We all undergo many changes during our lifetime. Some of the changes are easier to handle and some harder. In this article I would like to cover about something I have personally been working on recently: Coping with Change-Induced Stress.
Some changes are routine, like changing your mind about what to wear or to eat. These changes usually don’t cause us much stress. Harder changes like trying a new career or losing a partner can cause stress and even health and emotional breakdowns.
We encounter this stress when change interferes with our comfortable routine. We feel secure when we have a plan. But when change interrupts that plan, we may experience physical as well as psychological changes, stress being one of them.
“The stress these changes bring can feel overwhelming at times. And it can have negative effects on both your physical and mental well-being. For example, you might find yourself experiencing symptoms such as: anxiety, changes in appetite, depression or sadness Irritability, muscle pain, problems sleeping, stomach upset, tension headache, or trouble concentrating.“ – verywellmind.com
What if You Don’t Accept the Change?
Most people know firsthand that change, both positive (like getting married) and negative (like losing a job), can and does, cause people stress. This in itself is a strong motive for resistance. What not skip coping with change-induced stress? What if you simply resist the change, dig in, and try to stay with the status quo?
“Being resistant to change is natural. But there may come a time when it becomes more uncomfortable to stay the same than to move forward. If you resist change, says Sue English, a licensed family therapist in Naperville, Illinois ( and avoid the stress) you may:
- feel stagnant or stuck
- limit your growth
- stifle your creativity
- reduce your chances for connection
This could translate into lost opportunities for promotions or advancements, acquiring new skill sets, job satisfaction, and healthy relationships,” she says. – psychcentral.com
Coping With Stress
Change is coming at us every day and even though we may alter the way we look at things, how do we handle the unknown and the stress? Here are five steps to help you:
- Find your level of optimism. We are never free from change but we can choose how we respond to it. Accept the fact that change happens and take control over what is next. You can’t go back, things are not like they were. But there is another path: The path forward! Embrace the new challenge; find your new niche, new friends, a new job, a new love. Find hope in the future.
- Laugh about it. We have covered more than once the idea that laughter really is good medicine. Find a funny moment during an otherwise unfunny situation. Create some levity and you create distance from the stress you are carrying. The added bonus comes from sharing your more light-hearted thinking with others. By doing so you can lift the load of stress from others as well.
- Use mindfulness. Create calm and space by using mindfulness techniques. Stress, if unchecked, can worsen, but mindfulness can give you the power to manage it. Mindfulness not only reduces stress it also builds inner strength so future stressors have less effect.
- Don’t stress over the stress. Your reaction to the stress is more important than the stress itself. When you feel stress from a change, find out why. Is the stress just trying to carry you through a trying time or trying to help you out of aggravating a situation? In other words, is it good stress? Stress can also act as a natural defense, a motivator and an adrenalin supporter.
- Ask for help. This discussion post should not take the place of a visit with a health professional. It offered it for your information. Getting through a major change is always stressful. Chronic prolonged stress can be very harmful to a person’s mental and physical health. If you feel like you could be handling it better, reach out and talk with a friend, a coach or a health professional.
“Remember, most of your stress comes from the way you respond, not the way life is. Adjust your attitude. Change how you see things. Look for the good in all situations. Take the lesson and find new opportunities to grow. Let all the extra stress, worrying, and overthinking go.” The Mind Journal
Related Article: Coping with Change, Life Change Stress Test
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