適応障害

• Reading: てきおうしょうがい
• Romaji: tekiō shōgai
• Kanji breakdown: 適応 (adaptation; 適 = suitable + 応 = respond) + 障害 (disorder; 障 = obstacle + 害 = harm) → adjustment disorder
• Pronunciation: /te.ki.oː.ɕoː.ɡa.i/

Meaning

Adjustment disorder — psychological distress caused by difficulty adapting to major life changes like a new job or relocation.

適応障害 gained widespread public awareness in Japan when several celebrities and public figures disclosed their diagnoses. Unlike うつ病 (major depression), 適応障害 is understood as being tied to specific stressors — a new workplace, a move, a relationship change — and is expected to improve when the stressor is removed. This distinction has made it easier for some Japanese people to seek help, as it feels less stigmatized than a depression diagnosis. It is particularly associated with workplace changes and is commonly discussed around April, when Japan's fiscal year begins and mass job transfers occur.

Examples

1. 転職してすぐ適応障害って診断されて、しばらく休職してた。 Right after I switched jobs, I was diagnosed with adjustment disorder and took a leave of absence for a while.
2. 適応障害は環境を変えれば良くなることが多いらしいよ。 Apparently adjustment disorder often gets better if you change your environment.
3. 有名人が適応障害を公表してから、周りでも理解が広がった気がする。 Ever since that celebrity came out about having adjustment disorder, I feel like people around me have become more understanding.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, healthcare, social media, daily conversation

Tone: serious, informative

Do Say

• 適応障害って診断されたけど、環境変えたら良くなったよ。 (I was diagnosed with adjustment disorder, but it got better when I changed my environment.)
• 適応障害はうつ病とは違って、原因がはっきりしてることが多い。 (Unlike depression, adjustment disorder often has a clear cause.)

Don't Say

• 「適応障害なんて慣れれば治る」は理解不足 (Saying 'adjustment disorder will go away once you get used to it' shows a lack of understanding — the condition requires proper support)

Common Mistakes

• Conflating 適応障害 with うつ病 — they are distinct conditions with different courses and treatments, though they can overlap

Origin & History

Medical term from 適応 (adaptation) + 障害 (disorder). Entered public consciousness in the 2010s-2020s as celebrities disclosed their diagnoses and workplace mental health became a major social issue.

Cultural Context

Era: 2010s-2020s, public awareness boosted by celebrity disclosures

Generation: All ages, especially working adults

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Particularly relevant around April when major job transfers (人事異動) occur at the start of the fiscal year.