In Seasons of Transition: Five Signs of Anxiety & Five Ways to Cope

If you have known me for a while, you’ve likely heard me say that life has “seasons.” We experience seasons where life is marked by a pace, describing our lives as busy, steady, slow. We describe seasons by what “hat” we are wearing: husband, wife, mother, father, student, employee, etc. We describe seasons by how well we are doing: if we are struggling or if we’re in a space of abundance.

I appreciate that these seasons are a metaphor found in nature. At least here in Pennsylvania, we experience and would describe perks and downsides to each season. In summer, we have beach days and barbecues; we also have humidity and bug bites. In the winter, we get to wear oversized sweaters, drink hot coffee from a favorite mug, and be warmed by the fireplace. Unfortunately, we also have to defrost our vehicles and shovel snow.

Each of the four seasons are marked by something different, and so it is with the various seasons of our lives. Of course, with the weather there is some level of prediction; we know what to expect from the climate based on where we are at in the calendar year. Yet when we enter a new “season” in our life, it is often accompanied by several unknowns. These unknowns can cause unwanted feelings of anxiety to arise. To a degree, anxiety helps us maintain a sense of motivation and productivity in our daily functioning. Contrastingly, too much anxiety can be overwhelming, interfering with our ability to engage meaningfully with life.

You may be wondering “how do I know if I am experiencing ‘too much’ anxiety?” Great question.

You might be experiencing heightened levels of anxiety if:

1.        You are having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Often once you are tucked into bed for the night, you begin reflecting on the events of the day, or your “to-do’s” for tomorrow.

2.        You notice your heart is beating more rapidly than usual. There are many physical symptoms of anxiety, but a rapid heartbeat is one I hear about from clients most often. This could accompany worrisome thoughts, or situations that you are in that cause anxiety to spike.

3.        You have reoccurring thoughts about the past or future. Rumination on past events or a preoccupation with future unknowns are often a sign of anxious thinking.

4.        You are feeling irritable. If you notice your responses to loved ones lacks patience, even in unwarranted moments, you might be struggling with anxiety. This often looks like being “on edge,” where one seemingly small thing could “set you off.”

5.        You are avoiding certain people or situations. This one is fairly self-explanatory, but if you are noticing a pattern of avoidance, you may be struggling with anxious thinking.

If any (or multiple) of the preceding symptoms describe your functioning in this current season, you would likely benefit from working on anxiety management. But how? Any of the following suggestions could help: 

1.        Journal. Journaling is my favorite suggestion for managing anxious thoughts. It is such a helpful release, where you can jot down all the thoughts or feelings that you are struggling with, providing a sense of release and an opportunity to gain clarity on what is heightening the anxiety.  

2.        Talk to a friend or family member. If there is a loved one who can provide a listening ear, give them a call. Share with someone else how you are doing and allow them to listen, validate, and (perhaps) challenge some of your thinking.

3.        Take a walk or exercise. Activity can provide a physical release of tension that you may be holding in your body that is contributing to symptoms of anxiety.

4.        Practice mindfulness. This can take on many different forms and can be immensely helpful in slowing down your thought processes and begin attending to the present moment.

5.        Seek counseling. If you are reading this blog and a lot of it is resonating with you, it may be helpful to sit and process with a counselor who can provide you with personalized tips to cope with your current struggles.

If you are thinking that anxiety counseling may be helpful at this point in your journey, I would be honored to talk with you to see if I might be a good fit for what you need in this season. Together, we can work through unwanted symptoms of anxiety and help you find the root cause of the symptoms that you are experiencing. If you live in Pennsylvania and are looking for online counseling, or in person counseling in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, reach out to me today!