Some of them we handle with ease, and it seems they aren’t transitions at all. However, there are others that hit us hard and catch us off guard, and we may find that their difficult and frightening to deal with.
If you’re currently going through a transition in life that is difficult or has you stressed out, don’t worry you’re not alone. Many people experience transitional stress at some point in their life. There are plenty of coping mechanisms and healthy ways that you can deal with life’s transitions. Here are several of them that you can incorporate into your life to help you deal with whatever transition you may be going through.
Don’t Expect Sunshine and Roses
This may sound like silly advice. However, if you’re going through a negative transition like a loss of a job or relationship, you should expect negative emotions. Psychology Today says that planning for emotions like depression and anxiety can help you deal with them in the long term. Acting like they are not going to happen, will leave you unprepared for handling these intense emotions.
Become Knowledgeable
One of the worst things that can happen to you when going through a transition is not understanding the facts about your circumstances. That’s why the Huffington Post recommends that you get as much information as you can about the situation. No matter what changes you are going through, doing the research, and knowing the possibilities for your case will help you feel less “in the dark.” Knowing what to expect and what is unlikely will help quell your fears and anxieties.
Learn to Let Go
Many people are simply afraid to change because they are afraid of the unknown. Healthy Psychology recommends embracing the change and letting go of your fear. Holding on to fear does nothing to help you cope with the transition and may even make the transitional process harder. Try deep breathing exercises for positive visualization to help you let go of your fear associated with the transition.
Try to Stay Flexible
When dealing with a transition rigidity can mean intense difficulty. This can be a rigid mentality in dealing with the people or adjusting to new schedules. Flexibility allows you to adapt to the transition more easily because you have more patience with both yourself and the people around you. Remember you are not the only one going through the transition. If you’re entering a new job, new relationship, leaving the job or leaving a relationship, there are new experiences for everyone involved. Having a little flexibility and forgiveness can help everyone involved stay positive and get through the transition smoothly.
Seek Expert Help
Many times, it can be hard to adjust to change on your own. This is true if the change is challenging as the death of a loved one or loss of a job. Even the failure of a marriage can cause extreme shifts in the way you view yourself and the world around you. Sometimes this can lead to adjustment disorder, which can cause depressed moods and anxiety.
Goodtherapy.org encourages people going through it exceptionally difficult change to seek out professional help to learn to cope with the transition. Adjustment disorder is not common in all people experiencing a transition in life. However, if you notice you’re having more difficulty dealing with change than others you’ve seen similar experience transitions in life, it may be time to seek out professional help.
There’s no reason to be embarrassed to get a little assistance. Professional counselors and social workers can help you learn coping skills to get you through intense emotions like anxiety and depression. They can also identify any additional issues that may be hindering your good transition.
Everyone goes through transitions in life. Not all transitions are bad and they can even be positive experiences. Making them healthy should always be a priority.
