Adjustment disorder

Adjustment is the ability to conform, adapt and reach a satisfactory result in various situations. By definition, an adjustment disorder is a psychological response to a particular stressor that results in significant emotional or behavioral symptoms.

Stressors may:

be a single event, such as a natural disaster or the ending of a significant relationship
involve multiple events, such as marital or financial problems
be recurrent, such as seasonal unemployment
be continuous, such as poor housing quality
affect a single person, an entire family or a larger community
accompany specific developmental events or life stages, such as becoming a parent or retiring
be related to favorable changes, such as a marriage or promotion
According to some estimates, about 2 to 8 percent of Americans have been diagnosed with adjustment disorder, including children and elderly adults. More than 50 percent of people who've experienced a specific stressor, such as heart surgery, have also experienced adjustment disorder.


Symptoms
Symptoms of adjustment disorder may include:
fatigue
sleep or appetite disturbances
anger
depression
fear
nervousness
sadness
a feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope adequately
changes in relationships
decline in work or school performance
unreasonable expectations
withdrawal from normal activities
defaulting on usual responsibilities
In some cases, truancy, vandalism, and alcohol or drug abuse may also become concerns.

As with all physical symptoms, consult your doctor to rule out a medical condition. If these or any other symptoms cause you distress that doesn't seem to improve, seek additional help and support from a mental health professional.


Coping strategies
It's often helpful to learn stress management skills, such as relaxation exercises or visualization techniques. Consider how you could reframe the stressful situation, such as viewing it from a different perspective. Look to friends and loved ones for social support. Support groups or individual, family or couples counseling may also be helpful.