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Adjustment & Stress Disorders

Adjustment and stress disorders occur when a person has difficulty coping with or adjusting to a significant life change or stressful event. These situations may include relationship breakdowns, health issues, work stress, study pressures, caregiving demands, bereavement, financial difficulties, or other major disruptions. While it is normal to feel unsettled or distressed during challenging periods, symptoms can become overwhelming for some people and interfere with daily life.

Common experiences include persistent worry, low mood, irritability, sleep changes, difficulty concentrating, feeling overwhelmed, or withdrawing from usual activities. Physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, or fatigue are also common. Adjustment and stress disorders sit at the intersection of anxiety, low mood, and stress responses, and often overlap with trauma-related symptoms when the triggering event was particularly distressing.

Types of Stress-Related Conditions

  • Adjustment disorder with anxiety

  • Adjustment disorder with depressed mood

  • Mixed anxiety and depressed mood

  • Work-related or situational stress

  • Acute stress reactions

  • Stress responses associated with health diagnoses or major life transitions

These conditions do not reflect personal weakness — they are understandable responses to events that exceed a person’s available coping resources at the time.

I work with people to understand the context of what they’re experiencing, how the stressor is affecting their wellbeing, and what supports recovery. Therapy focuses on stabilisation, building resilience, and developing practical strategies that reduce distress and restore a sense of control.

I draw on evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, DBT-informed skills, and EMDR when symptoms relate to a traumatic or overwhelming event. These therapies help people:

  • understand the impact of stress on thoughts, feelings, and behaviour

  • develop tools to manage worry, irritability, or low mood

  • build resilience and confidence in coping

  • improve communication and problem-solving

  • strengthen emotional regulation

  • reconnect with routines, relationships, and meaningful activities.

Treatment is tailored to your needs and goals, with a focus on creating practical, achievable changes that support recovery during challenging life transitions.