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Adjustment disorders – Series of articles “How to treat the soul?” Part 26!

Everyone goes through changes in life. They can be big, like moving to another country, or small, like a new job or even a change in your daily routine. For most people these changes are natural and do not cause major problems, but for others they can cause emotional difficulties. In this article, we will discuss adjustment disorder, a common condition, explaining what it is and how to deal with it.

What Are Adjustment Disorders?

Adjustment disorder, sometimes called “situational depression” or “stress response syndrome,” is a mental condition that can affect people of all ages. These disorders develop when an individual is unable to adjust to a drastic or significant life change or event.

Such changes can be varied and include:

  • Job loss or change.
  • Divorce or end of relationship.
  • Moving to another city or country.
  • Loss of a relative or loved one.
  • Finding a serious illness;
  • Financial difficulties.
  • Family conflicts.
  • Study stress situations.
Unlike more serious psychiatric disorders, adjustment disorders are often temporary and associated with a specific source of stress. Symptoms can be different – emotional, behavioral and physical.

Recognizing symptoms

The symptoms of adjustment disorder can be misleading because they resemble other psychiatric disorders.

More common symptoms include:

Emotional difficulties: Sadness, hopelessness, anxiety or irritability, excessive worry about what happened, inability to make decisions.
Behavioral changes: Social isolation, deterioration of work or study results, changes in relationships with others, efforts to avoid disturbing reminders of what happened.
Physical symptoms: Headaches, stomachaches, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite.
It is important to remember that everyone reacts differently to stress, and not everyone who experiences change or unexpected events will develop an adjustment disorder. However, if you or someone else is experiencing these symptoms, it’s time to seek help.

How to help?

Adjustment disorders are treatable.
Treatment options include:

Psychotherapy: Cognitive-behavioral and supportive therapy can help you understand your experiences, reactions to them, develop and strengthen stress coping mechanisms;
Medication: In some cases, psychiatric help may be required, prescribed medication to reduce specific symptoms, such as severe anxiety or sleep disorders.
Support groups: Sharing experiences with others who have experienced similar difficulties.

While professional help is essential, there are also self-help strategies that can complement treatment and promote recovery:

Self-care: taking care of yourself by ensuring regular physical activity, proper nutrition and adequate sleep.
Social support: if there is such an opportunity, share your experiences with family or friends, find time for joint recreation, events.
Setting realistic goals: It is important to remind ourselves that no one is superhuman, there may be times in life when we cannot accomplish as much as we would like. Break tasks into smaller parts, complete one and then move on to the next.

Adjustment disorders are common and treatable psychiatric disorders that can affect people after major, unexpected life changes or stressful events. Timely recognition of symptoms and seeking help will contribute to faster and easier recovery.

Adjustment disorder is not a sign of weakness; these are naturally occurring stress responses. With appropriate support, these temporary difficulties can be overcome and it is possible to develop resilience against similar situations in the future.

Sources:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/adjustment-disorder
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adjustment-disorders/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355230
https://ssk10.spkc.gov.lv/ssk/F432
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-adjustment-disorder
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2192631-overview