Adjustment Disorder: What Is It?

In general, people are naturally gifted with the ability to adapt to their life consequences and environment.  However, adjusting is not always easy. It is now known that the intrinsic ability to adjust can be overwhelmed by extreme life challenges or changes. This should not be taken lightly—it could be an adjustment disorder.

Understanding more about what adjustment disorders are and how to receive treatment can make a world of difference. 

What is an Adjustment Disorder?

Healthline states that adjustment disorders occur when someone has difficulty coping after a stressful event. Most symptoms will emerge after a major life change or event.  

The more you know about the symptoms, the sooner you can intervene. According to Mayo Clinic diagnostic criteria includes:

  • Having emotional or behavioral symptoms within three months of a specific stressor occurring in your life
  • Experiencing more stress than would normally be expected in response to the stressor, or having stress that causes significant problems in your relationships, at work or at school—or having both of these criteria
  • An improvement of symptoms within six months after the stressful event ends
  • The stress-related disturbance does not meet criteria for another mental disorder and is not merely an exacerbation of a preexisting mental disorder

Preventing Adjustment Disorders: Is It Possible?

Adjustment disorders have an extremely good long-term outlook. If you receive immediate and proper treatment and care, many begin to see significant improvement in symptoms after 6 months. That is if the change or disturbance that caused your symptoms has stopped. 

Adjustment disorders are usually triggered by stress. Boosting your resilience can help you stay positive and emotionally strong during adverse life events. Counseling can help with this. 

Toward Resilience and Positivity

Changes and challenges, like the seasons, come and go throughout life. They can bring opportunities as well as heartbreak. Your response to a life-changing event, whether it’s an awaited or a devastating one, can be hard to predict. Adjustment disorders are transient, but you are not alone. Therapy can help you to process the changes and challenges you are facing and learn healthier ways to approach them. Medication management can also be helpful to treat any intrusive symptoms associated. 

Carolina Counseling Services contracts with skilled licensed therapists and psychiatric professionals who can help. If you are looking for exceptional mental health care in Southern Pines, North Carolina look no further than CCS. Online sessions are available as well making it easier than ever before to get quality psychiatric care anywhere in North Carolina. Reach out now to get started!

Providers are in network with most major insurances including Aetna, Aetna State Health Plan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), Tricare, Medicaid and many more!

 

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Jaime Johnson Fitzpatrick LCMHCS, LCAS is one of the Owners and Vice Presidents of Carolina Counseling Services. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist in the State of North Carolina as well as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in State of New York. Jaime is also certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and utilizes various other approaches in her practice.