Human life is full of events, sometimes not very pleasant, and even sad. Some take them for granted, while others find it difficult to cope with the blows of fate. Then the doctors talk about an adaptation disorder.
What is this ailment?
Mental disorder associated with an excessively strong reaction of a person to negative events occurring in life is called an adaptation disorder. This is an independent disease that is not an exacerbation of other mental health problems. It appears from three months to six months from the moment a stressful situation occurs. Usually the violation goes away by itself after the termination of the impact on the person of negative circumstances. Less common is a total adaptation disorder, which requires a more careful attitude, since it is dangerous with complications and worsening psychosomatic conditions.
Symptoms of a Problem
What is the manifestation of adaptation disorder? Symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- Depressive mood. It arises reasonably as a consequence of adverse events. It is manifested by a state of depression, the inability to concentrate on work or study, fragmented thoughts, everyday activities become difficult to fulfill.
- Sense of anxiety. After experiencing stress or severe grief in a person there is anxiety, fear of a repetition of a stressful situation, insecurity in the future. Underestimated self-esteem and self-doubt are formed.
- The adaptation disorder is manifested by physical disorders, such as: headache, insomnia, chest pain, digestive upset, shortness of breath, tachycardia, nausea, change in appetite up or down.
- Violation of behavior. Inappropriate actions are observed that are unacceptable to a person before: vandalism, hooliganism, dangerous driving by car or motorcycle, absenteeism from studies or work. Basically, such violent behavior is typical for adolescents in a state of impaired adaptation, but adults are no exception. A disorder of social adaptation is the most dangerous manifestation of an ailment, since it not only threatens relations with society, but also leads to serious consequences, including criminal liability or an accident.
- The desire for loneliness. A man tries to reduce the number of contacts with the environment, closes in himself.
- Increased irritability.
An insidious disease is an adaptation disorder. Symptoms can come together, and in some cases, the disease manifests itself with only one or two signs.
Diagnostics
The doctor puts the diagnosis of “adaptation disorder”, relying on standard criteria for determining mental disorders:
- The presence of symptoms consistent with this disease. If adaptation is impaired, they occur under the influence of severe stress, immediately or within about three months after the event.
- The experience of grief is accompanied by excessively strong emotions, unbearable suffering. The hopelessness of the situation is exaggerated, the reaction to the incident is inadequate and prolonged in time.
- The impossibility of professional or educational activities due to an unhealthy state of mind.
Causes of occurrence
An adaptation disorder can be the result of many events, personal experiences. Here are the main ones:
- The death of a loved one.
- Divorce.
- Material losses.
- Problems at work, dismissal.
- Family troubles, personal conflicts.
- Health problems, the presence of a serious illness.
- Other negative changes in the usual way of life.
The reasons presented may not lead immediately to an upset adaptation. Negative emotions for a long time affect mental health, which ultimately leads to a violation, before this may take several months after the event.
Risk factors
Some people are more susceptible to impaired adaptation than others. What is the reason for this? Factors and conditions stand out in which it is more difficult for people to cope with stress:
- Genetic predisposition. People react differently to life situations depending on heredity and type of temperament.
- Difficult living conditions, natural or social.
- Extreme situations (war, natural disasters).
- Social status.
- Psychological injuries received in childhood.
- Personal qualities, the ability to adapt to changes in life.
There are situations when no tragedy occurs in life, no one dies and does not get sick, but a person is still subject to an adaptation disorder. This occurs under the influence of significant changes, disruptions in everyday life, such as conscription, dismissal, and in children - admission to kindergarten and school.
Difficulties of adaptation in the army
Once in the army, many guys are not psychologically prepared for life in constant stress. Remoteness from home, inability to see loved ones, new environment, male team, difficult living conditions and physical overload, strict regime - such a sharp change provokes negative emotions in absolutely all recruits, but some are more prone to mental disorders. This is where the incidents in the army arise - the guys run away, shoot at civilians, and attempt suicide.
A soldier’s adaptation disorder is a dangerous phenomenon. Close people are far away, and most often a person does not receive any help. An adaptation upset in the army is an occasion for commissioning. The main thing is to be noticed on time, without bringing to trouble. After all, usually a person in such a situation keeps his feelings in himself until the tension reaches its peak, when he begins to behave inappropriately.
