Stage 2 Outward Adjustment is best described as which of the following?

• A. Immediate complete recovery.
• B. Deny, minimize, rationalize, avoid reminders, fewer reliving episodes, return to crisis; expressing emotions about it; developing ways of coping.
• C. An abrupt transition to full functioning with no coping strategies.
• D. Reliving the assault more frequently in public settings.

Answer: (B)

Stage 2 outward adjustment describes a phase where a person begins to function more normally on the outside after a traumatic event, but distress remains inside. They may deny or minimize what happened and rationalize it, and they might avoid reminders to reduce arousal. At the same time, they show fewer reliving episodes and begin to express emotions about the experience while developing coping strategies. They may return to daily routines and responsibilities, though not yet fully recovered, and can still experience crises or triggers that test their coping. This differs from immediate complete recovery, which would mean no symptoms at all; or from an abrupt move to full functioning with no coping resources; and from reliving the assault more in public, which signals increasing intrusion rather than outward adjustment.