The ManicaPost
Dr Mazvita Machinga —
CHANGE is part of everyone’s life. It can mean anything from moving to a new place, having a major life event or illness. Any life change can cause stress as a result of adjustment challenges
Most of the time, people adjust to changes within a few weeks or months. But if someone continues to feel down, overwhelmed or self-destructive, it means one may be experiencing adjustment problems which if not well addressed may lead to various other mental conditions such as depression or suicidal to the extreme.
As our children start school, college or university some of them experience challenges with adjustment.
They struggle to get along or survive in their new social and physical environment. In fact, from my psychotherapy practice, I have learned that anyone can develop adjustment challenges especially as one gets to a new place or is in a new system. Both young people and adults can suffer from adjustment problems.
Many different events may trigger symptoms of an adjustment problem.
Whatever the trigger is, the situation may become too much for someone and they feel overwhelmed.
Just last week, one student who has just been enrolled in a new school, communicated with me and said: “ I am overwhelmed this is just too much, I want to go home, I am crying all the time and I do not know what is going on with me .I am finding it hard to sleep, am scared during the night.”
Upon talking to the students, I observed that she was having adjustment issues and I alerted the school officials to assist in dialoguing with the student. Now, she is getting assistance and is coping well.
Her physical health was also being affected she had to report to the health clinic.
It is important that anyone who deals with students who are new, be it at school, community etc. watches for adjustment challenges.
Some of the behaviours that are manifested with new students are results of not being able to adapt easily.
The sad factor is that some adjustment problems may be associated with physical symptoms as well as psychological ones as was happening with the student I mentioned above.
Some symptoms occur because students are having a hard time coping and thus a serious health related problem may arise.
One’s reaction will be stronger than expected for the type of event that occurs.
When a student has marked distress that is in excess of what would be expected given the nature of the stressor, they need to be attended to immediately.
The problem is that some institutions wait until a student’s situation aggravates or something catastrophic happens for them to respond.
Below are some of the mental symptoms of students with adjustment problems: heightened anxiety levels, feeling sad or depressed mood, hopelessness or trapped, crying all the time, withdrawn attitude, lack of concentration, loss of self-esteem and suicidal thoughts.
Physical symptoms can include: insomnia, muscle twitches or trembling, headaches, fatigue, body pain or soreness and indigestion just to mention a few.
Some symptoms may include behavioural problems where a student deliberately violates the rights of others or major age-appropriate social norms and rules such as: substance abuse, starting fights, stealing or vandalising property.
Students may also start missing school or classes.
In short, adjustment problems may be categorised as adjustment challenges with anxiety; adjustment with mixed anxiety and depression; adjustment with disturbance of conduct or adjustment with mixed disturbance of emotions and substance abuse.
So then, the question is what is that can be done. For schools with counselling units or psychologists, students need to be referred there and get help.
Others could be referred to community counselling centres where they can be helped.
Please note, there isn’t one way of helping students with adjustments problems. One’s upbringing, social skills and methods for coping with stressors may determine whether or not a student can cope.
Teachers, school authorities and parents need to intervene when signs and symptoms of adjustment problems are detected. What is that you can do?
- a) Talk to your child or student and let them express how they are feeling without any judgement. It is okay to feel that way.
Help students to articulate their thoughts and feelings. Acknowledge the students’ feelings.
- b) Counselling is the most common and effective intervention for a student with adjustment problems.
Activating Therapy: This is a type of cognitive behavioural therapy that focuses on performing a set of activities to reclaim personal power over one’s life or situation and to develop coping mechanisms.
Individual counselling enables the child identify and understand their reaction to a new situation.
The counselling should assist student restore self-esteem, build coping strategies and assist in returning the student to his / her normal level of functioning.
- c) Social Support or Group Support- This can be very helpful in alleviating stress. Encourage students to hang around with colleagues and talk to people.
- d) Effective communication and coping-with-stress skills are recommended for students and discuss culture shock issues.
- e) Get exercises. Encourage students to have time to adjust. Remember each student is different. What works on one may not work on the other.
If you think your student or child is having adjustment problems or any other mental health challenges , please seek professional help.
Dr Mazvita Machinga is a qualified psychotherapist based in Mutare and can be contacted at
0771 754 519 or 0778838410 or email: [email protected].
