Life Transitions
How life transitions can impact you
Change is a natural part of life, and yet we often feel unprepared and overwhelmed by it. Our nervous systems crave consistency and predictability, so even changes we know are for the better can feel threatening. Whether we are taking a new job, leaving a relationship, or welcoming a new family member, acknowledging that change is hard is a meaningful first step toward a successful transition.
Major life transitions can result in:
- Disrupted sleep – Maybe you’re excited, maybe you’re anxiously preparing for everything that could go wrong. Regardless, sleep is often the first need to take a hit during times of change.
- Existing conditions can flare up – If you have a chronic condition such as fibromyalgia, POTS, depression, or anxiety, big changes can trigger inflammatory processes and activate old thought patterns in problematic ways.
- Fear and doubt – While these are natural reactions to change, their presence doesn’t always indicate a negative outcome.
- Forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating and other blocks to executive functions – Change increases our mental load; a change in one area of life has ripple effects in many others. We may be learning how to navigate a whole new city, adjusting to a new daily routine, or even acclimating to new weather when we take a new job for example. Each layer of change increases our cognitive load, taxing our executive functioning.
Getting Support
Therapists can help you navigate the impact of life changes, the expected and the unexpected. Take Ally for example – she was beside herself with excitement when she got into the physical therapy training program that was her first choice. She was prepared for the challenge of rigorous coursework and long clinical rotations, but she didn’t expect intense bouts of loneliness and constantly feeling like she didn’t belong. In therapy, Ally and her therapist worked to address the long-buried attachment wounds that had been activated by moving away from her family – a family that had been critical of her and dismissive of her interest in the medical field.
Therapists can also help you manage the practical, day-to-day challenges of making a major change. Here are a few other ways we can help:
- Writing letters for gender affirming care, emotional support animals, and other reasonable accommodations
- Helping you establish a new routine to support your mental and physical wellness
- Exploring how your response to change may be rooted in previous life experiences
- Help you break patterns that interfere with making positive changes in your life
- Providing a space to feel however you feel without judgment
- Identify new coping strategies that may help you navigate change more effectively
If you are in a state of flux in some area of your life, you don’t have to go through it alone. Our team is available to help you meet the challenges of transition healthily and effectively. To learn more about our specialties, click here. To schedule a consultation, click below to fill out a contact form. Our Intake Specialist will help you find someone to help you navigate this new season of life.
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