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Life transitions can be stressful but ultimately rewarding if we know how to cope with the negative feelings that come along with them. Major life transitions may include positive situations such as job change, marriage, or the birth of a child.
They can be negative, like the death of a loved one. Or they can be more ambiguous--things that may seem terrible but may ultimately lead to better things like divorce or job loss.
On this page:
Are you struggling to overcome a major life transition?
How can major life changes be beneficial?
Why can major life changes be difficult?
Coping with Change: Life Transitions Therapy Can Help
Finding Therapists for Life Transitions in Austin, TX
Key Takeaways:
- Life transitions can be amazing, but they can also be very stressful.
- Long-term stress or life transition-induced anxiety can lead to more severe mental health concerns.
- Therapy can help you adjust more healthily to a life transitions.
Are you struggling to overcome a major life transition?
What all life transitions have in common is that they can impact mental health. Major life transitions, whether positive, negative, or ambiguous, come with a lot of stress. Many of us are not prepared for the physical and mental symptoms of excessive stress that come with these transitions.
This is because often our bodies have protective instincts that keep us moving through the life transition as it's occurring, and we may not feel the impact until days, weeks, or months afterward.
How can major life changes be beneficial?
Life transitions, and indeed, the stress they create, can be beneficial. They may help us to grow mentally and offer us new perspectives and opportunities. If we look at these life transitions as a learning experience, they can give us a deeper understanding of our lives and even the world.
Why can major life changes be difficult?
Major life changes can also make people struggle to deal with new circumstances, cause a negative impact on mental health, or lead to feeling overwhelmed. For example, even something that could be considered positive, like starting a new job, may be problematic if you are someone who experiences social anxiety.
Life Stressor Symptoms
We don't always recognize the symptoms of anxiety or depression related to the stress that comes with major change. They can include a combination of cognitive, psychological, and physical signs that may interfere with daily life.
Physical symptoms caused by life transitions may include:
- Increased heartrate
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle aches and pains
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Difficulty sleeping
- Trembling or shaking
Cognitive symptoms caused by life transitions may include:
- Lack of focus
- Memory problems
Psychological symptoms caused by life transitions may include:
- Mood changes
- Excessive feelings of sadness
- Feel stuck
- Feelings of anxiety or nervousness
- Irritation or agitation
Coping with Change: Life Transitions Therapy Can Help
If you recognize yourself as having one or more of these symptoms, you may be experiencing difficulties adjusting to change and life transitions. Therapy can help. A professional therapist can help you develop coping strategies, provide guidance, build resilience, and offer a safe space to deal with the anxiety or depression that often accompany life transitions.
Life transition therapy is designed to improve mental health during times of life change through a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness training, and education on coping strategies to manage stress.
Life transition counseling can help you make significant changes in your life, like moving to a new city, becoming an empty nester, or starting a new job, and help guide you toward realistic expectations and even personal growth.
Find Balance With Life Transitions Counseling
Learning to manage stress is important to both physical and mental health. In the late 1960s, two psychologists created the Holmes Rahe Stress Inventory tool to get an approximate correlation between a person's stress level and their future health.
Common stress-inducing events are given a numerical value, with life transitions rating higher than many typical stressors of daily life. Higher stress was shown to have an effect on not only mental health but physical health as well.
In severe cases of life transition stress, a person may develop what is called an adjustment disorder. This mental health disorder is common after the death of a loved one and can cause severe changes in mood, panic attacks, difficulty enjoying daily activities or working at a job, and even self-harm or suicidal ideation.
It's not easy, but learning coping skills to manage stress in our daily lives and deal with major changes can increase our overall well being. The coping mechanisms learned and the objective perspective of a therapist can facilitate self awareness and make life changes less of a burden and more of an opportunity for growth and healthy change.
Uncertain about starting therapy?
Some may wonder, why can't I just talk to my friends, partner, or family about my struggles and stresses with change? That's a great idea - emotional support from friends and family members can be key to dealing with life transitions.
Seeking therapy can add to your support system in an impactful and effective way. As wonderful as friends and family members can be, they don't have training in mental health issues. Professional help can teach you the skills you need to thrive, whether you simply need some emotional support or are experiencing severe mental health conditions.
Finding Therapists for Life Transitions in Austin, TX
If you live in the Texas area and are having difficulty adjusting to major life changes, life transition therapy can help. Take charge of your mental health and add to your support system by seeking counseling from a specialist in life transitions.
You can start the process by looking for recommendations from friends or family who go to therapy. If that isn't an option for you, your insurance company will have a list of therapists that are in-network. Next, an online search can help you find specialized counseling in your area.
You can use keywords like "life transition" or "cognitive behavioral therapy." Most therapists will share their specializations on a profile online, but if they don't, you can always ask if they work with life transitions.
Life change is not easy, and it's not always pleasant. In fact, in some cases, it can be debilitating. However, with the support of friends and family (or support groups) and a therapist who understands how to approach changes in your life, you can develop the skills you need to stay positive and move forward.
Williamsburg Therapy Group, located on South Lamar, features a professionally-designed therapeutic space perfect for addressing stress and life transitions. Give us a call, and our patient coordinator will set you up with the best Austin therapist for you.
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