Transitioning from one chapter of your life to another is not easy. Whether it’s an expected or unexpected change, it can be scary, uncomfortable, cause stress and anxiety, and take a long time to adjust to. Maybe you’re moving away for college or university for the first time, or starting a brand new career path. It’s normal for new opportunities in life to come with doubt and uncertainty. Transitions are an inevitable part of life, but learning to stay calm through the storm is the first step in the right direction.
The Transition Toolkit Program gives young adults a supportive space to talk about the challenges that come with major life changes. Through group discussion, participants were able to share their experiences, connect with others going through similar situations, and learn helpful tips and strategies for managing change and the emotions that come with it. Being surrounded by people who can relate to what you’re experiencing can help you feel less alone and remind you that struggling with change is a regular part of life.
The Role of Uncertainty
A significant theme that was touched on during the first week’s session was uncertainty. Change comes with uncertainty and unfamiliarity, which causes us to feel anxious. Our brains want to be in control — they seek safety, familiarity, and predictability. When we are uncertain about something or diving into a new experience, our brain goes into defense mode. More specifically, the amygdala, responsible for emotion control and threat response in the brain, is the reason our body reacts with anxiety when these life changes occur.
What Even Is Anxiety?
Anxiety can show itself in many forms. One example is when your brain starts to form those “what if” thoughts. What if I fail? What if something goes wrong? What if I’m not good enough? Anxiety can make us focus on the worst-case scenario, allowing thoughts of failure, doubt, uneasiness, and other worries to take over.
Maybe you’re starting a new job and are nervous that you won’t adjust well. Suddenly, your stomach starts to hurt, your chest feels tight, and your heart starts to race. These thoughts and physical reactions can also influence how we behave. You might delay important tasks, avoid certain situations, or put off things that make you feel uncomfortable.
These are what I like to call the anxiety fuelers: thoughts, emotions, physical reactions, and behaviors. They all interact with each other to reinforce our anxiety, further causing our worries to grow even bigger.
The Cycle of Avoidance
Soon enough, we can fall into a cycle of anxiety that becomes hard to end. We might begin to avoid the situations that bring us anxiety and feel a sense of relief when we do so. This short-term relief only intensifies the anxious feelings we will get when a similar situation happens again.
I found learning about this anxiety loop to be extremely eye-opening and relatable, especially as a young adult going through major life changes. When making a significant transition, it’s normal to worry about what might go wrong. Eventually, these worries may even lead us to avoid taking risks, impact our ability to adjust to new experiences, and even lead to a decrease in finishing tasks that could help us move forward. We can convince ourselves that things will only get worse, making it more difficult to break the cycle and overcome these challenges.
This is the stage of life where changes are happening regularly, and often, they are out of our control. If we don’t take the steps to recognize and stop this pattern, we can easily become stuck in it.
Navigating Life Transitions, One Step at a Time
Week 1 of the Transition Toolkit shed light on this cycle and really resonated with many of the participants. Learning to notice the patterns behind our anxiety is an important first step toward managing stress and navigating the uncertainty that comes with major life transitions. Even while we might not be able to control every change that occurs, we can learn to manage how we react to it.
The Transition Toolkit is here to support young adults through these high-stress periods of life. Week 1 taught us the basics of these life transitions, what anxiety really is, and why our brains convince us to stay a part of this loop. For the upcoming weeks, participants look forward to more advice, strategies, tips, and tricks to help manage anxiety and navigate the difficult, yet important transitions that come with this stage of life. This is just the beginning!
Although change can be unsettling, it can also mark the start of something new. There is no need to have everything figured out just yet — it’s only up to you to take things one step at a time and keep moving forward.
You got this!
About Deeya Sumra
At Impart Therapy, Deeya Sumra works with teens and young adults experiencing anxiety, helping them develop practical, evidence-based skills to manage stress and build resilience. If any of these signs sound familiar, we’re here to help support both you and your teen. To book a free meet and greet with Deeya, please visit: Book Online | Impart Therapy
About Isabella Tomei
Isabella Tomei is a fourth-year Psychology student at Toronto Metropolitan University with a passion for understanding mental health disorders, psychotherapy, and behavioural development. Her interest in psychology comes from a genuine desire to better understand people and support them through the challenges they may face. Isabella plans to pursue graduate studies in counseling psychology with a long-term goal of becoming a child psychologist. She hopes to build a career centered around helping others become the best version of themselves. Isabella believes that everyone deserves the chance to be heard and understood and to have access to the help they need to improve their well-being. With her future plans, she hopes to one day be someone who can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.