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Acute stress, sometimes called an acute stress reaction, can develop after a traumatic or highly stressful event. Symptoms may appear quickly and can affect sleep, mood, concentration, relationships and daily functioning.
Recovery Scotland is an information and referral support service. We do not diagnose acute stress, provide clinical treatment or operate a rehab centre. We can help you understand support pathways and, where appropriate, discuss providers who may be able to assess your needs.
If symptoms feel overwhelming, if substance use is increasing, or if you are worried about your safety, speak with a GP, NHS 24 on 111, a qualified mental health professional or an appropriate treatment provider. In an emergency, call 999.
Get In Touch
Recovery Scotland can offer confidential guidance about acute stress and addiction support options. We do not provide treatment directly, but we can help you understand next steps and possible referral routes.
Contact us or call 01475 303998.
If you have witnessed or experienced a traumatic or stressful event and are experiencing flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia, low mood, panic, avoidance or increased alcohol or drug use, it may be important to seek professional advice.
Support should be based on an assessment of your symptoms, risks, substance use, physical health and support network. Recovery Scotland can help you understand what treatment pathways may be available.
Signs And Symptoms Of Acute Stress
Acute stress symptoms can be psychological, emotional and physical. They may include:
- Intrusive memories, flashbacks or nightmares
- Feeling detached, numb or unreal
- Insomnia or disrupted sleep
- Anxiety, panic, irritability or low mood
- Avoiding reminders of the event
- Difficulty concentrating
- Increased alcohol or drug use to cope
- Thoughts of self-harm or feeling unsafe
If there is immediate danger, call 999. For urgent non-emergency advice in Scotland, contact NHS 24 on 111 or speak with a GP.
Acute Stress Treatment Options
Support options may include GP advice, trauma-informed therapy, counselling, medication review where clinically appropriate, crisis support, community mental health services, addiction services and private treatment providers.
The right option depends on the person’s symptoms, risk level, substance use and support needs. A suitable provider should explain who completes the assessment, what care is available and what follow-up support is included.
Addiction and Acute Stress Support
Alcohol or drug use can sometimes increase after trauma or periods of acute stress. Some people use substances to sleep, avoid memories or manage distress, but this can make symptoms harder to manage over time.
Recovery Scotland does not provide addiction or acute stress treatment directly. Where appropriate, we can help people explore providers who assess both substance use and mental health needs, including co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis support.
Before choosing a provider, ask whether they can support trauma-related symptoms, whether detox is available if required, what therapies are offered, who delivers clinical care and what aftercare is included.
Choosing The Right Acute Stress Support
A professional assessment can help identify the most suitable pathway. This may include mental health support, addiction treatment, GP care, crisis support, therapy or a combination of services.
Recovery Scotland can help you prepare questions for providers and understand possible referral routes. We do not carry out clinical assessments, admit people to a facility or provide treatment programmes ourselves.
John Gillen
- Author
- Last updated: June 17, 2026
John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. His passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases. The journey continues. In recent times, John has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with NAD+ scientists and the very best of the medical professionals in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Hospitals own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists. Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with NAD+ Therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.