What disorder is associated with a delayed stress reaction?

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the condition associated with a delayed stress reaction. This disorder sometimes occurs following exposure to a traumatic event and is characterized by symptoms that may not appear until months or even years after the trauma. Individuals suffering from PTSD can experience flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the traumatic event.

PTSD is distinct from Acute Stress Disorder, which manifests soon after a traumatic event and generally lasts for a shorter duration. The symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder can resemble those of PTSD but appear within three days to a month after the trauma. In contrast, PTSD can emerge long after the initial incident, typically over a month post-exposure, which highlights the delayed response aspect of the disorder.

Other listed disorders, such as Exhaustion Syndrome and Resistance Syndrome, do not specifically present as a delayed reaction to stress. Exhaustion Syndrome refers to severe fatigue and is often linked to chronic stress, but it does not carry the same trauma-related implications as PTSD. Resistance Syndrome, although it refers to the body’s adaptation to stressors, does not represent a specific psychological disorder related to trauma like PTSD does. Thus, the link between PTSD and delayed stress reactions is what makes it the correct choice in this context.