Change is a part of life that’s inevitable for everyone. No matter how hard you resist it, fear it, or try to avoid it, things are going to change– it’s just how things work. Even if you understand this on an intellectual level, you might still struggle with accepting it and coping with it. And if you have a hard time coping with change, you are most definitely not alone.
Serenity & acceptance
The Serenity Prayer is popular amongst 12-step and recovery communities, and it centers around change: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Acceptance, courage, and wisdom are powerful tools in the face of even the most devastating or unexpected change.
Understanding how much control you have over the matter is an incredibly important step: if there’s something going on that’s truly outside of your control, all the stress and anxiety in the world will only serve to make you feel worse, and won’t change the outcome of whatever is going on.
On the flip side, if you can control what’s happening, it might really help to figure out some actionable steps you can take to help mitigate the final outcome. Of course, this is often easier said than done.
It’s okay to seek help
Sometimes coming to terms with a major life change, or figuring out what to do, can be too much for us individually. This is true of anyone– no one in the world is perfectly equipped to know exactly what to do when facing major life upheaval.
If things seem too big to handle, there’s no shame in accepting that you can’t do everything on your own. Seeking therapy will help provide you with the tools you need to appropriately deal with life changes in productive and healthy ways.
Good change can be stressful, too
Positive life changes can come with their fair share of stress, too. It’s important to recognize that even a truly wonderful change, like an upcoming wedding or a big move, can be difficult to deal with on your own. In fact, a positive life change can come with an immense amount of pressure to create the “perfect” experience.
This is especially true now, in the age of social media, where everyone’s online presence is carefully curated to show a highlight reel– leaving out struggles and problems, which can lead others to believe that those struggles aren’t happening.
Another potential issue with positive life experiences is the narrative you’ve created for yourself. Even if something amazing is happening for you, low self-esteem and anxiety might create stress out of nowhere, telling you that you don’t deserve this or that it will all go away soon.
A licensed therapist can help you develop a plan for effectively handling these feelings. You’ll develop a method for challenging that pervasive inner voice– and in turn, handle stress and change in a much healthier way.
The importance of self-care
Self-care is a buzzword these days, and it’s quite possibly overused. You’ll see the term on packaging for beauty products and vacation getaway packages, but self-care isn’t just about spending money, and it doesn’t have to be a fancy, expensive vacation. It can be as simple as creating a routine in your life that’s comforting to you, like making sure to sit outside with your morning coffee and just think about your day, or taking a break from scrolling through social media to collect your thoughts.
Finding ways to cope during recovery
For people who deal with substance abuse and addiction, life change is often a major trigger for relapse or unhealthy behaviors. Seeking treatment at Pecan Haven means that you’ll be working closely with experienced mental health professionals who will help you develop healthy skills to handle whatever life throws your way.
If you’re interested in learning more or would like to complete an online assessment, please give us a call or visit our website today. We look forward to working with you!
