Exposure to a traumatic event, whether or not the individual is directly involved, can lead to a state known as Acute Stress Disorder (ASD). The symptoms associated with ASD are, acute stress, amnesia, detachment, depersonalization and derealization. These symptoms, collectively known as dissociative reactions, will tend to occur during the traumatic event or up to a month later.
The American Psychiatric Association describes a person with ASD as, ‘experiencing difficulty concentrating,...


