The Psychological Impact Of Life Transitions

While it is believed that negative emotional reactions should only come from bad situations in the past or trauma triggers, life transitions can also take a huge toll on us. Life is a hassle of different stages. These stages are almost similar in every human being, but the experiences in each stage could not be far apart. The Psychological impact of every stage can be profound and unique, even if we try to play it cool. From childhood to adolescence, from being taken care of by your parents to taking care of yourself, from single good to marriage, from a job in your hometown to a big gig in a buzzing city, and many more.

Leaves in different stages of life symbolizing the various phases of human transitions (tCaPC)

Transitions come in different ways throughout our lives and understanding their impact on our mental state would go a long way in ensuring preparedness and intentionality in each phase.

Understanding Life Transitions

Life transitions are events or periods that bring about significant changes. Every human has gone through a life transition in their lives and how they navigate the next phase can either be positive or negative. The most common psychological reaction to an imminent life transition is the fear of change. There are various types of life transitions.

A woman reflecting on her life changes while holding a cup of coffee (tCaPC)

●     Anticipatory transitions: like going off to college, having a child, and so on.

●     Abrupt transition: like fatal accidents, sudden illness, or death of loved ones.

When things go exactly opposite of the way you expect them to go, it's also a transition that can be very painful from the start. For Serena, it was getting pregnant.

How did I get here? 

Serena had just graduated from the university when her college boyfriend called her to end their relationship. She had imagined life after school with him and how they would create their path together, but he just threw all that away. Serena was all by herself in Florida. She decided to stay back after college, far from her parents in Michigan. How was she going to start alone? A few weeks after traveling to Michigan to spend some time with her parents, Serena traveled back to Florida. She had gotten a job as a writer for a popular magazine in the state and she was going to take things step-by-step.

One night, while still brooding over the loss of her college boyfriend, Serena got intimate with a guy at the bar. It felt good to finally forget her college boyfriend, but she did not expect what would come next. Three weeks after her intimacy at the bar, Serena noticed that she started having symptoms of pregnancy and she was shocked. She was barely taking care of herself in Florida and in a little over eight months, there was going to be a new addition. Serena was scared and her emotions were all over the place. She did not even collect the number of the guy that she slept with. How was she going to raise a child alone?

Identity Crisis

Serena began to question all her decisions. She wondered if she was ever cut out to be a mother. She did not imagine having a baby at this point in her life. Soon enough, Serena got depressed. She buried herself in work, taking two extra jobs after her time at the magazine. While she thought it would help distract her, her bump was forming a little protruded curve. She became very anxious. Her body was not the same anymore and the delivery day was getting closer.

One day, she was speaking to her mom, Ella on the phone and had a full-on panic attack. Her mom left Michigan to see what was going on with her daughter. When Ella saw that Serena was struggling with anticipating the transition that having a baby was going to bring, she decided to give her a little advice and take her for counseling.

‘This transition is going to be a rollercoaster, but you'll figure it out,’ she told Serena. ‘You are a hardy girl and I have known you to come out strong against all odds. This is a huge change, but you'll figure it out. Don't lose yourself.’ Serena decided to take her mom's advice and booked a counseling appointment.

Going For Counseling

Every individual has their unique way of coping with change, and for Serena, it was burying herself where she was now most comfortable, at work. However, she knew that she needed to get through the anxiety and reach out for positive emotions so that she could welcome her baby properly. She did not know how she was going to juggle work and raising her child, but she was ready to figure it out. 

A supportive counseling session providing guidance during a life transition (tCaPC)

Counseling provided Serena with a safe space to explore her feelings and face where they were coming from. She also took time to absorb everything that was changing around her. Serena also did cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help manage her anxiety and depression by dealing with negative thought patterns. She also decided to have her mom stay who was so eager to meet her grandbaby.

While going for counseling and therapy, Serena also confided in her support system (her mom), to help her through her transition. She also decided to get freelancing jobs where she could work from home after her time at the magazine, rather than stressing herself with two extra physical jobs. Soon enough, she was no longer dealing with panic attacks. Like her therapist said ‘one day at a time.’

Conclusion 

At one point in life, everybody experiences a transition that would be difficult to adapt to, so it is important to understand the psychological impact of every change and see how it can build us rather than break us. While going through these difficult life transitions, it is important to allow yourself to feel what you are feeling, negative or positive. This is the first step to figuring things out. Whether through strict determination, building a human support system, or seeking professional help, embracing every life transition with open arms fosters growth, resilience, and the overall human experience.