Unemployed
Losing a job due to downsizing or other reasons beyond the control of the employee is always stress that can immediately cause mental health problems. A long stay in the status of unemployed also provokes an upset of adaptation due to constant problems and accumulated negative emotions. Unemployment paves the way for impaired adaptation due to such attendant problems:
- Constant financial problems.
- Feeling of own uselessness and inability to change.
- Conflict is common in unemployed families, there is an increased risk of divorce, possibly child abuse and poor parenting.
- In conditions of unemployment, the crime rate is increasing, especially for young people who are trying to find the possibility of earning illegally.
- Housing problems.
- The problem of teaching children.
Disorders of adaptation of the unemployed are most often observed among the weak in terms of employment of the population. These are people of retirement and pre-retirement age, young mothers with young children, people without professional education. It causes depression, depression, self-doubt, with a prolonged continuation of such a situation leads to mental illness, alcoholism, drug addiction, the commission of criminally punishable acts, suicide.
Preschool children
Social adaptation - adaptability to environmental conditions, adequate interaction with society. Disorders of children's social adaptation manifest themselves when they begin to go to kindergarten or school. Initially, the child is driven only by his own needs and desires. He cannot motivate himself to any activity on his own, for this he needs the help of adults. To become socially adapted, he has to learn to interact with people around him, to take into account the desires of others, to adapt to new environmental conditions that he cannot change.
If parents give the child knowledge in advance about the rules and boundaries of their behavior in society, then it is easier for them to adapt to new conditions and a wide circle of communication, as they transfer the knowledge they have gained to life. First, the kids learn to interact with the outside world in kindergarten. Parents who refuse to give their children to the garden make a big mistake. At school, such a child will have a very hard time.
Primary school children
Poor or insufficient preparation of a young child for life in society leads to impaired adaptation. This affects his performance not only when he enters first grade, but can also leave a mark on his future life. Violation of adaptation is manifested by poor behavior, disobedience, rejection of generally accepted rules of behavior in favor of personal desires. Or, on the contrary, the child closes in on himself, does not communicate with peers, is not interested in social life, prefers to be alone.
Risk factors that increase the likelihood that a child’s adaptation disorder will occur:
- In the family where the child grows, alcohol is abused.
- Parents conflict with each other.
- There is no motivation to learn from a child.
- The child, his education is given little time in the family.
- Lag in development.
- Applying physical punishment to a child.
- Low cultural and social level of the family.
If there are such factors in the child that affect his adaptation, the school pediatrician should take measures to help in a difficult situation.
Hard Age - Teens
Adaptation disorder can occur at an older age, among high school students. The reason for this is usually learning problems or personal conflicts with peers. The situation is exacerbated by transitional changes in the body and psyche, which adolescents usually endure heavily. There are already adult problems, such as relationships with the opposite sex, first love, not always mutual. Impaired adaptation in adolescents is most dangerous, as it is usually manifested by violent behavior, a rejection of generally accepted rules. Children skip school, leave home, engage in hooliganism. Often this condition leads them to use alcohol or drugs.
Treatment disorder
If the symptoms do not fade over time, but only intensify, the treatment of the disorder simply needs to be organized urgently in order to avoid disastrous results. In some cases, a visit to a psychotherapist becomes a mandatory measure, especially with a prolonged course of the disease or with suicide attempts. With such manifestations, even the use of inpatient psychiatric treatment is possible. The work of specialists gives a good result, and with proper treatment, the patient returns to normal after 2-3 months.
Medicines alleviate a person’s condition if there are no serious manifestations dangerous to life and health. Your doctor may prescribe antidepressants. It is strictly forbidden to use them on your own without the appointment of a specialist, and they are only available on prescription in a pharmacy, as these are serious drugs with strong effects. Tranquilizers, for example, Afobazol, will help get rid of feelings of anxiety and fear. They alleviate symptoms, restore vitality, without causing addiction.
The help and support of loved ones is an integral part of rehabilitation.
Consequences of the disease
An adaptation disorder that is not being treated is dangerous with its serious consequences. These are depressive conditions that are chronic, addicted to alcohol or drugs. The state of alcohol and drug intoxication increases the risk of suicide of the patient even more. Most of all, teenagers are subject to such complications due to the unformed psyche and characteristics of age-related changes. If the disorder is manifested by antisocial, inappropriate behavior, this can lead to new troubles: dismissal from work, dismissal from an educational institution, quarrels in the family.