Adjustment Disorder: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

What is an adjustment disorder?

An adjustment disorder (AD) causes us to react emotionally and behaviorally to an emotional shock, a major life change or a health problem. It’s a mental disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

It’s therefore a mental health problem, but it’s a normal and even healthy response to a stress factor. It should be distinguished from other disorders, such as anxiety disorder or depression.

It appears suddenly, generally within three months of the triggering event, and lasts no more than six months after the stress factor (I point out again: this is a general fact, but everyone’s different).

The causes of adjustment disorder

The causes of adjustment disorder are diverse and vary from person to person. Some common events that can trigger this disorder include:

• 🏠 Major life changes (moving house, new job…),
• 💔 Relationship or family problems (break-up, dispute with family or friends…),
• 💸 Financial difficulties,
• 🏥 Health problems,
• 😢 Bereavement.

All these situations are stressful for most people, but not everyone reacts in the same way. Some people are more vulnerable to adjustment disorder depending on a number of factors: personality, past experiences, social support, etc.

What are the symptoms of adjustment disorder?

As I said, symptoms can vary from one person to another. Once the shock is over, they don’t show up at the same rate:

• 👉 Depressed mood, sadness, or frequent crying: As clinical psychologist Deborah Serani points out, sadness is a natural and healthy reaction to life’s losses and disappointments. However, when this sadness persists and interferes with your ability to function, it may be a sign of an adjustment disorder.
• 👉 Anxiety, nervousness, or excessive worrying: A change or shock can cause a major loss of your bearings, leading to a great deal of worry and anticipatory anxiety.
• 👉 Sleep disorders, insomnia, or hypersomnia: When we experience a major upheaval, our relationship with sleep is totally disrupted. It’s both a symptom and an aggravating factor in AD.
• 👉 Irritability, mood swings, or angry outbursts: Anger is often a secondary emotion that masks deeper feelings of fear, sadness, or vulnerability related to the AD event, as psychologist Lise Bourbeau explains.
• 👉 Changes in appetite or weight: a shock or big change can have an impact on our diet and can also trigger eating disorders.
• 👉 Social withdrawal or avoiding usual activities: adjustment disorder very often causes social isolation and this, unfortunately, delays the recovery process.
• 👉 Difficulty concentrating or making decisions: Neuropsychologist Stanislas Dehaene explains that chronic stress can affect the brain’s executive functions, such as attention, working memory, and decision-making.

>>> Read; Why do I always make the wrong decisions?

It’s important to note that these symptoms must be present within three months of the stressful event and cause significant distress or a change in functioning for a diagnosis of adjustment disorder to be made.

How do you overcome adjustment disorder?

As clinical psychologist Jean-Pierre Chartier points out, adjustment disorder is a specific diagnosis that requires professional assessment and shouldn’t be confused with normal reactions to stress.

If you’re experiencing a few or many of the symptoms listed, it’s highly important that you consult a psychologist so that a diagnosis can be made. From there, you’ll be able to receive therapeutic support, which is the key to overcoming adjustment disorder.

In addition to this, we can also put in place a few strategies to help us regain our balance:

• 🧘‍♀️ Accept your emotions: Recognize that your feelings are valid and that it’s normal to feel overwhelmed when faced with a stressful situation.
• 🌸 Take care of yourself: Take time to relax, exercise, and do things you enjoy.
• 🗣️ Communicate: Talk about your feelings to friends, family, or a mental health professional.
• 🎯 Solve problems: Identify aspects of the situation that you can control and focus on finding solutions.
• 🌱 Be patient with yourself: The adaptation process takes time. Celebrate your small victories and remind yourself that every day is a new opportunity to progress.

Adjustment disorder can be confusing and overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. By doing so, you build resilience to help you face life’s challenges.

Be sure to check out the following articles;

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