Life Transitions

Are you experiencing the following?

• Apprehension about an anticipated event
• Worry or dread when discussing or thinking about making a major life change
• Difficulty making decisions
• Racing thoughts
• Change in sleep pattern (sleeping too much, difficulty falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back asleep)
• Changes in appetite (eating more or less than usual, not enjoying the taste of food)
• Decrease in motivation
• Difficulty managing daily tasks
• Difficulty adjusting to a new situation
• Preoccupied with thoughts of the past or wishing things were “like they use to be”
• Inability to see positive aspects of a current situation
• Struggling with how to discuss a major life change or transition with friends, family, or coworkers
• Feeling lost or helpless
• Feeling that events are out of your control

Throughout the course of our lives we move through many transitions. Young children move through these developmental stages rapidly. These early years are marked with growth and excitement. Loved ones celebrate each new milestone with celebration. As young children enter adolescence, parents are faced with the struggle of how to balance protection and care with trust and learned independence. This is one of the first life transitions that bring with it a sense of conflict, not only for the parents but the teenager as well. Unfortunately, that eighteenth birthday does not mark the end of difficult life transitions but more likely the beginning.

Adulthood is filled with similar transitions. Going to college, choosing a major, entering the workforce, becoming financially independent, marriage, and parenthood, etc. Each of these transitions holds the potential for joy as well as disappointment. Moving through these transitions, it is not uncommon to feel lost or adrift in all the decisions that are presented.

Positive experiences with life transitions teach us to trust in ourselves and our abilities. This affirmation, that we make good decisions suggests that we should continue to make decisions for ourselves. We build off the positive experiences, and in doing so, we are lead to expect a positive outcome.

On the other hand, if life transitions (especially those occurring early on) are met with conflict or result in less fulfillment, we experience a dissolution with trust in ourselves. For example, if we are in the midst of a career change we look back on previous decisions and transitions we have gone through to provide a sense of predictability in an unpredictable situation. Searching for answers to question such as, “What will happen,” “how will this effect my future,” “is this the right choice,” or “will this make me happy,” we examine patterns in our memory. When patterns suggest you shouldn’t trust in your response, your feelings, or your judgement, these questions can become overwhelming.

Utilizing a therapist or life coach at Noyau Wellness Center, clients learn to recognize those aspects in their past that were positive and how to capitalize and build upon those. Negative outcome or emotions are often easier to recall and can, if allowed, effect us more than the positive. Through a collaborative partnership, you and your therapist will develop techniques that are customized to you and your unique personality, allowing you to more effectively manage stressful situations.

Often simply talking through your thoughts in a nurturing environment with an uninvested third party, you can gain the insight and clarity you have been seeking. Our therapists want to help you build the trust and confidence you desire. We understand how consuming some life transitions can be, as well as how complicated they routinely appear. Having worked with many clients as they move from one phase of their life to the next, we realize how difficult it can be, but we also know the deep satisfaction you are capable to achieving.