Therapy for Life Transitions

Life transitions aren’t always negative and unpredictable events. Take the following experiences: getting married, going away for college, starting a new career, relocating for work, giving birth to a child, and purchasing a home.  However, we also experience some life transitions that could cause us a large deal of distress, such as divorce, death, loss of a job, an accident, serious illness, separation from family, adaption, financial loss, aging, or cultural differences.

The common theme is that these transitions tend to be life-changing events that cause a lot of unpredictable stress. Change is inevitable. I’m sure you’ve heard that before, but it doesn’t mean we’re always ready for it. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always give us the time to prepare for all the new changes properly. This is why it’s important to have a strong support system that you can rely on.

But you thought you were completely accepting and prepared for the change to come, but then realized it requires a lot more adjusting than you expected. Your sleeping habits start to change, your health declines, your ability to concentrate decreases, and your motivation to keep going diminishes rapidly. As a result, you start to feel helpless, overwhelmed, anxious, and tired.

Finding the right support may be what you need. You’re going through some life adjustments that can be scary at first, but you’re resilient. You’ve done it before, multiple times, but maybe you need someone to remind you just how strong and capable you are. You deserve to have someone to talk to freely about all your concerns and worries without having to feel like a burden.

Life transitions are not a clinical diagnosis, but the issues and changes that arise from adjusting to these transitions can lead to diagnosable mental health conditions such as adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder, and/or general anxiety disorder.

Have you been experiencing an increase in stress, which has been affecting your relationships, ability to function at work, concentration, and mood swings? Then it might be time that you reach out to someone for help.  Remember, this is only a transition.  Soon it will become your new norm.

Examples of Life Changing Transitions:

We experience many life transitions, and here are several examples. 

  • Divorce/New Marriage
  • Illness and/or death in the family
  • Financial problems
  • Job loss/Starting a new job
  • Going to a new school
  • Moving to a new home and/or state
  • Career change
  • Becoming a parent

Possible Symptoms of Life Transitions:

Difficulties adjusting to a life transition may be the cause of such symptoms:

  • Low Energy
  • Low moods
  • Insomnia
  • Digestive problems
  • Headaches
  • Loss or increase of appetite
  • Feeling more anxious and overwhelmed
  • Easily irritable
  • Isolation
  • Decrease in sex drive
  • Autoimmune issues