When you think about trauma-related disorders, more well-known conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) might come to mind. While PTSD is relatively common, it is not the only trauma-related disorder that can impact your mental health. According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, 70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced a traumatic event at least once in their lives. Not all trauma fits neatly into a specific diagnosis like PTSD, though. This is where unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder (UTSRD) comes in.
UTSRD is a diagnosis used when someone is experiencing significant symptoms related to trauma or stress, but those symptoms don’t meet the full criteria for a specific disorder like PTSD. This is typically used when the symptoms of a trauma- or stressor-related disorder are present, but there’s not enough information to make a more specific diagnosis.
Another similar diagnosis is other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder (OSTSRD). This is used when a clinician specifies why someone doesn’t meet certain criteria. For example, your provider might describe your condition as involving partial PTSD symptoms.
If you are struggling with emotional challenges that stem from stress or trauma, understanding UTSRD may help you get more insights into your own condition. Learning about trauma-related disorders like UTSRD can be a vital step toward getting the help you need and experiencing long-term mental wellness.
What is UTSRD?
UTSRD is characterized by mental health symptoms that occur following a stressful or traumatic event. If you experience mental health symptoms connected to trauma, but you don’t meet the criteria for a specific trauma-related disorder, you may be diagnosed with UTSRD. UTSRD symptoms can occur due to many different kinds of traumatic experiences, including:
- Abuse or neglect
- Natural disasters
- Car accidents
- Violence
- Major life changes like divorce or job loss
Someone with UTSRD experiences real emotional and psychological distress. However, their symptoms may not fit the full criteria for disorders like PTSD or acute stress disorder. This does not mean that UTSRD is a less serious condition. People experiencing UTSRD may experience persistent symptoms, including emotional numbness, anxiety and intrusive thoughts. If you’re experiencing these symptoms or other symptoms indicative of UTSRD, seeking treatment can be vital.
Sarah’s journey with UTSRD: A fictional example
To get a better understanding of UTSRD, it can help to see how it might actually affect someone. Let’s imagine Sarah, a 32-year-old teacher who recently survived a major car accident. Although she wasn’t seriously injured, the experience was terrifying and stressful. Since the accident, Sarah has been thinking about it for weeks. She has trouble going to sleep at night due to nightmares about her accident. She’s afraid to drive again. When she does, she experiences vivid flashbacks. At work, she starts to notice she has a shorter temper. She easily gets irritable with her students and colleagues.
When Sarah’s symptoms don’t go away after a few weeks, she decides to go see a therapist. Her therapist says she doesn’t meet the full criteria for PTSD because her symptoms haven’t lasted long enough and she’s missing some key markers like hypervigilance. Instead, Sarah is diagnosed with UTSRD, which allows her to receive treatment for her symptoms.
While Sarah’s story isn’t real, many people do have similar experiences with UTSRD. Like other mental health disorders, UTSRD is complicated. Trauma and stress affect people differently due to various psychological, social and environmental factors. Some people may be more sensitive to trauma because of their family history. Past experiences can also play a significant role. If Sarah experienced trauma earlier in life, for example, her car accident could reinforce fears and cause her to respond more intensely to stressful events.
Social and environmental factors can have positive and negative effects. The impact of these factors will depend on an individual’s unique situation. If Sarah’s teaching job is stressful, it could make her symptoms more severe. If she has a strong social support network, though, she might have an easier time recovering from her symptoms.
When addressing your symptoms, a good mental health treatment provider will consider all the factors in your life. Getting care tailored to your personal mental health needs can be essential to making lasting improvement.
Lightfully can help you address your UTSRD symptoms
You can get top-notch professional mental health treatment for your UTSRD at Lightfully. Everything we do is based on evidence, driven by compassion and centered on whole-person-centered care. Our Precision Care Model (PCM) is designed to target the drivers behind mental health disorders and symptoms. If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma or stress, Lightfully is here to help.
Change is possible. When you’re ready to get treatment for UTSRD, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.
