Adjusting to change can be hard, even when life transitions are positive.
Do any of the following feel like… you?
- I’ve just gotten an offer for my dream job… and I’m terrified that I’m going to fail at it.
- I’m need to move, but nothing seems like the right place.
- We’re expecting a new baby… do I lose my identity/ have to quit my job/ feel guilty about wanting to go back to work.
- l’m get married…
- I’m getting divorced.
- I’ve experienced the death of a loved one.
- My kids are all grown… I never thought of myself as anything other than a parent- will I still be needed?
- I want to a more purposeful career, but my family would be very angry/disappointed/unaccepting if I did what will make me happy.
You may find yourself feeling confused about a situation that you feel should bring you happiness, or sad about a change that has come about, even if it is something that you have been wanting or working towards.
So, why do you feel ambivalent, confused or unsure of what steps to take, or about how to feel during moments of change? Life transitions often come with gains, but those gains can also come with a loss. Oftentimes, we do not take the time to stop, think and feel, or even grieved, about a loss that we have experienced, even if the gain is a “good thing”.
Having mixed emotions about change and transitions is a natural occurrence. But what happens when you find yourself feeling stuck, unable to make decisions and plagued with “perfection paralysis” in trying to ensure that you get the best possible outcome out of your decisions?
Not All Life Transitions Are Positive
You may have had to make many changes in your life that can feel overwhelming at times, and working to make everything fit in place again can be stressful. It’s normal to have strong feelings during life transitions, and they can certainly feel uncomfortable and tiring regardless of whether the changes are good or bad.
Therapy can help you figure out how to identify and better cope with the emotions that you are experiencing, so that you can feel more confident about the decisions that you make, even if it means being able to better cope with uncertainty. We can help you deal with the plethora of emotions that life transitions make you face, and help you find the best path forward.
Can Therapy for Life Transitions Help?
When life transitions cause lasting stress and anxiety, therapy can help.
Together, we’ll talk about what you’re going through and uncover what is causing you to feel the way you do. Some of the things that we may focus on include:
- How to positively frame the change that has taken place in your life
- Self-growth and resilience related to change
- How to prepare for future life transitions, as well as how the change you are going through will better prepare you to handle them
- Recognizing when you feel anxious, stressed out, or depressed and how to address negative feelings when they arise
- Time management and expectation-setting
- Self-care – what it is and how it can benefit you
- How to accept or normalize negative feelings associated with major life changes
Whether the life transition you are facing is something you welcome or not, we can help you navigate through it.
