Which of the following symptoms is categorized as an "intrusion" symptom experienced by patients with acute stress?

Flashbacks are considered an "intrusion" symptom experienced by patients with acute stress because they involve the involuntary re-experiencing of a traumatic event. During a flashback, a person may feel as though they are reliving the traumatic event as if it is happening in the present moment. This symptom can be intensely distressing and can significantly disrupt a person’s daily functioning. Flashbacks may occur suddenly and out of context, often triggered by reminders of the trauma.

Emotional numbness can be a result of the stress response but is more associated with avoidance symptoms rather than intrusion. Withdrawal, too, is generally linked to avoidance and hyperarousal symptoms rather than to the re-experiencing of trauma. Cognitive distortions can occur in various types of stress responses, but they do not fit the specific criteria for intrusion symptoms, which are characterized by re-experiencing the traumatic event itself.