Understanding Adjustment Disorder

Learn More About Adjustment Disorder

Over the course of life, one can expect that a variety of stressful situations will occur. Major transitions including the death of a loved one, employment loss, or other large-scale changes will naturally result in one experiencing certain levels of distress from time to time. A stress response is a completely normal reaction to such experiences, and need not be viewed with acute concern. Each person deals with hardship in his or her own way, and over time, as one practices healthy coping mechanisms and self-care, one can expect the feelings of distress to dissipate.

But sometimes, these types of events will illicit the onset of feelings of distress that do not resolve within a typical interval of time. When one continues to experience feelings of acute levels of stress long after the activating event has passed, it may be a sign that a mental health condition, known as adjustment disorder, has set in, and professional help will be needed to overcome symptoms that can impede functioning in many aspects of an individual’s life.

Adjustment disorder in not a lifelong impairment because, unlike other mental health conditions, adjustment disorder will usually resolve in approximately three months’ time. But if the distress-prompting event or circumstances continue, so too will symptoms of the condition. When this occurs, one will need comprehensive mental health treatment in order to learn to navigate one’s symptoms, and regain control of his or her emotional wellbeing.

Statistics

Statistics of Adjustment Disorder

While it might be a lesser-known disorder than other mood impairments like anxiety or depression, adjustment disorder is an incredibly common experience. Vast numbers of men, women, and young people are suffering from adjustment disorder across the United States, in spite of the fact that few people are aware of the condition.

According to data collected by the American Psychological Association (APA), more than half of all individuals seeking either inpatient or outpatient treatment for mental health concerns possess a diagnosis of adjustment disorder.

Causes & Risks

Causes and Risk Factors for Adjustment Disorder

As stated above, adjustment disorder typically sets in after a traumatic, stressful event or experience. And yet, there is still more research to be done to uncover what puts one person at greater risk for developing the condition than another.

Risk Factors: While there is no single predictor, some causes and risk factors which are known to contribute to a person being more susceptible to suffering from adjustment disorder are briefly described below:

Becoming a parent
Changes in school
Retirement
Experiencing a natural disaster
Getting married
Business difficulties
Failing to attain occupational goals
Leaving or reentering a parental home
Suffering from a chronic and/or painful illness
Termination of a romantic relationship
Marital difficulties
Loss of a parent or other loved one
Significant problems in school
Living in a neighborhood that has a high rate of crime or violence

Signs & Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Adjustment Disorder

Without prior experience with the condition, it can sometimes be difficult to discern whether one is suffering from a typical response to a distressing situation, or from symptoms of adjustment disorder. The following outlines some signs that one’s symptoms are of clinical significance, and may require professional help to address:

Behavioral symptoms:

No longer participating in activities that were once enjoyed
Failure to attend work or school
Onset of self-harming behaviors
Tearfulness
No longer adhering to other daily responsibilities
Drop in performance at work or school
Aggressive outbursts
Making attempts at suicide
Isolating oneself from friends and family members

Physical symptoms:

Other bodily aches and pains
Sleep disturbances
Persistent headaches
Chest pains
Muscle tension
Changes in eating patterns

Cognitive symptoms:

Experiencing difficulty concentrating
Experiencing memory disturbances
Struggling to make good decisions
Suffering from an inability to use sound judgment and reasoning

Psychosocial symptoms:

Emotional instability
Depressed feelings
Feelings of nervousness
Anxious feelings
Feelings of hopelessness
Excessive feelings of worry, concern, or dread

Effects

Effects of Adjustment Disorder

Left untreated, adjustment disorder can severely impact one’s ability to function at home, at work, and at school. Without the proper supports, once can expect damages to one’s physical health and emotional wellbeing that can have severe consequences such as: