Transitions...Life is filled with transitions. Job change, relocation, death of a friend or relative, divorce or separating from your partner, loss of a pet, becoming an empty nester as the kids leave home, and the loss or illness of a baby or child are just a few examples of life transitions. Miscarriage or a child's illness can cause feelings of grief and worry. Life is different than you had expected. Anxiety can happen when you become overwhelmed with fear or the tragedy of loss. A counselor can help sort out those feelings.

A new baby in the household is a transition. It can be an exciting time of life. The anticipation of the baby's birth can be filled with joy. Picking out those darling baby clothes, decorating the baby's room, buying new furniture, a jogging stroller or a regular one, and many more decisions are involved. There is imagery of being the perfect mom and how wonderful life will be with a new baby.

All of a sudden the time is here and the baby is born. Hospitals don't let new moms stay long these days so you quickly find yourself being wheeled out of the hospital with the baby in your arms. Exhaustion is a common feeling after leaving the hospital. Having the baby is a stress on the body. Nurses came in and out of your room, so you haven't had a good night's sleep. Now you're home and you are not going to get a solid night of sleep for quite a while.

Decisions need to be made. Am I going back to work or am I staying home? Going back to work with the addition of a baby to the household adds additional responsibility and worry to your life. Staying at home can lead to isolation and worry about small things that add up. Both directions can lead to anxiety. Anxiety is characterized by feelings of worry or fear that are strong enough to interfere with your daily life. It is very common and not unusual to feel this way but when the fear and worry is constant and overwhelming, it can make life miserable.

There are different ways to reduce your anxiety and bring back the joy and happiness to your life. You can cut down on your caffeine intake. Exercise, eat healthy foods, and get better sleep can be helpful. Consider looking for your wise mind. Check out this link for more information: https://www.dbtselfhelp.com/html/mind_states.html. If you'd like a more concrete approach try a workbook. The Anxiety and Worry Workbook: The Cognitive Behavioral Solution by David Clark, PhD, and Aaron Beck, MD, is based on well documented evidence for its effectiveness.

Sometimes you might need more help than what is offered above. Seek a confidential ear from someone who can empathize. By talking with a counselor, you can learn to understand and deal with your anxiety. Take care of yourself. See a counselor who can help you with life transitions.