Fall is a Season of Change, Much Like Life
The leaves are changing, and the air has a different feel. Some days are warm, and some days are chilly. The nights are colder now, and some would say brisk or cold. It is a time of transition and change. We are leaving the warm summer weather behind and ushering in the cold for the winter.
As with everything in life, it is a time of change, and sometimes this can be exciting or scary and sometimes even sad. Some of us miss the warm summer sun and being outside, watching things grow to be vibrant. We long for those long summer days and doing lots of things outdoors and spending doing something outdoors. The cycle of the seasons continues, and just like the weather, we move through life transitions.
Life is Full of Cycles and Transitions
We, too, move through life cycles and meet milestones and changes that come with living our lives. Some changes are exciting birthdays, weddings, moving to a new place, and going to school. These can be wonderful and exciting to experience and bring us joy and happiness. There are also the changes that may not be happy in our lives, death of a loved one, divorce or breaking up with a long-time partner, moving away, losing a job, or natural disasters. These changes often leave us feeling worthless, lacking purpose, and questioning the meaning of life. But do they need to?
Change is part of life, and being adaptable is human. Humans have proved to be some of the most adaptable animals ever. So, it is possible to survive and thrive with such changes even though, at the time, it may not seem likely that things could not get better.
Sometimes it is a question of perspective and challenging our old beliefs about the world and ourselves. We may need help going through this transition and seeing things more clearly. So, does this mean that something is wrong with you if you face a big challenge and change? Of course, it does not; it means you are human and living your life.
Changes Create a Domino Effect
These changes may lead to other events in a domino effect and affect an even wider variety of events in our lives, so getting some help in dealing with these changes and transitions can be essential. Therapy for these changes may feel more like a conversation about change; however, having somewhere to place some of the things that come up through this change is essential to managing the changes.
If you are unsure how much the transition has impacted you, there is a simple and effective way to determine how much stress you might be under. It is a simple assessment that you can take in a few minutes. The Rahe stress scale will give you some quick and helpful information.
What Life Transitions Therapy Can Help With
Below is a list of a few things that transition therapy can help with and how they may impact other areas of your life:
Death of a Spouse or Close Family Member
At the top of the list is the death of a spouse. This is definitely one of the biggest transitions to move through, as it affects so many different aspects of your life. There is the grief and then the domino effect of changes in your life that happen as a result of the death. Therapy can be beneficial in sorting through all of these emotions and changes. You’ll have lost the partner you’ve likely spent years with. Someone who was a parent to your children. They were a financial supporter. Perhaps most significantly, they were your most significant source of emotional support.
There’s no easy way to get over this event, but you can start by taking stock of what you will need to help make this transition. The death of a close family member may feel very much like the death of a spouse and finding ways to express the grief and find emotional support can be helped with transition therapy.
Divorce, Separation
Divorce/separation is the death of a relationship and has many of the same feelings and problems as a spouse’s death. One essential thing to do during this time is to find emotional support. Reaching out to friends and family is very important. So is connecting with people who will be there to help sort through this. Transition therapy can be beneficial in regaining your sense of calm and purpose and finding that emotional support. Transition therapy can help have a safe place to talk about everything around divorce and separation. Finding out who you are again without this other person deciding how to move forward and rediscover yourself.
A Significant Injury or Illness
Suffering from a significant illness or injury can rob you of the things you used to enjoy and limit your capacity to work. This can lead to more severe problems or depression, or anxiety about the future. Depending on the type of injury or illness, how we define ourselves and finding a way to redefine ourselves after this type of problem is essential with recovery. There is research into the mind and body connection, and how we feel genuinely affects how we do it. We are affected by how we recover from illness and injury, so while taking care of the medical side, paying attention and supporting the emotional side is equally important.
Marriage
Marriage may seem out of place on this list since it’s supposed to be a happy event; however, it is a big transition, and often, it is all the little things about being married that can affect the long-term relationship. It is the beginning of a whole new start to a way of life. It is one of the happiest times in our lives, and hopefully, it leads to even more happy events. Learning more about ourselves and how we relate to ourselves and others is at the heart of transition therapy and can be used for all the different times in our lives, happy and otherwise.
Life Transitions Therapy Can Help Navigate Life’s Path
Transitional therapy is set to help us navigate the changes big and small in our lives, and just as the leaves in nature are now changing, we are changing with them. And while some of these events can happen instantly, their effects can persist for a long time. You owe it to yourself to prioritize your well-being before and even long after the initial event to prevent yourself from succumbing to them. You can’t eliminate the changes in your life, but you can learn to reduce and manage quickly and confidently.
Please get in touch with me to learn more about transition therapy and if this will be a good fit for you.
Ready to Start Life Transitions Therapy in Virginia?
Maybe your childhood was crap and that has made you fearful of life transitions. Now you are in the midst of major life changes and don’t know how to process the transition to a new existence. With therapy at Gray Horse Counseling, your future doesn’t have to be a scary place. I work with adults who have experienced dysfunctional families or family life. These past experiences impact how you navigate your life’s changing landscape and now you need help and guidance to adapt to these transitions in a healthy and positive way.
You want to be more authentic in your connections, and be present in this stage of your life. However, past experiences are holding you back. I get it. As a Virginia-based therapist, I am here to offer the support you need to learn and grow into the life transitions you are facing in a healthy and productive way.
Reach Out Today and Begin Living Your Best Life
In past situations, you didn’t get the love and support you needed. As an online therapist in Virginia, I get to be that person for you now. Together we can work through the situations you are struggling with in life and overcome the depression, anxiety, or other issues you may be facing. Together we can develop new coping skills and strategies. So, let’s figure it out. Consider online therapy in Virginia, individual or group therapy, EMDR Intensives, Trauma Therapy, or meet me for equine-assisted therapy in Powhatan, VA, Let’s get this stuff figured out so you can finally live a better life. Today is the day. What are you waiting for? Contact me now.