As you grow older, you experience many life transitions. As we age, many people associate aging with our changing physical bodies, but it goes beyond that. While aging certainly affects different body parts and our psychological processes, there is a collective aging that occurs as well.
For example, the opportunities and expectations change as you age. Additionally, there are institutional obstacles you may face, such as certain stereotypes and a form of discrimination known as ageism.
There are developmental changes that occur over time and situational changes that relate to a particular set of circumstances or it may be linked to health and illness. All of these changes and more can be categorized as life transitions.
Anchor Therapy is a counseling center in Hoboken, NJ with mental health therapists specialized in helping children, teens, adults, and couples with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, life transitions, and more. Anchor Therapy is accepting new clients and is now providing in-person sessions and teletherapy sessions to residents of New Jersey, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Utah.
What exactly are life transitions?
In simple terms, a life transition is the process of moving from one stable phase of life to another stage, situation, or status. During this transition phase, it is normal to feel a sense of loss or even alienation since you are losing something that is familiar and, likely, valued.
Transitions can be either negative and unwanted or positive and wanted. Typically, a life transition is brought on by a key event. These transitions can force you to think about new ways to deal with mundane, everyday tasks, such as working out, taking care of daily chores, and managing your money. A time of life transitions equates to a time of experimentation. You need to experiment so you can learn how to cope and do new things.
Inadvertently, life transitions can bring about a change to your identity, especially as a senior citizen. Your roles and behaviors may change since it alters the way you see yourself and your place in the world.
Life transitions take time. For example, if you move to a senior living center, the life transition of moving does not simply start and end from when you sign the paperwork to when you are fully moved into your new place. Instead, it spans the period from the first time of the key event until you are able to re-experience harmony and stability once again.
Another helpful thing to note about life transitions is that everyone moves at their own pace. The time needed to adjust depends on the type of change and degree of the change to which your life has been impacted.
At Anchor Therapy, our geriatric counselors recognize that older people experience many life transitions. These changes are directly associated with your health and well-being. As a senior counselor, your geriatric therapist will help you experiment with new ways of doing activities, being socially engaged, and continuing to work towards your goals as a parent, grandparent, volunteer, neighbor, family member, citizen, and so on!
What are some examples of life transitions?
Life transitions become more and more common as we get older and, with that, comes a greater possibility for grief and loss. If you are approaching later life, you know that it can be hard to process life transitions without professional support, such as senior care therapy.
Coping with grief and loss later in life is complex. From understanding what is a life transition to learning how to cope with grief and loss, this blog will be helpful in assisting you through your next steps towards self-improvement.
Life transitions can be any major change that brings stress and/or upset to your life.
Some common examples of life transitions in the geriatric population are as follows:
A job change or retirement (Read “How Counseling Can Help Your Career” for more information.)
A change in your health status
A relocation
The death of a loved one (For support, read our blog “How To Support Someone Who Is Grieving.”)
It is important to note that grief and loss are normal reactions to typical life transitions, and your emotions should not be ignored. In other words, it is okay to feel your feelings. With the right geriatric behavioral health support, life transitions can be seen as opportunities for growth and learning. That is to say, it can help you find new ways to live your life.
How does grief and loss affect geriatric mental health?
Grief and loss are an expected part of life, but it can be especially difficult to deal with when you are a senior. Grief can be characterized as an emotional reaction to loss or significant change.
Typically, grief is accompanied with feelings of…
Sadness
Emptiness
Anger
Guilt
Loneliness
When you think of loss, you may think of it in terms of death; however, loss comes in many forms.
Some common examples of loss include:
The death of a loved one
Retirement
Physical health changes
Relocation
Job changes
Or any other major life transition that triggers disruption and upheaval to your life
Whatever it is that you are coping with, it requires adapting to a new way of life. As you get older, you may have difficulty finding meaning in your new life transition and you may even struggle to find purpose in your life.
For example, you may have been extremely career-oriented your entire life. Fast forward to the present, you have now retired and are trying to find your identity outside of your career. In this case, you can explore your identity and self-esteem in geriatric counseling. For more information on this, check out our blog “Do You Understand Your Self-Esteem?”.
Geriatric therapy can help senior citizens navigate these life transitions by offering support and guidance as you learn how to adjust to your new circumstances. Senior counselors provide helpful resources, like coping strategies and emotional support, which will help seniors understand and process their emotions which will, ultimately, move them forward in their lives.
Why do older adults experience an increased risk of grief and loss?
Because older adults are more likely to experience an increased number of life transitions, they are also at an increased risk of experiencing grief and loss. As you grow older, you may experience physical changes which restrict your mobility and independence. Another major transition, such as retirement, can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation if you do not have a strong support system in place.
