Are you currently experiencing a significant amount of stress or a recent life change?  Perhaps you’re facing divorce, death of a loved one, a job loss or the loss of health.  Life can be hard, and has pivotal moments that remind us that the nature of reality is one of impermanence.  Things change, and losses and gains are consistently experienced.  Indeed, much of counseling work is centered around adjustment to a limitation, barrier or unmet needs and expectations; while making the most out of uncontrollable events in our lives.

If we lack the appropriate mental, emotional and social resources, stress created by change can become prolonged and segue into major clinical anxiety or depression, and corresponding symptoms may manifest.  Such changes can disturb our sense of identity, meaning & purpose; and re-direct our life trajectory.  This can create a sense of confusion and a general lack of direction, and evoke trepidation and fears related to hopeful possibilities.  Further exacerbating problems can be cultural attitudes toward stress and change, as we (those in the United States) live in a culture that frequently minimizes the actual effects of change and loss, while simultaneously idealizes and clings to attitudes of unlimited consumption and possibility.  Thus, when facing a difficult loss or change over which we have no control, we may be left without an accepting space to reflect and readjust, and a chance to build a solid roadmap for recovery.