Stress disorders
Stress disorders are a group of mental health conditions that fall under the field of psychiatry. These disorders are characterized by a significant emotional or psychological response to a traumatic or stressful event. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most well-known stress disorders. It occurs when someone has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, combat, or physical assault. Symptoms of PTSD can include intrusive memories or flashbacks of the event, avoidance of people or places that may trigger memories of the trauma, and increased arousal such as hyper-vigilance or difficulty sleeping. Acute stress disorder (ASD) is another stress disorder that occurs in response to a traumatic event. ASD symptoms are similar to PTSD but are typically more short-lived, lasting between three days and one month after the event.