Monday 10 September 2012

Adjustment Disorder And Cognitive Behavior Therapy

By Lee Larossier


Adjustment disorder or AD is a common problem among the population. It may be caused by many different factors but basically it is inability to deal with major life changes. Most people recover on their own in a few months, but some require treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT works well for many.

Cognitive behavior therapy is a method of treatment that utilizes cognitive and behavior therapy techniques combined. Cognitive therapy takes a close look into the way one's thoughts shape the world around them. This includes your innermost thoughts and the way that you feel about others. Behavior therapy examines how your behavior affects your life, and the lives of others that you come into contact with.

CBT or cognitive behavior therapy is used to help you change both thoughts and actions, so you can adjust to new things in your life with few difficulties. If you undergo this kind of treatment it should only be received from a therapist that has the proper education, training, and certification. In the United States, this kind of certification comes from the National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists. It is not easy to become certified and one must have at least a Masters degree in therapy or psychology, to qualify.

CBT usually begins with assessment and educating the patient on the condition. You may need to sit and describe all of the problems that have plagued you, and tell the therapist how long this has been going on. For education, your therapist will explain about AD what causes it. You also may need to read literature or information about the problem. This can involve outside study, but it is an important part of your treatment.

After the patient is assessed and educated on AD it is time to resume a normal lifestyle. Often times, the AD patient will become isolated from the world and getting back to normal is the first step in getting better. For instance, if you normally ride your bike in the neighborhood it is time to get it out and resume riding. It may help to make a written plan for starting back to your usual routines.

After you start back to your usual routine you will examine thoughts that are destructive in nature. You may take a look at your inner thoughts and understand how they motivate you during the course of the day. Inner thoughts can become so ingrained that you probably have no idea they are occurring inside of your head. Once you see these thoughts, you lay bare your inner emotions. For instance, you could be reminding yourself that you are unworthy of achievement, and this sets up failure.

Much of your CBT will encompass thoughts and their recognition. It may help to keep a written record of various thoughts during the day. This may reveal why you are unable to cope with your surroundings.

The final part of your therapy works on preventing a relapse. You must have coping skills that will stay with you from now on. This is why you must work on your new skills until they become part of you. This helps to prevent relapse into adjustment disorder hopelessness.




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