In simple words: Adjustment disorder with anxiety is a condition where a person feels excessive fear, worry, and nervousness after a stressful event like a divorce, illness, job loss, or even a happy event like a wedding. These feelings are stronger than what would normally be expected and can make it hard to sleep, concentrate, and participate in daily activities.

Adjustment disorder with anxiety is a condition characterized by the development of anxiety symptoms in response to an identifiable psychosocial stressor (or multiple stressors).The stressors may involve finances, relationships, work, school or other significant life changes. The anxiety experienced is out of proportion to the severity or intensity of the stressor(s) and causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Symptoms typically emerge within three months of the onset of the stressor(s) and generally do not persist for more than six months after the stressor(s) or its consequences have ceased.

Example 1: A 30-year-old individual experiences excessive worry and difficulty sleeping after losing their job. The symptoms started a month after the job loss and are impacting their ability to search for new employment., A student develops nervousness and panic attacks before exams, significantly impacting their academic performance. The anxiety is disproportionate to the academic pressures faced by other students., A person experiences persistent fear and irritability after a car accident, even though they sustained no injuries. The fear is interfering with their daily life and causing significant distress.

Documentation should include the identifiable stressor(s), the onset and duration of symptoms, the severity of anxiety, and the impact on the patient's functioning. It's also important to document any associated symptoms like sleep disturbances, irritability, or difficulty concentrating.