Metro Atlanta Life Transition Counseling

For nearly every person, there will be a time when they experience a major life transition. Life transitions can be moments of joy—a marriage, the birth of a child, etc., but they can also be moments of trauma, such as the death of a loved one. In some cases, life transitions may not spark joy or sadness but are just changes—such as moving to a new town to support a spouse’s change in job.

While life transitions are a normal part of life and something that everyone goes through, life transitions can lead to feelings of anxiety, stress, fatigue, and sometimes even depression. If you are going through a life transition and struggling to cope with your emotions or simply looking for the best way to address the changes, working with a therapist may help. Call CNSL today to learn more about how we can help support your mental health during or after a significant life change.

What Is a “Life Transition”?

A life transition can be any major event or change in life. Some common life transitions include:

• Getting married
• Moving in with a partner
• Getting divorced
• Having a baby
• The death of a loved one or a pet
• Getting a new job
• Moving to a new place
• Reaching a significant age
• Retiring
• Becoming ill or disabled
• Experiencing a traumatic event

How Can Life Transitions Impact Mental Health? 

A big life transition, whether positive or negative, can cause stress to our entire system. While this can feel scary and disruptive, it’s totally normal. Humans are creatures of habit, so when habits are changed, the brain is forced to engage in a new and active way to ensure that needs are met. The change in our brain impacts our emotions and our neural pathways—sometimes, this can lead to feelings of anxiety, fear, guilt, depression, and more. In some cases, these emotions may disrupt our ability to be productive, functional, and happy members of our families, workplaces, and society. When that happens, seeking help from a therapist is important for finding healthy ways to move forward.

How Working with a Therapist Can Help 

A therapist can help you to normalize the emotions that you’re experiencing in response to a big life change and help you to learn to be compassionate to yourself. Importantly, a therapist can also work with you to develop coping skills for managing your emotions and behaviors related to life change. A therapist can also help you to adopt practical recommendations for dealing with the transition, such as getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and seeking social support. A therapist is also a person to talk to—experiencing stress and other emotions related to a life transition can feel isolating.

When life transitions are traumatic or contribute to mental health disorders such as depression or PTSD, a therapist or psychiatrist can also recommend more advanced treatment options if needed.

Get the Help You Need from CNSL Today

At CNSL, our therapists are here to provide you with the support and care that you need when life changes in ways you may not have anticipated. If you are going through a life transition or are coping with the effects of a life transition, our therapists want to work with you to set goals and take actionable steps to reach those goals. To learn more about CNSL and our professionals, please reach out to us by phone or online today. We are accepting new patients.