Life Transitions
Has life ever totally and completely changed for you overnight? Whether you knew it was coming or not, it can be partially (or completely) traumatic in a sense. Examples of some life transitions, just to name a few:
-A loved one passing away
-Welcoming a new baby into the home
-Starting a new job/school
-Medical emergency/injury/diagnosis
-Moving to a new location
Even if we anticipate these changes, when it happens can feel completely shocking. Let’s remind ourselves that this is valid. You are a whole person, starting something completely new, controlled or uncontrolled by you, it happened.
Humans typically do not prefer to feel out of control. From toddler to older adult ages - we yearn for some sort of control.
Therefore, when a transition happens, you might find yourself feeling some type of emotional reaction.
What would that reaction look like? Some options could appear as…
-Increase in exhaustion
-Emotional dysregulation
-Feeling dissociative
-Appetite changes
-Use of unhealthy coping skills
-Temperamental or agitated
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So, what do we do?
Grieve the version of yourself before the life transition. You deserve kindness to yourself for having to adjust to something that will become your new normal.
Find something you can control via healthier methods (new personal routine on your own time, switching your exercise regimen, choosing time during the day such as a lunch break to be what you need it to be, etc.).
When we take time to recognize the change in our mood/behavior due to the life transition that occurred, that’s the first step to moving forward.
It’s ok to sit with your emotions for a while, then it can be time to take back control, in a healthy way.
Need some help picking up the pieces? Reach out, we can work on it together.
