Understanding Adjustment Disorders: Symptoms and Treatment

Adjustment disorders are responses to stress characterized by excessive emotional or behavioral reactions to identifiable, highly stressful events or life changes. At Next Step Psychiatry in Lilburn, Georgia, we help patients throughout Gwinnett County and Metro Atlanta navigate difficult transitions and develop healthy coping strategies.

What Are Adjustment Disorders?

Stressful or unexpected events—such as relationship problems, work difficulties, or the death of a loved one—can cause higher than normal levels of stress. While some people adjust to these changes within a few months, others continue to experience extreme stress and difficulty coping. When this happens, you may have an adjustment disorder.

There are six subcategories of adjustment disorders, each with different symptoms that can vary from person to person. While anyone can develop an adjustment disorder, children and adolescents are more likely to be diagnosed than adults.

Symptoms of Adjustment Disorders

Adjustment disorders are generally short-term, with symptoms appearing within three months of a stressful event and rarely lasting longer than six months. Common symptoms include:

• Feeling sad, hopeless, or losing interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Crying frequently
• Feeling worried, nervous, anxious, or stressed out
• Changes in sleep and appetite
• Inability to concentrate
• Feeling easily overwhelmed
• Irritability
• Difficulties functioning in daily activities
• Withdrawing from social support systems
• Changes in behavior or acting out (more commonly seen in children)

Adjustment Disorders vs. Other Conditions

Adjustment disorders may present with symptoms similar to those seen in other mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depressive disorder. However, they are distinct conditions. An evaluation by a psychiatrist helps clarify the diagnosis and ensure you receive appropriate treatment.

Treatment Options

Treatment for adjustment disorders considers the patient's age, symptom severity, and the specific cause. Treatment typically involves psychotherapy, though medication may also be prescribed.

Psychotherapy

Talk therapy is the most effective treatment for adjustment disorders. Options include:

• Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT): A short-term treatment focusing on improving relationships and communication
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps change unproductive thinking and behavior patterns

In therapy, you'll learn to express emotions constructively, understand that your stress reaction is within your control, and develop coping skills for future stressful situations.

Medication Management

While medication is not typically the primary treatment for adjustment disorders, your psychiatrist may prescribe medications to address associated symptoms such as insomnia, depression, or anxiety. Options might include SSRIs, SNRIs, sleep aids, or short-term anti-anxiety medication.

When to Seek Help

If you're experiencing significant stress following a life change and your symptoms persist beyond a few months, interfere with daily functioning, or cause significant distress, it's time to seek professional help.

Whether you're dealing with a divorce, job loss, illness, move, or other major life transition, our team at Next Step Psychiatry can help you develop strategies to cope and move forward.

This article is for educational purposes only. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.