James Donaldson on Mental Health - What Are Adjustment Disorders?

How can parents support kids with adjustment disorders?

If your child has been diagnosed with an adjustment disorder, it’s important to take their symptoms seriously, even though they’re reacting to what might seem like ordinary life stress.

“The diagnosis is telling you that their symptoms are impairing enough to impede their functioning and quality of life, and as such, worth clinical attention,” says Dr.

“Moreover, the symptoms could get more intense if the child doesn’t get therapeutic support.” At the same time, it can help keep things in perspective to remember that their condition is likely to be temporary and may not be related to any longer-term diagnosis.

“If someone says your child has adjustment disorder with depressed mood, for example, it doesn’t mean that they actually have major depressive disorder ,” she adds.

Validation often goes a long way in helping kids through challenging times, whether or not their symptoms reach the level of a clinical diagnosis.

Even if your child’s reaction seems out of proportion to you, knowing that you see their pain and are there to help them navigate it can help kids cope more effectively.

For instance, you might say: “I see how hard this change is for you.

It’s okay to be upset, and we’re going to get through this together.” Dr.

Rooney also notes that parents who use effective coping skills themselves give kids a model for how to do the same.