Adjustment Disorder

Stress and anxiety can lead to different kinds of illnesses with specific issues that need to be addressed. People that have a particularly hard time dealing with major changes such as moving to a new city, starting a new job, switching schools or breaking up with someone may have a problem known as adjustment disorder. Although anyone may feel stressed out about a big change in their life, people with this disorder have persistent symptoms of anxiety that occur after a major life event.

Adjustment disorder can begin once an unexpected change occurs that carries a strong emotional effect. If a child suddenly moves to a new city or state or their parents separate then that type of change can have a major impact on them. It is normal for kids or even adults to feel anxious and upset when they encounter change but if those persist for months and they have trouble moving on then they may have developed symptoms of adjustment disorder.

When someone develops adjustment disorder it means that their environmental stressors have exceeded their resources for coping. Some degree of anxiety is normal when you do something out of your comfort zone but when your reaction becomes disproportionate to the event taking place then it is considered a mental health issue. Adjustment disorder is similar to situational depression which leads to crying spells and waves of anger triggered by certain events.

If you have adjustment disorder it can make it difficult to adapt to new situations and learn to feel more comfortable with changes over time. You might find it difficult to bounce back from your feelings of depression and anxiety that were triggered by a new experience. Talking to a professional about your feelings can help you address the symptoms of adjustment disorder and learn strategies to cope with change.