Sep 1, 2023
Sometimes a situation makes us happy and sometimes the same situation becomes a source of trouble for us. In this situation, when you are unable to adapt to this worsening situation, it is called adjustment disorder. Adjustment disorder is the most common cause of mental health problems and can be easily diagnosed in children, adolescents, and adults. Most studies estimate that approximately 1% of the population may have an adjustment disorder at some point in their lives.
For more than 50 years, psychiatrists and doctors have been using the term adjustment disorder to describe individuals who struggle to cope with a particular stressful situation or a persistent situation.
According to DSM-5 (DSM-5 is the latest diagnostic manual used by doctors to determine the cause of mental illness) symptoms of adjustment disorder include:
- People who suffer from this disease feel constant stress.
- Such people get irritated in new places.
- Symptoms of insomnia appear after this disorder.
- A person who is withdrawn from society and friends can fall prey to this disorder.
- Constant crying or feeling stressed is a sign of this mental problem.
- Symptoms like fatigue, depression, fear, and body aches are seen due to this disorder.
The development of emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor that occurs within three months of the onset of the stressor. Symptoms and behavior must be clinically significant as evidenced by one or both of the following; A perceived stressor that is disproportionate to the intensity or severity of the stressor or causes significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
- Symptoms should not last more than six months after the stress has ended. They must also be in proportion to the individual's existing culture and cannot represent ordinary suffering.
- Confusion should not be accompanied by other mental disorders (such as depression or anxiety).
If a person has an adjustment disorder, the doctor should determine how these symptoms affect his functioning here:
1. With a depressed mood: Feelings of being moody, tearful, or depressed are prominent.
2. Anxiety: Restlessness, anxiety, panic, or separation anxiety are prominent.
3. With mixed anxiety & depressed mood: A combination of depression and anxiety is prominent.
4. With disturbance of conduct: Behavioral changes are also important in this problem.
5. With mixed disturbance of emotions & conduct: Both emotional symptoms (depression, anxiety) and behavioral disturbances are prominent.
6. Unspecified: There can be major categories of adjustment disorders as well as several subtypes. Like -
A 6-year-old boy moves to a new village and starts a new school. He starts showing aggressive behavior, talks childishly, and becomes rude.
A 10-year-old girl's grades dropped after her parents’ divorce. She is depressed a lot of the time and cannot concentrate on her schoolwork.
An 18-year-old boy goes to a college hostel. He feels anxious about being away from home and has trouble making friends.
A man is fired from his job. For several months, he has been depressed after finding a new job and finds it difficult to do anything.
What statistics say
According to the American Psychological Association, adjustment disorders accounted for a significant portion of mental health diagnoses. It was noted that between 5% and 20% of individuals seeking mental health treatment were diagnosed with adjustment disorder. This wide range reflects the variability in how adjustment disorder is diagnosed and reported across different clinical settings.
The prevalence of adjustment disorder may also vary based on age, gender, and the nature of the stressors. For instance, certain life changes like divorce, job loss, or relocation can increase the risk of developing adjustment disorder. In some cases, adjustment disorder may be more common among younger individuals who are going through transitional phases.
There are six types of adjustment disorders, each with its own specific symptoms described in detail below:
- Adjustment disorder with depressed mood: This is characterized by persistent feelings of hopelessness, low mood, sadness, and loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy.
- Adjustment disorder with anxiety: People experiencing this type of adjustment disorder report excessive worry about feelings of anxiety and stress. Sustained reflective and attentional lists about the stressor are also common. This type of adjustment disorder can also affect concentration.
- Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood: Both depression and anxiety-related emotions are displayed during this type of adjustment disorder.
- Adjustment disorder with behavioral disturbances: Excessive spending, reckless driving, and irrational behavior are characteristic of behavioral disturbances associated with this type of adjustment disorder.
- Adjustment disorder with mixed disturbances of emotions and behavior: A person suffering from this type of adjustment disorder has symptoms of all types of adjustment disorder, including anxiety, depression and behavioral problems.
- Adjustment disorder unspecified: This type of adjustment disorder has unclassified symptoms that are not associated with other types of adjustment disorder. People who experience this may have physical symptoms, problems with family and friends, social issues, and problems at school.
Adjustment Disorder Causes:
A variety of stressful situations and experiences can trigger adjustment disorders. Some of them may be ordinary events, such as a natural disaster, changing jobs, moving to a new city, or getting married.
Other times, adjustment disorder is caused by ongoing difficulties, such as the stress associated with starting a new business or moving away from college. It is not always clear why some individuals adapt more easily to stressful situations than others.
