Struggling to Cope with Major Life Transitions and Changes in Your Life?
- Has the recent loss of a spouse or partner left you hurt, bewildered or directionless?
- Has someone who you dearly love left?
- Have you headed off to college but don’t have a clue about what to do with your life?
- Are you struggling with the changes that are happening after retirement?
- Are you an empty-nest parent having a difficult time adjusting to changes happening since your kids have left home?
- Has a new job, loss of a job or recent move left you with stress levels you struggle to manage?
- Did you plan for retirement financially but not emotionally?
Life transitions can take many forms. Some circumstances can take us to the edge of our capabilities. Examples include beginning a new phase of life, trauma, illness, the loss of a loved one, or changes at home or work. When we’re unsure of what to expect, our minds may fill in the uncertainty with damaging thoughts and emotions.
No matter how “together” we appear, if we’re hurting on the inside, life can feel overwhelming and exhausting. We often attempt to downplay how challenging these times can be. But denial of them doesn’t make them go away. Doing that can actually increase the struggle.
What the Life Transition Experience Looks and Feels Like
Life transitions can add major turmoil to your life. At least for the time being, it’s like your world has turned upside-down.
Imagine a large, pristine river full of aquatic wildlife. Fish of all sorts inhabit this ultra-clear ecosystem. That is, until several days of thunderstorms and torrential rains roll through inundating the feeder creeks to that river.
The beautiful river becomes full of debris, levels swell and the water turns chocolate brown. The lives of the fish that, days before, enjoyed a “normal” existence are turned into upheaval.
They struggle to find food because they can’t see an inch in front of them. Their hiding places aren’t safe anymore and the currents are fierce. Things will return to normal but that’ll take a while.
In the same way, life transitions come to us. Sometimes we see them a long way off. Other times, they happen unexpectedly and instantly.
Eventually, with proper resources and mindsets, the “water” clears and we experience a new normal. Things may never be how they were before our “storm” but we leave the pain and confusion behind that’s so often associated with life transitions.
If you stop and think about it, there are a lot of transitions we may experience throughout our years. Here are just a few:
- As children possibly experiencing the breakup of our parents and changes in our family.
- Transition into adulthood (especially school or career-related).
- Relationship transitions (especially the beginning stages or the ending stages of a relationship).
- The changes associated with blending families.
- Becoming a parent for the first time.
- Raising children (especially the challenges associated with the teenage years).
- Empty-nest transitions.
- The loss of a close family member, possibly a child, parent or spouse.
- A new diagnosis of a chronic health condition (such as diabetes, cardiac issues or chronic pain).
- A new diagnosis of a life threatening disease such as cancer.
- Job changes such as a new job, the loss of a job or moving to a new area.
- Retirement.
- Loss of independence due to aging or health related issues.
How successfully and quickly we pass through transitions often depends on our support system and resilience.
At times, that support system is lacking, or the stressors related to the transitions in our life are overwhelming. In that case, the confusion and “fog” can last a long time.
Our Therapists Can Help You Navigate Major Change and Life Transitions
“What sort of transitions can you help me with?” You may ask.
Comforts of Home Counseling has helped many individuals get through all of the life changes mentioned above and much more.
People often confide in our therapists that they feel like they can’t function like they normally do. They’re struggling too much with the changes happening in their lives.
And what we often say goes something like this:
“Ok, you have a new baby, your mom just recently passed away, you live in a new state and have a new job. No wonder you’re struggling! You’re only human!”
The first thing we do is help you identify and then recognize how impactful life transitions can be. Too often, those struggling don’t think of their life changes as such a big deal. There’s a real tendency to downplay them, but they recognize that they are feeling overwhelmed or are struggling.
As therapists, we know all too well that change stress is very real, making it difficult for the healthiest of people to cope at times.
Some transitions are good such as a new job, new baby or new relationship but can still be overwhelming in their own way. Other transitions are unexpected and unwelcomed such as the loss of a loved one, loss of a job or loss of health.
Regardless of the reasons for your transitions, we’ll help you regain hope. We’ll also assist you with creating new ways to manage your stressful situation.
Comforts of Home Counseling has helped many of our clients get through major change by:
- Building resilience.
- Finding and identifying their strengths.
- Setting realistic, achievable goals.
- Creating healthy coping skills.
- Providing support.
We’ve witnessed positive changes as the heaviness of our clients’ transitions became more manageable and life drastically improved. Regardless of what you’re going through right now, the same is possible for you.
Maybe you find that difficult to believe right now. That’s OK. We’ll believe it for you until you can believe it for yourself!
This Life Change is So Unexpected and Painful. I’m Afraid Counseling Will Only Rip Open My Wounds.
This is a common concern. You’re not the only one who’s had that worry.
The name of our practice reflects our desire for you. At Comforts of Home Counseling, we want you to feel safe, comfortable and at home when you walk into our office.
We aren’t here to judge you or beat you over the head because you’re struggling with life transitions. We all personally know how challenging these times can be.
We want to provide a safe and trusted opportunity for you to work through your thoughts and emotions. We’ll never tell you to “just snap out of it.” Experientially and professionally, we know that life change doesn’t get resolved that way.
Are there some painful things you’ll share? There likely will be.
But we encourage you to talk about your pain to lessen your burden—not to add to it.
We’ll help you discover techniques that will give you a healthy perspective in the midst of major change. Also, we’ll assist you in exiting that fog more quickly so you can get on with a happy, well-adjusted life.
We all need help during our hard times. There really aren’t any exceptions to that. Comforts of Home Counseling is here for you during your life transitions.
Are you or someone you love struggling to cope with major change? You don’t have to walk that road alone another day. With professional insight and caring support, you can persevere through difficult times with determination and hope.
Why not schedule an appointment with Comforts of Home Counseling and get the support that you need?