What is adjustment disorder?

Symptoms of Adjustment Disorder

There are several types of symptoms for this disorder, which depend on the individual’s personality and traits before experiencing the disorder. It is worth noting that these symptoms do not necessarily appear immediately after the triggering event, but may surface within 3 months after overcoming it. Here are some of them:

• Adjustment disorder with anxiety symptoms: The person experiences anxiety symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, nervousness, discomfort, persistent overthinking, and more.
• Adjustment disorder with depressive symptoms: These symptoms include mood changes, feelings of sadness and guilt, lack of concentration, and loss of enjoyment in life.
• Adjustment disorder with conduct disturbance: The person displays harmful behaviors, such as reckless driving that endangers themselves and others, creating and handling problems violently, skipping work or school, and so on.
• Adjustment disorder with mixed symptoms: This occurs when a person experiences a combination of symptoms, such as anxiety with depression, or anxiety, depression, and conduct disturbance together.

How to Prevent Adjustment Disorder

You can protect yourself from adjustment disorder by developing life skills and personal skills. Humans are exposed at times to pressures, shocks, and sudden changes in life, so it is important to be prepared for these situations and face them with awareness and firmness. When a setback occurs, you should rely on your skills, not your impulses. Here are some skills to focus on:

• Stress management skills.
• Emotional regulation.
• Anger management.
• Problem-solving.
• Communication with others.

Treatment of Adjustment Disorder

Adjustment disorder is treated like other psychological disorders, either through psychotherapy or medication. The appropriate type of psychotherapy depends on the type of disorder — such as anxiety, depression, or others. Here is an explanation:

• Psychotherapy

The main treatment for adjustment disorder is talk therapy, which involves offering the patient, their family, or friends reassurance and avoiding exaggeration of the problem. This therapy helps provide emotional and psychological support to the patient and gradually restores them to their normal daily activities. In addition, the patient gains skills such as stress management, adapting to life circumstances, and communicating with others.

The therapist may use other treatment methods depending on the severity of accompanying symptoms and the type of disorder — such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Emphasis is placed on the importance of meditation and relaxation sessions to help reduce anxiety and stress as part of psychotherapy.

• Medication

Adjustment disorder can be treated with medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, depending on the symptoms associated with the type of disorder.