Even when an entire family or group of children is exposed to the same stressful situation, some may show symptoms of adjustment disorder while others may not. So, any stressful life situation can put you at risk for adjustment disorder, but the way you deal with stress plays a role in developing adjustment disorder. Additionally, these factors may also affect your adjustment:
1. Past life experience
Childhood stress can increase your risk of developing mental health problems, including adjustment disorder
2. Mental health issues
Some people with pre-existing mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, are at a higher risk of developing adjustment disorders than others.
3. Difficult circumstances
Being under so much stress every day in everyday life makes it difficult for some individuals to cope with stressful life changes.
Adjustment disorder is also called situational depression. Because behind such tension, there is a change. Due to changes in life, some people suffer from stress. When this stress increases, it takes the form of mental illness. This is called adjustment disorder. There can be many reasons behind this disease. Death of a loved one, moving away from someone, moving away from home for education or work, moving to a new job, moving to a new school or college, etc.
Adjustment Disorder Prevention Tips
If you experience symptoms of stress or depression, contact a psychologist or seek help from friends and family. Changing your diet or adding yoga to your routine can also make a difference. If you are going through a change in life, give yourself some time. It will gradually get better. If you want to avoid this disorder, keep talking to the people around you. This way you will adapt quickly.
- Try to be mentally prepared to deal with change.
- It is also the responsibility of family members, friends, neighbours, or colleagues to make the person feel comfortable in the new environment by their polite behavior.
- If there is a lot of indifference in the behavior of a person, the family members should have an open conversation with him. If there is no change in a person's habits despite these efforts, an expert should be consulted.
Usually, this issue can be solved by counseling and cognitive behavior therapy. Some medicines are also given to the patient to relieve physical symptoms such as insomnia and problems related to the digestive system. After the treatment, a positive change is seen in the behavior of the person.
Adjustment Disorder Treatment
The child has been admitted to the new school. After this, if he has symptoms like anger, sleeplessness, restlessness, confusion, headaches, and irritability, then he is a victim of what is called adjustment disorder. For this, first show him to a psychologist. Because many times the patient gets depressed due to this. Due to this, they are given anti-depression medicine. The patient should be counselled.
It takes for children and even adults, in general, to adjust to new situations. If something is not going according to your needs, resolve it through conversation. If the matter is not resolved at your own level, then take the help of friends and family. In most cases, it has been observed that people do not share anything with anyone, due to which the mental pressure on them increases and they become victims of such diseases.
Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Help?
Cognitive behavior therapy or CBT is a common form of talk therapy. It is usually used to maintain mental health. It focuses on the patient's thinking ability and methods. This is a short-term method of treatment, although it takes a few weeks to a few months. The main theory behind CBT is that your thought patterns affect your emotions, which in turn can affect your behavior.
CBT is a method of treating mental disorders that usually involves looking back to the patient's past to find out the causes of their problems. Various types of equipment are also used in CBT. According to Healthline, there are several types of CBT that are tailored to the patient's needs. Let's know some special types of cognitive behavior therapy.
Cognitive restructuring or reframing
In this form of CBT, negative thought patterns are closely monitored. If you assume that the worst will happen to you then this thinking starts to affect your work and this thinking can also affect your results. An expert in restructuring asks you some questions to help identify negative patterns. Once you identify them, you also know how to control them.
Guided discovery
In guided discovery, the expert becomes familiar with the patient's perspective. This is followed by logical questions to increase the patient's confidence. In this process, the patient is taught to look at things from a different point of view, so that his attention can be diverted from the things that are bothering him.
Overcoming Adjustment Disorder with Treatment
Adjustment disorder is a condition in which a person's behavior can change in many ways. If a person is unable to adapt himself to the new environment and is unable to emerge from these old memories, he may fall prey to adjustment disorder. This disorder is more common in women. There are many changes in the life of women which many times they cannot accept and start adjusting to different conditions. When their brain can't handle stress and anxiety then the risk of adjustment disorder increases. It can lead to various physical and mental problems.
The following self-care activities and lifestyle changes may help in the management of adjustment disorder with anxiety:
- Live a healthy lifestyle
- Do physical exercise
- Keep a positive attitude about different situations
- Challenges in life are faced with courage
A person can be treated with many types of therapy, such as talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. In therapy, an expert asks questions and explains the difference between right and wrong.
If you or someone you know is having trouble coping with a major life event, help is available. You can start by talking to someone you trust and getting emotional support through friends and family.
If you have a family doctor, you can also talk to him. They may be able to refer you to a mental health professional who can provide these online services in person.
There is no way to prevent adjustment disorder. But learning to process and cope with stress can help you cope and become resilient. With appropriate treatment and support, many individuals experience noticeable improvements within a few weeks to a few months. Some people may recover sooner, while others might take longer. It's important to be patient with the recovery process and not rush the healing journey. Seeking professional help early and actively engaging in treatment can contribute to a faster recovery.
