An adjustment disorder is an emotional or behavioural response to a significant life stressor that is more intense or prolonged than what would typically be expected. It develops when the normal process of adapting to change becomes overwhelmed — leaving you struggling to cope in ways that affect your daily functioning, relationships or wellbeing.

Adjustment disorders are not a sign of weakness. They are a recognised clinical condition that can affect anyone — regardless of resilience, background or experience. The stressor can be a single event or an accumulation of changes that together become too much to manage alone.

Common triggers include relationship breakdown, job loss, bereavement, serious illness, financial stress, retirement, moving to a new city or any significant life transition. Sometimes the stressor is something others might perceive as positive — a new job, a marriage, a new baby — but that still overwhelms your capacity to adapt.