Counseling&CoachingYoucanthrive.Wecanhelp.AdjustmentDisorder:Causes,Symptoms,TreatmentDSM-5309.9(F43.20)byLenoraKM|Jun19,2017|CounselingNews,Disorder,StressandAnxiety|1CommentAdjustmentDisorderiswhenstressfultimesinlifefromexpectedorunexpectedeventscauseanindividualtobeconfusedandlost(disoriented)andpreventshimfromgoingonwithnormal,everydaylife.Someoftheinstancesthatmaycauseanindividualstressincludelosingajobandnotknowinghowtopaythemortgageonthehouse,havingbeencheatedonbyaspouseorbeingthevictimofasexualassault.StressorsThatMayCauseAdjustmentDisordersStressorscanbeasingleevent,suchas:*Divorceorbreak-upofarelationship.*Beingfiredfromajob.Theremaybemultiplestressors,including:*Difficultieswithabusinessandmaritalproblems.Stressorsmayberecurrent,suchas:*Businesscrisesthatoccurinthe“off-season.”*Unfulfillingsexualrelationships.Continuousstressorscaninclude:*Continuouspainfulillnessthatincreasesdisability.*Residinginacrime-filledcommunity.Somestressorscanaffectanentirefamilyorcommunity,suchas:*Anaturaldisaster.*Terrorism.Someofthestressorscanaccompanyspecificdevelopmentalevents,suchas:Gettingmarried.Goingtoschool.Becomingaparent.Leavingtheparents’home.Re-enteringtheparents’homeafterbeingaway(suchashavingbeenatcollege,afteramarriageorrelationshipbreakup,orlossofajob).Failuretosucceedinacareer.Retirement.DSM-5CriteriaforAdjustmentDisorderTheDiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisorders,5thEdition(DSM-5)definesAdjustmentDisorderas“thepresenceofemotionalorbehavioralsymptomsinresponsetoanidentifiablestressor/s,whichoccurredwithinthreemonthsofthebeginningofthestressor/s.Inaddition,oneorbothofthefollowingcriteriamustexist:Distressthat’soutofproportionwiththeexpectedreactionstothestressor.Symptomsmustbeclinicallysignificant.Theycauseseveredistressandimpairmentinfunctioning.Inaddition,thefollowingcriteriamustbepresent:Thedistressandimpairmentarerelatedtothestressorandnotbecauseofanintensificationofexistingmentalhealthdisorders.Thereactionisn’tpartofnormalbereavement.Whenthestress