptoms may include:

  • Feeling dazed, detached, or numb

  • Intense fear, panic, or helplessness

  • Nightmares or flashbacks

  • Avoiding reminders of the event

  • Trouble sleeping or concentrating

  • Irritability, anger, or being easily startled

  • Physical symptoms like headaches, nausea, or chest tightness

These reactions are common, but when they interfere with your ability to function, it’s time to get support. Early treatment can make a lasting difference.

 

Our Integrative Approach to Treating Acute Stress

Alleviant uses a model called Objective Psychiatry that looks beyond symptoms to understand how trauma is affecting your brain, body, and emotions. We tailor your care using neuroscience, psychiatry, therapy, and integrative supports that restore balance and promote healing.

Our treatment may include:

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Comprehensive Psychiatry (In-Person or Telehealth)

Our psychiatry services provide thoughtful evaluation and personalized treatment to support emotional stability, improve daily functioning, and promote long-term mental wellness.

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Medication Management

Medications such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants (when carefully monitored) can help manage episodes. Our team creates an individualized plan based on your history, biology, and response — with pharmacogenetic testing available for enhanced precision.

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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

FDA-cleared neuromodulation therapies that help rebalance the brain’s stress circuits and restore calm.

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Therapy (In-Person or Telehealth)

Immediate trauma-informed therapy helps you process what happened, manage your responses, and reduce the risk of developing PTSD.

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Spectral EEG (sEEG)

A painless, non-invasive scan that identifies brainwave dysregulation triggered by trauma, guiding treatment with real-time data.

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Health Coaching (Telehealth)

Acute stress impacts the whole body. We support recovery by addressing inflammation, sleep, nutrition, and hormonal imbalances that may be affecting your nervous system.

Trauma Doesn’t Have to Define What Happens Next

If you’re feeling overwhelmed after a traumatic event, you’re not broken. You’re responding to something painful. With the right care, healing is possible. You don’t have to carry this alone.

At Alleviant, we focus on both immediate relief and long-term resilience. Our goal is to help you feel stable and supported right now, while also reducing the risk of long-term complications. Using advanced brain-based insights, we don’t rely on guesswork. We map your brain to better understand what’s happening and guide your care. Because trauma affects the whole person, our approach addresses the mind, body, and brain together for deeper healing. We also provide a safe, judgment-free space where you’ll be met with compassion, whether your trauma is recent or something you’ve carried for a long time. And if coming into the clinic feels overwhelming, you can begin care from the safety and comfort of your own home through telehealth.

Schedule an appointment online or call your nearest Alleviant clinic. Whether you’re in crisis or just starting to feel the effects, we’re here to help you take the next step toward safety, clarity, and healing.

Schedule Your Appointment

Schedule an appointment today by calling us at (866) 951-4325 or by clicking below.

In-person and virtual visits are available.

Insurances Accepted

Logos of various health insurance companies, including Aetna, Allwell, Ambetter, Arkansas Medicaid, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, GEHA, Humana, Magellan Health, Medicare, Optum, QualChoice, TRICARE, UnitedHealthcare.

This is not an inclusive list as we are in-network with most major insurances.