What causes an adjustment disorder? An adjustment disorder is a reaction to an identifiable psychosocial stress. These may include a breakup, job loss, bullying, a wedding, a move, the birth of a child, or the transition to retirement. A death, an accident, a serious illness or an operation can also be the cause of an adjustment disorder. Accordingly, these are not severe traumatic experiences, but rather stressful life changes.

The question is often raised by those affected why they have developed an adjustment disorder, but someone else with a comparable stress factor has not. In fact, several factors interact in the development of an adjustment disorder. One important aspect is the individual vulnerability of the person affected. If he or she has many resources, such as good social support, compensatory positive activities, and adequate daily structure, he or she is more resilient to critical life changes. If someone has more of an anxious nature, they are quicker to evaluate circumstances as threatening and more likely to feel overwhelmed. This would favor the development of an adjustment disorder.

By definition, an adjustment disorder does not last longer than six months. Sometimes, however, the symptoms can become entrenched and lead to a more severe mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. It is therefore advisable to take an adjustment disorder seriously and not to be afraid of seeking professional help.