Life Transitions

Major shifts in our schooling, housing, family structure, health, or location demand a great deal from us. Humans are creatures of habit, preferring stressors that are known and predictable. When the unexpected happens, many struggle with difficulties adjusting. Indeed, “adjustment disorders”—characterized by marked changes in mood, anxiety, or behavior following a major stressor—are one of the most common mental health conditions.

Especially for those of us who have experienced adverse experiences early in life, from divorce to abuse, new stressors can bring up old hardships. This can be particularly devastating when we thought that we were “better now” and had reached peace with regard to past events.

In addition to being very difficult to live through, life transitions present us with an important opportunity to revisit previously unresolved thoughts and emotions. For example, if we grew up in a household that was neglectful or chaotic and are now experiencing significant anxiety following an illness or separation, we can find ourselves withdrawing emotionally and interpersonally. Counseling can provide an opportunity to identify self-protective anger toward how we were treated in order to foster greater self-compassion. We might then relate the isolation we have felt in managing this new life transition to previous feelings and begin to move toward vulnerability and support-seeking from others.

If you are struggling with a major life transition, don’t hesitate to get support. Adjustment disorders are one of the most frequent concerns we work with and we are ready to help.