ASD vs PTSD: Distinuguishing Between the Two

If you experience ASD, it's more likely you'll develop PTSD. One study has found that 80 percent of people with ASD develop PTSD. However, not ... Getthehelpyouneedrightnow 240-545-5141 DistinguishingBetweenASDandPTSD Author:IAFFStaff May30,2018 Studiesshowthatabout20percentoffirefightersandparamedicswillexperiencepost-traumaticstressdisorder(PTSD)atsomepointintheircareer,comparedto3.5percentofthegeneralpopulation.However,acutestressdisorder(ASD)islesserknown.Youmaynotrecognizethesignsofthisspecificmentalhealthdisorder. ASDcanoccurinthemonthfollowingatrauma.ThesymptomsassociatedwithASDoverlapwiththoseofPTSD.AnotabledifferenceisthataPTSDdiagnosiscannotbegivenuntilsymptomshavelastedforatleastonemonth. Dailyexposuretotraumacantakeatollandcausecumulativestress.Sometimes,aparticularincidentpiercesyouremotionaldefenses.BothASDandPTSDareverypersonalresponsestothesesortsoftraumaticevents.Followingapotentiallytraumaticincident,anentiredepartmentmightappeartobecopingadequatelyonthesurface,butsomemaybecouldbeexperiencingASDsymptoms. SymptomsofASD SymptomsofASDmayincludeintrusivethoughtsaboutthatonecall,nightmares,dreams,negativemood-swings,difficultyexperiencinghappinessorfeelingdisconnectedfromothers.Ifyou’resufferingfromASD,youmayavoidtalkingaboutthetraumaticcallordrivingbythelocationofthecall.Youmaybeunabletoremembersomeorallofthetraumaticincident,whichcanalsobeaccompaniedbyproblemsconcentrating,irritabilityordifficultysleeping.SymptomsofASDcanalsointerferewithwork,relationshipsandevenwiththedesireandabilitytoseekhelp. DoesASDPredictPTSD? IfyouexperienceASD,it’smorelikelyyou’lldevelopPTSD.Onestudyhasfoundthat80percentofpeoplewithASDdevelopPTSD.However,noteveryonewhoexperiencesASDwilldevelopPTSD.Conversely,youmaynotexperienceASDbutstilldevelopPTSDlater.Studiesindicatethatasmallpercentage(4-13percent)ofpeoplewhodonotdevelopASDinthefirstmonthafteratraumaticexperiencewillexperiencePTSDinthemonthsorevenyearsaftertheincident. GettingHelp Youmayhaveyourownsupportsystemthroughfamilyorfellowfirefighters,andmaybeabletoworkthroughyoursymptomswiththosepeople.Butifthesymptomsaresevere,thesesupportsystemsmaynotbeenough.It’svitaltogethelpbeforeASDgetsworse.TheIAFFCenterofExcellenceoffersavarietyofprogramstohelptreatanymentalhealthdisorder,including:cognitivebehavioralhealth(CBT),groupandfamilytherapy,pharmaceuticaltherapy,andaftercareplanning. It’simportanttoknowthewarningsignsandtalktosomeone.Youdon’thavetobattlementalhealthissuesalone.CalltheIAFFCenterofExcellencetolearnmoreabouttreatmentoptionsandsupport.Telephonesarestaffedaroundtheclockwithprofessionalswhounderstandtheseissuesandcanhelpyougetintoaprogramthatworksbestforyou. MedicalDisclaimer:TheIAFFCenterofExcellenceaimstoimprovethequalityoflifeforpeoplestrugglingwithasubstanceuseormentalhealthdisorderwithfact-basedcontentaboutthenatureofbehavioralhealthconditions,treatmentoptionsandtheirrelatedoutcomes.Wepublishmaterialthatisresearched,cited,editedandreviewedbylicensedmedicalprofessionals.Theinformationweprovideisnotintendedtobeasubstituteforprofessionalmedicaladvice,diagnosisortreatment.Itshouldnotbeusedinplaceoftheadviceofyourphysicianorotherqualifiedhealthcareprovider. Wecanhelp.Call240-545-5141or GetHelpNow We'reheretohelpyouoryourlovedone.240-545-5141