Which type of stress is heavy-duty and lasts about 2 days to one month?

• A. Distress
• B. Acute stress
• C. Critical Incident Stress (CIS)
• D. PTSD

Answer: (C)

Critical Incident Stress is the short‑term, high‑intensity stress response that follows a single traumatic event and is managed with focused support and debriefing. It typically lasts a few days to about a month, which matches the described timeframe of heavy-duty stress. This approach is used to help people process the incident quickly and reduce the risk of longer-term problems, rather than creating a diagnosis or lasting impairment.

Distress is a broader, less specific negative reaction not tied to a single incident, and Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD refer to longer-term clinical conditions with specific criteria. Acute Stress Disorder (a formal diagnosis) can last up to a month, but the term here points to a broader, incident-focused intervention window, which is what Critical Incident Stress describes. PTSD involves symptoms persisting well beyond a month and beyond the immediate aftermath.