What Are Adjustment Disorders?
Adjustment disorders happen when someone reacts to a major life change or stressor with emotions that feel far too intense or last much longer than expected. While many people gradually adapt to new situations, those going through an adjustment disorder find their feelings spilling over into daily life, draining their energy and making it tough to carry on as usual.
The DSM-5 outlines six specific types of adjustment disorders:
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Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
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Adjustment disorder with anxiety
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Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood
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Adjustment disorder with conduct disturbance
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Adjustment disorder, unspecified
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Adjustment disorder with mixed conduct and emotional disturbance
If you think you’re experiencing an adjustment disorder, it’s important to talk with a psychiatric professional who can assess your situation and guide you toward the right treatment options.
Typically, an adjustment disorder is marked by a reaction that’s out of proportion to the event and keeps disrupting everyday routines. You might notice:
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Persistent feelings of hopelessness
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Isolating from activities you once enjoyed
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Intense anxiety or constant stress
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Emotional numbness or detachment
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Difficulty concentrating
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Frequent crying spells
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Changes in your sleep patterns
Because these symptoms can resemble other mental health conditions, an expert evaluation is crucial for an accurate diagnosis.
When diagnosing an adjustment disorder, a psychiatric provider will look for:
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Symptoms that appear within three months of the triggering event.
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Emotional responses that exceed typical expectations and last too long.
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Negative thoughts and behaviors that significantly disrupt daily life.
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No prior psychiatric condition that explains these changes.
Adjustment disorders can emerge from a variety of stressors—anything from moving to a new city to a difficult breakup or loss. Even positive milestones, like starting a new job or finishing school, can sometimes overwhelm someone. Often, several stressors overlap and contribute to feeling out of balance.
Treatment generally combines therapy, medication, and changes in daily routines, all tailored to each person’s needs.
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Talk therapy to explore and manage emotional reactions
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Building coping skills for stress relief
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Identifying negative thought patterns and triggers
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Avoiding repetitive unhelpful thinking cycles
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Joining group or family sessions for extra support
In some cases, doctors may recommend antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to help control intense symptoms.
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Building new habits can support recovery, such as:
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Focusing on positive moments
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Facing problems instead of avoiding them
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Maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise
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Prioritizing restful sleep and downtime
Get Help for Adjustment Disorders with Alice’s Psychiatry & Wellness
At Alice’s Psychiatry & Wellness, we offer personalized support for those managing adjustment disorders. Whether you’re interested in talk therapy, medication management, or a mix of both, our compassionate team is here to help. We partner with you to create a treatment plan built around your goals and well-being.
Tackling adjustment disorders brings many advantages, helping people stabilize their emotions and boost their overall well-being. The right treatment can ease intense feelings, restore day-to-day functioning, and offer practical tools for coping with life’s transitions. By focusing on the emotional reactions behind stress, a combination of therapy and medication can foster recovery, lessen anxiety, and help individuals return to their regular routines. With tailored care plans, clients often find relief and gain deeper insight into their emotional responses.
Our team of dedicated psychiatric professionals is here to support you.
We’re committed to guiding you with empathy, clinical insight, and tailored support at each stage. From your first appointment through every step of your treatment, our team genuinely listens to your individual needs, ensuring you feel acknowledged, valued, and confident on your mental health journey.