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Adjustment Disorder

Adjustment disorder is a term that refers to an extreme reaction to a particularly stressful life event. It is generally a short-term condition that lasts six months or less, although some cases of this mental disorder can become chronic. It usually takes place within three months of the stressful event.

Symptoms of this disorder can include both emotional and behavioral changes. While this mental disorder will sometimes get better on its own once the patient adapts to the life change, others find that professional treatment can be quite effective and necessary.

Some of the common events that can lead to this disorder include:

• Death of a loved one
• Going away to school
• Getting married or divorced or ending a relationship
• The birth of a child
• Having an accident or being diagnosed with an illness
• Losing or changing a job
• Being the victim of an accident or surviving a disaster

An adjustment disorder can affect people of all ages, including children, and occurs in men as well as women. Children tend to have more behavioral changes while adults often have more emotional symptoms of the disorder. In some cases, it may take longer for a child to overcome this type of disorder than it does for adults.

Medical professionals are not sure why some people will suffer from the disorder and others won't, but some theories include risk factors like experiencing stress in childhood, inability to embrace change or other pre-existing mental problems.

Symptoms of Adjustment Disorder

• Feelings of sadness and hopelessness
• Nervousness, anxiety and excessive worry
• Trouble sleeping
• Distraction and difficulty concentrating
• A feeling of being overwhelmed
• Thoughts of suicide

In addition to these emotional symptoms, behavior may also be affected by this mental disorder, which may include reckless behaviors like fighting, refusing to pay bills, driving too fast, skipping school or work and avoiding family and friends. When symptoms begin to get in the way of daily life, professional treatment may be needed.

Treatment For Adjustment Disorder

If you suspect that you are suffering from this mental disorder, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. If this disorder is left unchecked it can create other complications like substance abuse or major depression.

The most effective treatment for this type of disorder is usually psychotherapy, which involves talking through the stressful event that brought on the symptoms. The patient will also learn coping skills to move past the event and return to a normal routine. This might be done in an individual setting or through group or family therapy. Sometimes a combination of these methods might be used.

This disorder is quite common after a particularly stressful event, and can happen to almost anyone. The good news is that most people respond quite well to psychotherapy and most patients can move past the stressful event and get back to normal activities. The key is to recognize the symptoms and seek professional help so treatment can begin as soon as possible.

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