Adjustment Disorders

Adjustment Disorders services offered in Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Dana Point, CA

If you or your child feel extremely depressed, anxious, or angry after a stressful event, you could have an adjustment disorder. The experienced specialists at Mind Health Institute, Orange County offer high-quality care for people of all ages struggling with an adjustment disorder. The team provides personalized treatments to help patients overcome their distressing symptoms and return to their daily lives. Call the office in Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, or Dana Point, California, for expert mental health care. You can also connect through online booking to request an appointment at any time.

Adjustment Disorders Q & A

What are adjustment disorders?

Adjustment disorders occur after a stressful event or significant change in life that causes symptoms within three months of the event.

The symptoms are more severe than expected for the event, causing significant distress, disrupting daily life, and making it difficult to work, go to school, or enjoy family and friends.

What causes an adjustment disorder?

Many good and bad events can cause enough stress to result in adjustment disorder. The most common include:

Getting married
Getting divorced
Having a baby
Losing a loved one
Retiring from work
Starting a new school or job
Having financial challenges
Declining performance at work or school
Learning you have an illness

The symptoms caused by an adjustment disorder typically improve within six months.

What symptoms do adjustment disorders cause?

There are different types of adjustment disorders based on the primary symptoms. You or your child could have an adjustment disorder with depression, anxiety, behavioral changes, or a mix of symptoms.

As a group, adjustment disorders cause one or more of the following symptoms:

Low mood
Anger
Anxiety
Sadness or hopelessness
Lack of energy
Less interest in favorite activities
Isolation from family and friends
Difficulty sleeping
Reckless and rebellious behaviors
Becoming aggressive and destructive

Adjustment disorders can also cause physical problems like body aches, stomachaches, and headaches.

How are adjustment disorders treated?

The exceptional Mind Health Institute, Orange County team helps people of all ages struggling with adjustment disorder. They begin with a thorough assessment to rule out other mental health disorders that cause similar symptoms.

After diagnosing an adjustment disorder, your provider could recommend medication management, therapy, or both. The best treatment will depend on variables like which adjustment disorder you have, your age, and how severe your symptoms are.

Many patients overcome their extreme stress with therapy. The team has extensive experience in individual, family, and couples therapy and recommends an approach that meets each person’s needs.

The Mind Health Institute, Orange County therapists use various techniques, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy, and psychodynamic therapy, to treat adjustment disorders.

If you or your child experience intense symptoms after a stressful event, call the office right away or connect through online booking at your earliest convenience.