We all know that change can be difficult. There are many reactions. Some people thrive on it, some people just roll with the punches, and some people hide from it. How do you deal with it?
Are you one of those people who thrive on inconsistency and challenge? Or maybe you are an adrenaline junkie, so you are happiest when there is variation. Perhaps consistency bores you and you like excitement. Change and the unknown is what make you feel alive. If you are one of these people, that is great. That is unless you thrive on chaos, which can be problematic.
Maybe you are someone who can roll with the punches with change. There is part of us that likes consistency, as it is safe and predictable. There are so many unknowns, and it can be scary. Realistically life is full of change, and most of the things that happen are out of our control. We can control our own behaviors and interactions, but we can’t predict how others will act or react. Sometimes life events lead to changes that we don’t expect-good or bad. You may be one of the people who can deal with whatever comes your way, as you know you have resources to deal with it and are fairly resistant.
There are other people who get very anxious when things don’t stay the same. To them it might be very scary, depending on the level of change. Some people may not want to leave their house, or even have panic attacks when needing to deal with change. It is seen as a threat and the body goes into fight or flight mode.
If you are one of those people who get extremely anxious with change there are several things you can do that can be helpful. Here are some tips to help you deal with change.
- Talk with a friend or family member that you trust and feel safe with. Sometimes just sharing your fears with someone can help ease your burden. When talking it through you may realize that it isn’t as bad as you think.
- Gather more information. Perhaps if you have more facts, can organize what will happen in the future, or put some structure to it, it will be helpful. Sometimes not knowing all the facts is anxiety evoking.
- Just breathe. Doing deep breathing or meditation can be helpful. There is even a Breathe app on the Apple watch that you can also get for an iphone.
- Yoga is wonderful for any type of anxiety. When you are focusing on your body and breathing, it takes your mind away from your worries.
- Research shows that exercise is better than medication for symptoms of anxiety or depression. It’s a great way to change your mood and get out of your head.
- Journal. What are you really afraid of? After writing your fears, think of why change might be good. Perhaps you have needed this change and your fear has kept you paralyzed. Now you are forced to deal with it, and things might be better.
If you are going through a life change and are having difficulty dealing with it, therapy can also be helpful. It often helps to talk to someone who is not emotionally involved in the situation. Please call me if I can help 713-304-6554.
Take care,
Debbie Grammas, Ph.D.
