Diagnosis of acute stress disorder is based on a combination of your history and a physical examination to rule out diseases that can cause anxiety. You may have gone through a traumatic event that you have persistently re-experienced in images, thoughts, dreams, etc. or a sense of reliving the experience; or distress on exposure to reminders of the event. You may display avoidance of stimuli that arouse memories of it. You may have symptoms of anxiety or increased arousal. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairs your ability to do some necessary task, e. g. getting necessary assistance. The disturbance lasts for at least 2 days and at most 4 weeks and occurs within 4 weeks of the event. It is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general medical condition.
Attribution: Avallain