A major life transition or significant life change can be best defined as one door closing while another opens. The door that is closing was comfortable and predictable while the one that opens is new and unknown. It’s the period between the two in which change happens. Change forces us to examine ourselves and our life’s path. Sometimes this change makes for an uncomfortable adjustment and can cause fear and uncertainty.
Whether you want it or not, change is inevitable and most certainly unavoidable. When you’re unable to work through a transition – when it’s impacting your ability to manage day-to-day life, is causing problems in your relationships or impacting your job, it’s time to seek help. One of the most difficult things to do is to let go of what once was and welcome what is or can be. Counseling can provide the tools you need to understand the change and equip you with strategies for moving through the transition.
College Transition
For most young adults, college is a major life change that can be physically, emotionally and mentally challenging. As you aim to claim your independence and find your own path, moving away from home and separating from your parents, managing a rigorous academic schedule, spreading your social wings and taking on new responsibilities can cause significant stress, anxiety and fear. The transition can be daunting and difficult for some to manage on their own. If your having difficulty adjusting to “college life” and struggle to fit in or balance your responsibilities, seeking help from a counselor may help you prevent from problems becoming worse. A counselor can offer you a safe environment to express yourself and provide you with strategies and tools for coping with your adjustment.
It’s imperative to mention that college isn’t for everyone. If your in a situation where college is not in your plans or maybe you elect to take what’s called a “gap year” to determine what it is you really want to be doing, seeking the help of a mental health professional can be very helpful as you navigate your stress, fear or anxiety and determine your next steps. .
Parenting Transition
Baby makes three! The transition to parenthood is profound. It is probably the most stressful, exciting and life altering experience someone can embark on. It’s a lifelong journey of firsts, emotional roller coasters, and resilience. The emotional toll parenting can have, especially first-time parents, can be extraordinary and overwhelming. For the first time, you may be challenged by the changing roles in your marriage; major choices in terms of work and baby; and financial stresses. Life adjustments as significant as parenthood can cause intense stress, fear, guilt and anxiety.
Although parenting never ends, it does change as your children grow with each stage presenting new challenges. Eventually, though the time comes where your once dependent child spreads her wings seeking her independence and transitions to navigating her own pathway in life. Once the last child leaves, it’s common for parents to feel what’s termed the “empty nest syndrome”. This is a period of time where parents may have feelings of depression, sadness, loneliness or may experience grief due to the loss of their children’s daily presence. When a child’s departure unleashes overwhelming sadness, self-care during this time is critical. Counseling can assist you during this transition by helping you navigate the new and unfamiliar pathway to re-establishing your identity.
Midlife Transition
If you’re in your 40’s or 50’s and are feeling unfulfilled, dissatisfied with where your pathway has taken you, or longing for a happier self, you’re not alone. Midlife transitions tend to have significant emotional impact as a result of discontentment or boredom with people, activities or careers. Accompanying these emotions are feelings of stress, unhappiness, depression, irritability, low sex drive, confusion and general anxiety. Our 20’s and 30’s were all about strategic milestones all focused on building careers, starting a family and settling down often not stopping for introspection or questioning if what we are doing is really what we want to do. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we’ve rarely paused to think and question.
Self-reflection may be achieved through the counseling process and thus allow you to figure out what you want and how you want to live the rest of your life.
Retirement Transition
Retirement is a major milestone that may bring about a mixture of emotions that fall between excitement and fear. It’s a complex experience for almost everyone characterized by significant shifts in identity and routine. As you make the shift from working, where your work-life defined you in some way, to life as a retiree can present feelings of significant stress and anxiety. It’s normal to be apprehensive about starting a new phase of your life, especially if you’re used to the hustle and bustle of work. Finding meaning and personal fulfillment in this next phase of your life doesn’t have to be a daunting experience. Counseling can help you identify the roadblocks that are preventing you from enjoying and making the most of your retirement.