Acute Stress

Acute Stress as it relates to Narcissistic Abuse is a transient or fluctuating state of hyper-arousal caused by activation of the fight or flight system based on social stimuli. Typically, when and if a person suffering from acute levels of stress has issues, there is a correlated clear onset and offset of patterns based on exposure to trauma, Narcissistic Abuse, Cluster B personality types, and or a victim is provoked. PTSD triggers activated can force the sufferer’s body into an acute state of stress.

PTSD triggers activated can force the sufferer’s body into an acute state of stress. Many hypertension type chronic illnesses tend to arise in Narcissistic Abuse victims after prolonged or repeated exposure to provoking, baiting, or stimulating contact attempts. As such, acute levels of stress are oftentimes seen in victims of Domestic Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Workplace Bullying.

Acute stress disorders like C-PTSD tend to manifest rapidly with prolonged or intense short-term duration contact with abusive predators, most especially for victims who are in Domestic Violence Relocation settings or who are being targeted pervasively by an Aggravated Stalker.

Even higher levels of acute stress tend to manifest for victims of child abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, those who have been threatened with death or physical brutality themselves (or had their children, pets and/or loved ones threatened to be killed, kidnapped, stolen, or injured).

When and if the state of hyper-arousal becomes persistent or pervasive, it can manifest specifically as Acute Stress Disorder (something similar to C-PTSD) that develops without abuse or trauma exposure needing to be conditioned for the victim or patient suffering from acute stress to have their emotional regulation become disordered.

As Psychology Today notes, “Acute Stress Disorder is characterized by the development of severe anxiety, dissociative, and other symptoms that occur within one month after exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor (e.g., witnessing a death or serious accident).

As a response to the traumatic event, the individual develops dissociative symptoms.” When a patient or abuse victim is exposed to stressors or stress triggers, it becomes incredibly difficult for them to relax. Tension becomes a pervasive state in the body, leading to extreme fatigue, feelings of hopelessness, severe agitation, and chronic hypervigilance at best.

« Back to Glossary Index

About Dr Kristi Sobering, Licensed Non-Denominational Minister and Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Advocate

Visit fb.com/soberingfamilyministries to connect with Kristi Sobering -- aka Kae Davis the Exotic Car, Hollywood Culture, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Celebrity Property, George Clooney, and Green Celebrity News Examiner -- directly. Did we mention she's a Car Girl version of Temple Grandin? Her specialty area of expertise is writing about Cars and Stars and Moobies. Vibrational speed: Mach Hummingbird, Storybots calibration. She's also an INTP and an Urban Legend of sorts (because she's a girl). She live writes a "Novel of Dante-esque Proportions" over on eusociology.com for her Ai and Sentient Tech friends and Lifetime Learners to read Jack in the Beanstalk Christmas tree style first. Her academic passion is centered around Forensic Psychology and Pop Culture History. She is a safe person to know. She and her husband Steve submitted a Medical Diagnostic to the NASA and Windows 10 Design Team #HackMars competition. She advocates for #SavingDorothy and #TeamEmpath still regularly. While she's waiting. Actively researching and documenting. And planning #AncestryTravel events to include long drives through the European and North American countrysides by or before the year 2030. She and her husband share their "off-grid emergency airbnb ready solo traveler emergency home" with their two dogs and two cats. The pet-friendly celebrity couples like to garden and to watch squirrels in the yard. She writes self-help literature to raise awareness about things like Autism Spectrum Disorders, Gluten Ataxia, Aphasia, PTSD, Anxiety Disorders Caused by Exposure to Trauma, Medication Sensitivities, Gluten Free Travel, Service Dogs and Therapy Pets, the USO Metro, and Crohn's Disease while advocating daily for global genetic testing and accurate reporting of C-PTSD as well as TBI issues.