Adjustment disorders are an overreaction to a stressful event that significantly hinders everyday functioning. Then m.in appear. problems with sleep and concentration, as well as irritability, and often also somatic symptoms. An event resulting in the occurrence of the disorder may be, for example, the loss of a job, divorce or the birth of a child.
Symptoms of Adjustment Disorders
People struggling with this disorder have:
- difficulty sleeping, including frequent awakenings and nightmares,
- mood disorders, such as irritability and emotional instability,
- panic attacks,
- avoiding social contacts,
- loss of motivation to act,
- physical symptoms such as headaches, digestive disorders and back pain.
Causes of Adjustment Disorders
The disorder can occur not only as a result of negative events, such as the death of a loved one or a serious illness. Sometimes the cause of the problem can be a wedding, a vacation or the arrival of a new family member. These are positive situations, but they lead to serious changes, which can be a source of strong tension.
Treatment of Adaptive Disorders
Treatment of adjustment disorders often takes the form of crisis intervention. A psychologist provides the patient with the opportunity to safely express emotions, helps to control stress and change negative thoughts.
It happens that adjustment disorders go hand in hand with other emotional and mental problems, e.g. depression or anxiety disorders. In such a situation, it is important to take a holistic view of the patient’s situation and start therapy that will allow you to deal with all the difficulties. In some situations, family therapy is helpful, which allows relatives to understand the causes of the patient’s difficulties and improve mutual relationships.