It can seem overwhelming or frightening if you don’t know what will happen or what to expect.
Finding ways to accept and cope can make these transitions smoother and less troubling.
Sometimes it can bring opportunities that make your life better.
Verywell / Jiaqi Zhou
Fortunately, there are steps you might take when dealing with change to help make those adjustments easier.
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One thing you should avoid doing is relying onavoidance copingtechniques when you are confronted with stressful changes.
When you use avoidance coping, you venture to avoid the stress instead of dealing with it.
Avoiding that change, however, will inevitably lead to more stress and unhappiness down the road.
When negative thoughts bog you down, it is more challenging to have faith in your coping abilities.
Cognitive reframingis a technique that can help people change these negative thoughts.
It’s more empowering to shift that perspective to focus more on your strengths and abilities to adapt.
Shifting your mindset to be more positive and hopeful can help you feel more resilient and capable.
Research has found thatmaintaining routinescan help people get a better handle on symptoms of stress and anxiety.
In many cases, asking for the kind of support you need is a great place to start.
Being specific and making a direct request can help ensure that you get the help that you need.
When things are in flux, you might find that you neglect many of your basic needs.
Why Coping With Change Isnt Easy
Change requires adjustments.
In other cases, you might find that change introduces significant disruptions to the way you live your life.
This can createstressor feelings of anxiety and depression in some cases.
This doesn’t mean change is always bad.
But evengood changesyou are excited about can be stress-inducing.
You had a routine.
You knew what to expect, so you weren’t thrown off by surprises or unexpected challenges.
As change happens, your routines are disrupted.
You suddenly have to adapt as you are pushed further and further out of your comfort zone.
Symptoms of Stress
The stress these changes bring can feel overwhelming at times.
Sometimes this can even lead to unpleasant symptoms such as anxiety, sadness, and headaches.
This is why you might find yourself struggling even after a positive change has happened in your life.
Talk to your healthcare provider or mental health professional if you are having difficulty dealing with change.
They can recommend treatments that may help.
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