Humans have the innate ability to adapt to change in a variety of biological and cultural ways; that is how we have successfully survived for eons. Change is normal, and adjusting to it can seem to come naturally to some people. However, the reality is that change is hard. It can be difficult to adjust to change and when one is already dealing with other factors it can become even more complicated. These challenges can result in intrusive symptoms that disrupt your functioning. If this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing an adjustment disorder.

Major life transitions can be difficult, tense, and overwhelming for anyone, even if you have a healthy ability to adjust to change. Symptoms of an adjustment disorder can make adapting to change all the more difficult. While “adjustment disorder” can sound intimidating, they are treatable with the right help. These symptoms do not have to progress to something more. You aren’t alone, help is available.

Understanding Change

Major life changes are a type of stressor, which, according to Dr. Steve Bressert in a PsychCentral post, “is anything that causes a great deal of stress in the person’s life.”

Even when a change or life transition is a welcome one that you have been hoping for—such as graduation from school, getting a promotion at work, or the birth of a child—it can still overwhelm you and be a source of pressure and/or worry.

This experience can be much more troubling when the change is traumatic or painful. No amount of preparation can make you ready for something like the loss of a loved one, ending of a relationship, the collapse of a career etc.

Unfortunately, change is part of life, it is unavoidable. Our lives will always be subject to change. You have the ability to adjust to these changes, though it may be complicated by an adjustment disorder.

Adjustment Disorder: What Is It?

“Adjustment disorder is a short-term condition,” says WebMD. It is also technically known as “stress response syndrome.” Basically, the symptoms of this condition or response appear within three months of a change or life transition, and usually do not persist longer than six months.

Prior to the DSM-IV-TR, experts did not consider external stressors to be legitimate causes for adjustment disorder. However, it is now understood that an adjustment disorder can be triggered by outside stressors, though the symptoms and impacts are actually products of a person’s personal adaptation/adjustment efforts and understanding of the trigger.

This means that adjustment disorders can be triggered by the “ending of a relationship, loss or a change of job, death of a loved one, developing a serious illness, being a victim of a crime, an accident, or a disaster, or undergoing a major life change.” Personal views, perceptions, beliefs, expectations, and fears also contribute to the condition. Thus, people with depression, anxiety, or chronic medical conditions can have a higher risk of developing an adjustment disorder.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms?

It isn’t easy to tell if you have an adjustment disorder based on symptoms alone, because the symptoms are varied and usually depend on the condition it is associated with. Healthline identifies the six types as follows:

• Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
• Adjustment disorder with anxiety
• Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood
• Adjustment disorder with disturbance of conduct
• Adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct
• Adjustment disorder, Unspecified

Further, you can be diagnosed with an adjustment disorder if you are experiencing at least one of the following:

• Symptoms appear within three months after experiencing a stressor.
• Suffering exceeds the normal expected response.
• There is significant damage to social relationships at home, work, or school.

Are you just having difficulty adjusting to a change, or do you have an adjustment disorder? Since it can be combined with other emotional conditions, you will need a professional to assess your symptoms to say for certain. It is always best to consult with a professional as opposed to self-diagnosing.

For instance, sadness, hopelessness, and feeling withdrawn can be observed when adjustment disorder is combined with depression. On the other hand, restlessness, muscle tension, and insomnia can be evident when it’s combined with anxiety. If you are suffering from any of these six conditions, it is possible for you to experience different symptoms. Hence, the best way to address the condition is to consult a mental health professional.

Treating Adjustment Disorder

You can recover from adjustment disorder with the right kind of intervention. Seeking treatment sooner rather than later can lead to a quicker recovery. If you are challenged by a life transition or change, call Carolina Counseling Services — Pittsboro, NC, we are here to help.

Anyone can experience an adjustment disorder. It can be difficult to cope with change and adjust in a way you feel good about. Change is inevitable but suffering is not. If you are overwhelmed by what’s happening in your life, whether it is a positive or negative change, find a healthy way to handle it with the help of a therapist contracted with Carolina Counseling Services. Call today to schedule your first appointment.

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