Adjustment: It's not so easy

Life and change

Change is the only constant in life. And change generates resistance. Every passing day brings a change in some or the other dimension for every individual. Facing it is stressful enough, defying it is hardly a comfortable option. It is imperative to adjust to new situations and new people in today's fast moving world. If one is unable to make amends with one’s situation, it affects the psychological well being and can cause distress in the form of adjustment problems. 
Adaptation is the key to survival

Change is a stressor. Constancy brings peace. A steady job, stable income, a sound relationship, everlasting friendships, reliable political system, steadfastness in faith, good weather, freedom from threat, safety, security; all are what one needs to ‘not stress’ and be calm. But constancy is a dream. Things change, people change and viewpoints change. Marriages break, recession strikes and economies fall. Change is inevitable. Positive change brings joy while the negative one acts as a stressor. If one doesn't adapt, one cannot cope with it. Trouble will persists till the stressor is removed or the adaptation to the change takes place. 

Types of stressors

Change of residence, school, college or workplace; marriage or divorce, loss of a loved one, birth of a child; loss of a job, a new job, promotion or setback; all can act as stressors which can influence individuals in a negative manner. It may seem easy to adapt to these situations, but some find it difficult to accept transitions. It is a form of emotional obstinacy. An unrealistic need for consistency. It’s not abnormal to want it. It’s simply anomalous to expect it all the time and be unable to accept otherwise.
What change can do

Change leads to apprehension and worry. Children may develop tantrums; perform poorly in school and may get depressed. Adults may refuse work; stay put at home, stop communicating, have trouble sleeping and eating, and could even develop frank depression or anxiety secondary to the fear of facing the new unwanted situation. Essentially, the demand for adjustment overruns one’s energies. Defenses get depleted since demand exceeds the supply of optimism and faith.
Predictability of adjustment problems

People who are anxious personalities and have high basal tension levels have a greater tendency to develop adjustment problems. Any change tends to tamper their stress threshold. They feel secure in their stable environment and abhor any modification to it. Sometimes the calamity is enormous and anyone would respond negatively (like death or divorce). However the norm of life is that it goes on. All wounds are supposed to heal; some get all right fast, and others rectify sluggishly. When the healing process seems to be excessively long, there are no signs of betterment in spite of adequate friend and family support; and if signs of depression and anxiety disorder are slipping in, it’s a problem that warrants attention.
Treatment goals

The goal of treatment is to intervene to reduce stress and build on the coping mechanisms to deal with it. Cognitions need to change to correct irrational beliefs about the perceived stressor. This helps in reducing the fatality associated with it. Individual concerns and beliefs need to be dealt with and strengths must be built to empower oneself to deal with situations maturely and effectively without fearing consequences. Rational emotive change helps correct the negative emotions involved. Crisis can always be dealt with by venting emotions with building alternate defenses and coping means. Life is about change and the more we accept it, lesser is the fight and greater is the peace in our minds...