Final answer:
An episodic acute stressor is an intense, short-term event that requires immediate emotional and physical coping mechanisms, such as the sudden death of a loved one or a serious vehicle accident, which could potentially lead to long-term effects like PTSD.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of an episodic acute stressor could be the sudden death of a loved one, an unexpected job loss, or a serious automobile accident. These types of stressors are intense, short-term experiences that can lead to overwhelming feelings, and sometimes, they can continue to be very distressing even after the initial incident has passed. Unlike chronic stressors that persist over an extended period, acute stressors like these are immediate and often require a significant demand on emotional and physical resources to cope with them.
An acute stressor could provoke strong emotional reactions, and the immediacy of the situation often necessitates a swift response or adaptation. In some cases, these stressors might also lead to long-term effects such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially if they are extremely traumatic and not adequately dealt with at the time of occurrence.