Adjustment Disorders

Adjustment Disorder is a rather generic diagnosis applied to maladaptive reactions to identifiable circumstances or life events. These reactions are generally expected to subside when the stress ceases.  Some examples of common stressors include:  divorce, moving to a new town, a new baby in the family, death of a loved one, loss of job, financial difficulties.  Obviously any event that causes stress could be listed here. 

The maladaptive symptoms can include depressed mood, anxiety, a mixture of the two, disturbance of conduct, or mixed disturbance of both emotions and conduct.  These symptoms do not meet the full criteria for a mood disorder or anxiety disorder. Medication is usually not necessary, but may be helpful in certain instances. 

Stress is a daily occurrence for most of us, and we all deal with difficult events or circumstances at one time or another.  This doesn't mean that a person's distress should not be taken seriously, and counseling can often help us feel back to normal sooner.