This month, I’ve been thinking about the plurality of transitions and how they can be joyful and exciting while also being stressful and challenging. As we reach graduation season in the US, many young Americans are experiencing these ambivalent feelings and asking themselves many essential questions. My stepson, Henry, graduated from high school a few weeks ago, which made me reflect on the transitional nature of this time and how we can best support ourselves and those we care about through periods of change.
Throughout life, we transition from childhood to adulthood, from education to work, from being single to being in a relationship, including parenthood for many, and from living with our guardians to moving into our own spaces or perhaps even to a different state or country. Whatever the transition, it brings mixed emotions that can often be difficult to manage or comprehend. It is normal to experience confusion or stress during these transitions, to question whether you are making the right choice, to ponder what will come next, and to reflect on all that you’re leaving behind.
Dealing with change can be tough, so it’s important to stay connected to friends, family, and support networks to make the transition easier and to maintain a sense of belonging and stability throughout the process. Seemingly little things, like developing a manageable routine, setting small goals for yourself, and, most importantly, practicing non-judgmental, compassionate self-talk, can make a sizable difference when making life changes.
Things might not always work out the way we imagine, but with every door that closes, another one opens.
Congratulations to my stepson, Henry, for graduating this May.
Monthly Blog Round-Up
The following is a round-up of our monthly blogs in case you missed any on our social media pages.
The United States has been battling a drug epidemic for decades, but the situation has become increasingly serious in recent years due to the proliferation of highly potent drugs like fentanyl.
Now, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the public of a new threat: fentanyl mixed with xylazine. This dangerous combination has become the deadliest drug threat in the country, according to DEA Administrator Milgram.
The polyvagal theory offers key insights into the ways that nervous system dysregulation as a result of trauma impacts physical and emotional well-being.
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is responsible for scanning an environment for threats and dangers. If a threat is detected, a well-regulated autonomic nervous system will respond accordingly. This is often referred to as the stress response and is understood by many as fight-or-flight. There are three general states that the autonomic nervous system will be in: same, mobilized, or immobilized.
Polyvagal theory helps us understand the complexity of the human nervous system. Before the formulation of polyvagal theory, the nervous system was thought of as a two-part antagonistic system. This antiquated binary model for understanding the stress response explained it as being either on or off, with a person being either stressed or not stressed.
It was thought that when a threat, such as from a dangerous animal, activated the stress response, then the automatic nervous system would activate, mobilize, and respond, and then when the threat had been processed, the body would return to homeostasis or the rest-and-digest system.
Forgiveness is an essential aspect of healthy romantic relationships, and understanding the role of emotional attachment patterns in shaping forgiveness can help couples overcome conflicts and strengthen their relationship.
Couples can work with mental health professionals to develop personalized strategies for managing conflicts and cultivating forgiveness. They can also approach conflicts through the lens of attachment theory, in which they consider how early childhood experiences affect them as individuals and play out in their relationships.
