When the World Shifts: Understanding Acute Stress and PTSD

There are moments in life that shake us. Moments that don’t ask permission, don’t give warning, and don’t make sense.

I’ve sat with many people in the aftermath—when everything feels scrambled and too loud, or too quiet. When sleep won’t come, when your body won’t settle, when the world no longer feels safe.

Sometimes someone sits down in my office and just stares, eyes wide or brimming. Other times their story pours out in a rush, like if they don’t say it fast enough, it might swallow them whole. I’ve seen the toll that trauma—both sudden and long-held—can take on the nervous system, the spirit, the sense of self.

And in those quiet moments, I often hear someone ask:
“Is this PTSD?”
Or, the opposite:
“I think I’m just really stressed.”

The truth? Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference—especially when you’re inside the storm. But understanding how acute stress and post-traumatic stress differ can be a powerful first step in naming what’s happening and finding your way forward.

Acute Stress vs. PTSD: What's the Difference?

When something overwhelming or terrifying happens—a car accident, an assault, a breakup that knocks the wind out of you, a medical scare, or a community tragedy—your body and brain react in very human ways. Your nervous system steps in to protect you. You may feel jumpy, confused, on edge. Sleep disappears. You relive the moment. You feel raw and exposed.

This is acute stress, and it’s not just normal—it’s expected. Most people will experience symptoms of acute stress in the days or weeks following a traumatic, stressful, or confusing event.

It doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re human.

Acute stress can look like:

• Difficulty sleeping or nightmares

• Mood swings or irritability

• Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks

• Trouble concentrating

• Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected

• Changes in appetite

• Physical symptoms like headaches or fatigue

For many, these symptoms ease over time as the mind and body begin to process the event. But for others, the pain lingers, deepens, or becomes tangled in daily life. When the symptoms last longer than a month and start interfering with your ability to live, love, and function—it may be PTSD.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is not a weakness or failure to cope. It’s a signal that your system is still stuck in survival mode—even though the danger has passed.

PTSD might show up as:

• Ongoing nightmares or vivid flashbacks

• Avoiding anything that reminds you of the trauma

• Feeling constantly on edge or unsafe

• Negative beliefs about yourself or the world

• Emotional numbness or disconnect from loved ones

• A sense that the trauma is still happening

And What About Children?

Kids experience trauma too—but they don’t always show it in ways adults expect. They may not say, “I’m scared,” but they’ll show it.

A child struggling with acute stress or PTSD might:

• Regress to earlier behaviors (thumb-sucking, bedwetting, baby talk)

• Seem clingy, angry, withdrawn, or overly compliant

• Play out the traumatic event repeatedly in games or drawings

• Have trouble sleeping, concentrating, or engaging at school

• Display signs of constant vigilance or startle easily

• Never want to be alone, asking a trusted person to be with the at all times

• Emotionally detach or feel “numb”

Some teens may become more reckless, shut down emotionally, or push away the people they need most. And just like adults, they may not even connect their symptoms to the event that caused them.

Children heal through safe relationships, predictable routines, and emotional connection. If something feels “off,” you don’t have to wait to seek support.

One Practice to Carry With You

Whether you or your child is navigating acute stress or PTSD, healing begins with learning how to come back to the present moment—especially when your body feels hijacked by fear or overwhelm.

One of my favorite grounding tools is called “5–4–3–2–1: Orienting to the Present” It gently reminds your nervous system that right now, you are safe.

Try this:

5–4–3–2–1: Orienting to the Present

• 5 things you see – Look around and name five things you can see.

• 4 things you can touch – Reach out and notice texture, temperature, pressure.

• 3 things you hear – Let yourself notice ambient sounds or silence.

• 2 things you smell – A scent around you, or a favorite memory of one.

• 1 thing you taste – Something nearby or a favorite flavor.

Now place your hand gently on your heart or lap and say:
“Right now, I am safe.”

It might sound simple—but this practice can be an anchor in the storm. It helps bring you out of a reactive survival state and back into the here and now, where healing begins.

You’re Not Alone

If you’re reading this and something in your chest nods in recognition—please know this: you are not alone. Whether the event was recent or long ago, whether you’re navigating it yourself or worried about your child, your experience is real. And there is help.

At Moonstone Wellness in Laramie, Wyoming, we create a space where you can begin to unpack the weight of what happened—at your own pace, in your own way. We offer support for individuals and families dealing with trauma, stress, and everything in between.

You don’t have to carry this alone. Reach out when you’re ready. We’ll meet you there.