LIFE TRANSITIONS

Are major transitions in your life contributing to increased anxiety or uncertainty about the future?

Has one decision or event drastically changed the course of your life, almost like the rug was pulled out from underneath your feet?

Do you feel like you’ve reached a fork in the road, uncertain what direction to move forward in? Are you currently adjusting to a “new normal”?

The adjustment period 

Life changes can be uncomfortable, scary, and overwhelming, especially when the causes are completely outside of your control. When the course of your life shifts, it can take weeks, months, even years to catch up to where you want or need to be. Part of the reason life changes are so difficult is because it can feel as though you are going through it alone and that no one understands your experience. 

Whether you are going through a breakup, quitting a job, or moving to a completely new location, one thing in common with all life transitions is fearing the unknown. Fear is oftentimes one of the early stages of an adjustment period in one’s life. Additionally, you may feel lost or confused on how to move forward, you may be grieving the way things were before this transition, or you may be struggling to process or accept this change in your life. Any and all of these reactions are completely normal.

The collective life transition from Covid-19 

Considering the current circumstances surrounding the pandemic, mental health care has  become even more prevalent, with a wider range of opportunities and resources for individuals struggling to adjust or cope. When Covid-19 initially broke out, people all around the world experienced a major shift in lifestyle, health, finances, physical and emotional wellbeing, and so much more. 

An extreme transition was experienced on a global level and brought collective feelings of anxiety, uncertainty, fear, and other dreadful emotions to the surface. Even though there was a shared transition across the world, each individual experience of this drastic life change was different. The Covid-19 pandemic caused a significant decline in mental health for a majority of people all across the world, and it is important to acknowledge the validity and normality of seeking mental health support at this time, as Covid-19 adds an extra layer of adjustment to any stressor. 

While transitions like the ones caused by Covid-19 were definitely apparent and hard to miss, there are many transitions that individuals experience in their everyday lives. Below are some examples of life transitions you may be seeking support for:

  • Post-pandemic stress

  • Divorce/Separation/Breakups

  • Death of a loved one

  • Pregnancy/Becoming a Parent

  • Gender transitioning

  • Moving to a new state or country

  • Career/Job changes 

  • Navigating new health diagnoses, whether medical or psychological

  • Aging 

  • Marriage 

  • Starting a new relationship

Why might therapy be helpful?

The fear and anxiety that go along with life transitions can be all-consuming and sometimes even debilitating. You may have trouble envisioning a worthwhile or fulfilling future, or you may just be wondering when this adjustment period will pass so that you can go back to feeling okay again. If you are working towards accepting a significant life change and becoming confident in transitioning to the next stage of your life, therapy could be an important step for you. Listed below are a few of many evidence-based approaches your therapist may implement in session with you. 

  • Motivational Interviewing- Increasing your internal motivation to set specific and realistic goals for next steps

  • Narrative Therapy- processing the changes you are going through and reframing the experience to highlight strengths and areas of hope

  • Acceptance Commitment Therapy- working to accept the implications of these changes and to observe the impact on mind and body

  • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy- visualizing a healthy and adjusted future and working backwards to set goals towards a life that resembles that type of life you would like to live 

I’m not good with change. 

Change is hard. Your therapist can work with you to understand your underlying fears and areas of discomfort around change. Identifying core thoughts or beliefs you may have around this can open up opportunities to develop new thought patterns and become more comfortable with life transitions. Although your therapist cannot eliminate or control changes in your life, they can help make these changes more manageable. 

Next steps

Life transitions are tough, and Garden Counseling and Wellness Group is here to provide support and help you through them. If you are going through a challenging life transition and could benefit from some additional support, please feel free to schedule a 15 minute consultation with one of our mental health therapists by clicking on the button below. 

Reach out to schedule with one of our providers