Also, older adults may be more likely to lose loved ones due to illness or death which can cause severe sadness or perhaps depression in seniors. Additional life transitions, such as relocation or a job change, can cause stress and anxiety in older adults who are accustomed to their environment.
Lastly, senior citizens may struggle with losses that are unresolved from earlier years. This can resurface during later life transitions. For these reasons and more, it is important that seniors receive appropriate counseling so they can discover meaningful coping skills.
How can I adapt to life transitions as a senior citizen?
One constant in life for everyone is change. However, even positive change can be a lot to handle, particularly for senior citizens. The good news is that, while change can cause much stress, there are trained senior therapists who can help you learn how to manage it.
As a senior citizen, you are best equipped to deal with change and stress, whether you believe it or not. You have a lifetime of experience, wisdom, and resilience built into you. On average, older adults have higher levels of wellbeing than other age groups which is another bonus in adapting and adjusting to whatever life throws your way.
Whether it is change in the world or change in your world, there are many things you can do to thrive during this transitional period. To learn how to manage change, you can draw on your own resources, like gerontology counseling which also offers a setting of dependability and support.
There are many ways you can cope and thrive during changing times. Here are some things you can do…
Validate Your Feelings
It is important to feel your feelings at all times, including during a life transition. You may be feeling many emotions during this time which makes you feel overwhelmed. It is essential to take a step back to recognize and accept these feelings without any judgment. There is no right or wrong way to feel during a life transition.
Every emotion you experience is valid, and needs to be acknowledged so you can properly process the changes you are enduring and heal. Try not to compare yourself to other people, even if they are undergoing the same life transition as you.
Each person’s experiences are unique so there is no need for comparison even though it may seem tempting at times. When you validate your feelings, you help yourself cope so you are on the road to healing.
2. Practice Self-Care
Self-care is essential to dealing with life transitions. To help combat stress, taking care of both your physical and mental health can get you through the change.
Self-care comes in many forms, but there are some basic practices that are helpful for everyone who is navigating change.
Some excellent ways to practice self-care include:
Prioritizing adequate sleep
Eating well-balanced meals
Moving your body in a way that you enjoy
Spending time outdoors
You may also find it helpful to make time for the things that you enjoy (e.g., meditating, journaling, listening to music, and so on) which can help you further cope. When you commit to yourself, you can handle all of your emotions and understand them on a deeper level.
3. Work With A Geriatric Therapist
Whether you are a child or teen to a couple, working with a therapist for life transitions is invaluable at any age- senior citizens are no exception!
In senior counseling services, you will learn how to…
Process the changes that you are facing
Express your feelings
Learn valuable coping skills
During your therapy sessions, you and your senior counselor will identify underlying problems that may be contributing to your stress and anxiety. From there, you will develop healthy thought patterns and behaviors which will allow you to cope. Now, you can attend therapy in many forms, including virtually from the comfort of your own home.
With the assistance of a licensed geriatric mental health therapist, you can accept and adjust to life transitions while you prioritize your own mental health.
Read “Benefits of Geriatric Counseling” for more information.
4. Acknowledge Your Fears
There is an inevitable sense of fear during a life transition since you are leaving your comfort zone and entering an unknown territory. The truth is that the unknown can be intimidating.
Please take comfort in knowing that it is okay to feel scared. This is the time to allow yourself to feel a wide range of emotions without any expectations or fear of judgements. Your fears do not control you. Remind yourself that, just because you think it, does not mean that it is true. Your fears often catastrophize the situation. In reality, this change is a time for potential opportunities and growth instead of a negative period of loss.
Try to acknowledge your fears, and use it as a source of inspiration and fuel for growth in a transitional period.
Geriatric therapists are licensed mental health professionals who can assist you through major life transitions, and help you remain engaged in meaningful activities that positively contribute to your life. Whether you want to learn how to adjust to your post-work, retired life or managing complex family dynamics with grandchildren, there are senior counselors who can help.
Most senior citizens go through at least one or two major life transitions in your later years. Some transitions can be challenging while others are welcomed and celebrated. You may have anticipated life transitions while others can occur unexpectedly. Whatever circumstance you are in, life transitions are difficult. Even relatively happy and exciting life transitions can leave you feeling stressed and drained.
Luckily, life transitions do not have to completely shake up your life. If you approach the change with the right mindframe and treat yourself with compassion, you can move through this transition while maintaining your emotional and mental health.
Victoria Scala
is the Social Media Manager, Intake Coordinator, and Office Manager at Anchor Therapy in Hoboken, New Jersey. She is a graduate of the Honors College of Rutgers University-Newark. In her roles, Victoria is committed to managing the office’s social media presence and prioritizing clients' needs.
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