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Learn more about adjustment disorders
Adjustment disorders are a group of conditions in which a person develops significant emotional or behavioural symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor, such as a relationship breakdown, redundancy, serious illness, bereavement, or a major life change. Recognised in the DSM-5 and ICD-11, the diagnosis is made when the response is disproportionate to what would normally be expected and causes meaningful disruption to daily life, appearing within three months of the stressor. Adjustment disorders sit between ordinary distress and more severe conditions such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and they tend to resolve once the stressor passes or the person develops new ways of coping.
The symptoms of an adjustment disorder vary depending on the individual and the subtype, which may be predominantly depressive, anxious, or a combination of both.
Common signs
- Low mood, tearfulness, or a sense of hopelessness that feels out of proportion to the situation
- Persistent worry, nervousness, or difficulty settling
- Withdrawal from relationships, work, or activities you would normally manage
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Physical symptoms such as poor sleep, fatigue, or appetite changes
- Feeling overwhelmed by a situation that others seem to handle more easily
Other common experiences
- Irritability or anger that feels hard to explain or control
- A sense that you are not coping, even when you want to
- Difficulty seeing the situation improving
Adjustment disorders generally respond well to relatively brief psychological support, particularly when treatment begins while the stressor is still present or recently resolved.
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) CBT helps you identify unhelpful patterns of thinking that are prolonging distress and build more adaptive responses to the stressor and its consequences.
- Counselling Counselling provides a supportive space to process the impact of a stressor, make sense of your reactions, and think through practical and emotional next steps.
- Person-centred approach Person-centred therapy prioritises your own understanding and pace, offering a non-directive space that can be especially valuable when distress is linked to a sense of loss of control.
- Solution-focused therapy Solution-focused therapy directs attention toward what is already working and what small changes might help, which suits people who want a forward-looking, practical frame.
It's Complicated is a therapist-founded mental health platform connecting clients with verified practitioners across Europe and globally, in over 60 languages. We work with over 2,500 vetted therapists, with in-person availability in Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, Vienna, and other major cities, alongside online sessions worldwide. It's Complicated is free to use, and you pay your chosen therapist directly at rates they set.
When you are already struggling to manage a difficult situation, adding a complicated search for the right therapist makes everything harder. Our matching service is built to remove that friction. You complete a short survey, our psychologists combine data-driven insights with human judgement to identify the right therapists for your situation, and you choose from a shortlist of strong candidates. You can also browse our directory directly if you'd prefer to choose yourself.
Get matched with a therapist who specialises in adjustment disorders, or browse the directory.
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