Adjustment Disorder

Adult Psychiatry & Adolescent Psychiatry located in Illinois

Adjustment Disorder services offered in Illinois

Life changes like job loss, relationship breakdowns, and grief are challenging for everyone, but some people feel them particularly intensely. If you have trouble adjusting after a significant change, talk to Abosede Babalola, DNP, PMHNP-BC, at Best Option Behavioral Health Services in Orland Park, Illinois. She offers compassionate care and support that eases adjustment disorder symptoms and prevents depression and anxiety. Call the office in Chicago’s south suburbs to arrange an in-person or telehealth consultation, or go online today to book an appointment.

Adjustment Disorder Q & A

What is an adjustment disorder?

People with an adjustment disorder experience heightened, prolonged responses to stressful events. Any significant life change that puts you under stress could activate an adjustment disorder, including:

Leaving home
Serious illness
Severe pain
Grief
Changing job
Relationship breakdown
Financial difficulty
Work or school problems

People usually adjust to these changes within a few weeks or months. However, when you have an adjustment disorder, the emotional and behavioral reactions persist, worsening stress and increasing your risk of depression and anxiety.

What symptoms does an adjustment disorder cause?

Adjustment disorder symptoms vary depending on your situation, but common problems include:

Feeling worried, nervous, and stressed
Not enjoying activities you normally love
Intense sadness
Hopelessness
Frequently crying
Difficulties sleeping
Loss of appetite
Problems concentrating
Feeling overwhelmed
Struggling to complete daily activities
Withdrawal from friends and family
Inability to face work
Avoiding routine responsibilities, like bill paying

Adjustment disorder symptoms typically set in within three months of the triggering experience. They may improve by the time six months have passed, but some people’s symptoms last longer.

This is especially likely if the triggering event is ongoing; for instance, you developed an adjustment disorder after losing your job, and it persists because you can’t find another.

Without expert treatment at Best Option Behavioral Health Services, your adjustment disorder could develop into a serious psychiatric condition, such as major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or substance use disorder.

What treatments are available for adjustment disorders?

The primary treatment for adjustment disorders is talk therapy, which has several uses. Talking to an experienced therapist provides emotional support and enables you to understand why your adjustment disorder developed.

You learn to recognize thoughts that make you feel worse, challenge them, and change them into something more positive. This enables you to manage everyday problems better and feel more confident in yourself. Your therapist also teaches you coping skills and stress-management techniques to help you avoid the same issues in future.

Many patients find talk therapy is all they need to overcome adjustment disorders. However, short-term antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications might be beneficial for some people.

Call Best Option Behavioral Health Services today or book an appointment online for expert adjustment disorder care.