In the Clarion Ledger is an article by a mental health professional about his experience with one of his patients:
A 28-year-old female patient complained about how bad her life is because her ex-husband now has a new family. She was very upset and could not let go of the thoughts of him. Because of feelings of anger and resentment, she could not hold a job, resulting in her living with her mother.
The patient was referred to a therapist who confirmed she suffered from an adjustment disorder mixed with depression and anxiety. During the course of therapy, they discussed the connection between her repressed feelings and anger and helplessness. Cognitive therapy was used to help her gain a different interpretation of the events. In this form of therapy, the patient is helped to view situations differently, like the analysis of the glass being viewed as half full instead of half empty.
For the patient to gain this ability, she first had to be made aware of the problem. She did not realize her negative thoughts and state of depression resulted from her distorted interpretation. The patient was made to understand the divorce was something that happened in the past, and she had to let it go. In addition to the therapy, the patient was encouraged to get out of the house, start socializing, take charge of her personal grooming and initiate communication with other people.
Adjustment disorder is defined as the development of emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor. This patient's main stressor was identified as the divorce she experienced. Symptoms can include depressed mood, tearfulness and hopelessness, and occur in excess of what would usually be expected from exposure to the stressor and cause significant impairment in social and occupational/academic functioning.
Once the stressor (or its consequences) have terminated, the symptoms can resolve within six months for some patients. Unfortunately for this patient, many additional stressors are caused by the divorce - financial strains, lack of support and social isolation. This is why it was so important this patient received the involved treatment of the psychotherapy and medication. Through this detailed treatment, she was helped.
Other important factors with this patient was she was not suicidal and did not have a medical condition or hormonal problems, which could have caused her symptoms. Suicide is a risk that has to be considered, and can be prevented with timely treatment.
During a recent follow-up visit, she stated she had learned how to put this painful experience in perspective and "move on." She reported she started a new job and was getting out of the house and feeling better about herself. She had started going out with friends and was focusing on her own happiness and creating her own internal peace. She was able to "let it go."
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