Tips from Charlotte’s Leading Therapists on Managing Stress and Anxiety During Life Transitions
What are some examples of major life transitions? Why are life changes so stressful? How do I deal with changes in my life? Helen Keller once said, “A bend in the road is not the end of the road…unless you fail to make the turn.” Major life transitions can cause stress for people who feel more comfortable in a routine. On the other hand, for those who seek newness and spontaneity in their lives, change is more easily welcomed. When major changes occur outside of our control, it can be a lot harder to deal with. Major changes in life are a widespread occurrence that can cause stress, disruption, and turmoil. However despite all of these changes, it is vital to learn how to maintain your balance and inner peace to ride out the storm with ease. The therapists at the Bareiter Counseling Center in Charlotte, North Carolina can help. They are skilled in working with individuals in the Charlotte area who are coping with major life transitions.
Some examples of challenging life transitions are:
- Marriage or a new relationship
- Arrival of a new baby
- Divorce, separation, or recovery from Infidelity
- Retirement, job loss, or career change
- Financial gain or loss
- Serious illness
- Death of a loved one
- Addiction
- Relocation
Why are major life changes so stressful? You feel out of control, especially when events are unwelcomed or unexpected. These changes can alter your perspective on life. Your once cheerful attitude suddenly becomes negative. You begin to think about all of the worst outcomes. Sometimes more than one change can happen at the same time, and it feels like the dominoes are all falling with one push. Changes are a part of life. You can’t escape change. And when you’re unprepared for it, the change can cause you to worry about things you have no control over. Then stress takes over. So does panic, which can result in immobility and the feeling that you are stuck in one place. Along with the stress, you may not be able to think clearly.
Just as there are lists for the biggest life changes, there are lists for how to manage the stress that comes from them. Some ways to handle stress include:
- Accept that life happens.
- Adopt a more positive attitude which helps you adapt to the change.
- Acknowledge the stress and find ways to control and eventually alleviate it.
- Give yourself some time to relax and take care of yourself.
- Remain calm.
- Think positively.
- Make a plan and take action.
- Trust your inner wisdom.
- Ask for help.
Going through life changes alone just adds to your stress and discomfort. Find someone who has been where you are going and ask them for guidance. Remember that change is unavoidable. An experienced mental health counselor can help. Our anxiety therapists at Bareiter Counseling Center in Charlotte and experienced at coaching individuals who are experiencing stressful life changes.
Understanding the transition process is comparable to when a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly. We can experience our transitions in different phases. Bruce Feiler, author of “Life Is in the Transitions: Mastering Change At Any Age,” believes a major life event takes us through three stages:
- The Long Goodbye – when we confront our emotions and say “goodbye” to the people or situations we’re leaving behind.
- The Messy Middle – where we shed certain habits and create new ones.
- The New Beginning – when we unveil our new selves.
Some people handle change caused by transitions better than others. How well we handle these changes depends on how you react to things that are out of your control compared to those that under your control. This perspective, together with your personality and temperament, can yield some clues. If you believe that events are under your control, you may have more success managing transitions compared to someone who feels that outside forces or events control things. If you are focused more on the outcome or the destination rather than the journey, the transition process can seem tougher. Those who are more open to new experiences may deal with transitions more easily than those who prefer predictability.
If you are experiencing a major life change and need some guidance, help is available. Contact the experienced therapists at the Bareiter Counseling Center in Charlotte today to schedule an appointment. Call us at
(704) 334-0524.