Coping with Change: How to Manage Stress During Major Life Transitions
When Life Change Feels Harder Than You Expected
Change has a way of stirring things up, even when it’s a change we’ve chosen.
Whether it’s a move to a new city, starting a new job, bringing home a new baby, or simply entering a new season of life, transitions can leave us feeling emotionally scattered, physically drained, and unsure of our footing.
Big changes have a way of throwing us off kilter. I know this firsthand. After recently relocating myself, I’ve seen just how much a big life change can impact our routines, nervous system, and sense of self. Even positive transitions can bring moments of grief, uncertainty, and stress that catch us off guard.
If you’ve found yourself feeling overwhelmed lately, you’re not alone. The good news? There are ways to navigate change that don’t leave you feeling like you’re in survival mode.
In this blog, I’ll be discussing why we struggle with change & how counseling can help you build resilience in the face of upheaval.
Hi, I’m Amanda Parmley, MA, LCMHC
I’m Amanda Parmley, MA, LCMHC, LPCC a licensed therapist offering online counseling across North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, and South Carolina. I specialize in anxiety, trauma recovery, perfectionism, and insomnia using evidence-based tools like EMDR, CBT-I and mindfulness.
Ready to start counseling? Click the button below to get started in therapy with me:
Why Transitions Trigger Stress (Even the “Good” Ones)
Our brains crave predictability. When life shifts suddenly, even for good reasons our nervous system interprets that uncertainty as a threat.
That’s why you might notice yourself:
Feeling more anxious or irritable
Having trouble falling or staying asleep
Feeling tired but wired
Struggling to focus, make decisions, or stay on task
Wanting to withdraw from others
Feeling overwhelmed with everything that has to get done
At times it can be easy to attribute our body’s stress response as weakness or personal failings but it’s your nervous system trying its hardest to protect you. Understanding this is the first step in starting to treat yourself with more compassion instead of criticism.
The Hidden Grief That Comes With Change
What most people don’t talk about is the grief that often comes with transitions.
Even exciting changes, like moving to a dream location or starting a new role can stir up feelings of loss. You may be saying goodbye to routines, familiar spaces, friendships, or even a sense of who you were before. Even good change can feel hard.
Many people describe feeling guilty for struggling when they “should” feel happy. But acknowledging the grief that comes with change is not self-pity, it’s self-awareness. It’s not uncommon for people to feel multiple seemingly opposite emotions at the same time. Change can bring happiness and sadness, excitement and worry, joy and grief, or any other multitude of conflicting emotions.
Naming what you’re letting go of helps make space for what’s next. For example, “even though I’m excited for this next chapter, I’m sad that changing jobs will mean not seeing my work friends on a regular basis. I’m afraid that we won’t be as close as we were when I was working at that job.”
How Therapy Helps You Navigate Change and Find Calm Again
Therapy provides a grounding space to process change and regulate your nervous system.
Through our work together, we might:
Identify and name the stressors behind your overwhelm
Use EMDR therapy to release the emotional “charge” of uncertainty or past transitions and prepare for upcoming future scenarios
Build mindfulness and grounding tools to calm your body when life feels out of control
Create structure and routines that restore your sense of stability
Strengthen your ability to adapt to new beginnings with confidence and ease
You don’t have to have everything figured out before reaching out for help. Therapy is where you can slow down, breathe, and rediscover your sense of self, one step at a time.
Rebuilding Balance and Trust in Yourself
Change often challenges our self-trust. You may question your decisions, your timing, or whether you’re “doing life right.” It’s during these moments that growth happens. With the right support, you can:
Reconnect with your values
Feel calm and resilient in the face of stress and change
Build healthy coping strategies & reestablish healthy routines
Process past events and negative beliefs that pop up during time of high stress
Find stability in your day-to-day life
Learn to regulate your nervous system more quickly after stress
When you develop these tools, change stops feeling like something that happens to you and starts feeling like something you can move through with grace.
Therapy for Stress, Transitions, and Anxiety in Kentucky and North Carolina
If you’re adjusting to a new environment, navigating thought spirals, or simply craving more stability, therapy can help you feel grounded again.
I specialize in helping adults who struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, trauma, or insomnia find calm and clarity through EMDR therapy, CBT-I, and mindfulness-based approaches.
Whether you’re unpacking boxes in Kentucky or building new routines in North Carolina, you don’t have to do it alone.
For Kentucky Residents
If you’re looking for private-pay therapy in Kentucky, you’ll have the freedom to go deeper without the limitations of insurance. We’ll create a plan that fits your goals, your pace, and your life not just a diagnosis code.
For North Carolina Clients
If you’re located in North Carolina, I’m in-network with select insurance plans. Therapy can help you reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and feel more emotionally balanced as you adjust to whatever life brings next.
How to Start Therapy with Amanda Parmley, MA, LCMHC, LPCC:
1. Click the button below to request a free 15-minute consultation.
2. Complete
the required screener
& take the phone call from Amanda Parmley at the prearranged & agreed-upon time.
3. Start your journey
to feeling better.
Additional Services Offered by Amanda Parmley, MA, LCMHC:
In addition to supporting clients experiencing major life changes, I specialize in:
Anxiety and panic
Trauma and PTSD
Low self-esteem and perfectionism
Insomnia
Interested in attending therapy from the comfort of your own home?
I offer online therapy in Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida, and South Carolina.