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Home » Single Mom Life » Divorce » How to Calm Panic During Transition

How to Calm Panic During Transition

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Change your mindset, change your life

Change is growth

Transitions are overwhelming. Divorce is a transition, moving is a transition, and changing jobs is a transition. Do you want to handle your current transition better than your last transition? The good news is that anyone can learn skills to calm transition-related panic. Let me share with you a framework that has helped me calm the panic in times of transition, anxiety, and overwhelming change.

This post may contain affiliate links, if you buy a suggested product I will earn a small commission. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” Read the full disclosure policy here.

You Have Been Here Before

Taking a moment to think about a previous transition in your life is helpful for calming nerves quickly. It may not have been as dramatic (or may not seem so in hindsight) as the one currently in front of you, but chances are you have been through a transition before. For example, if you have been through the transition from student to worker, you have some experience putting order to the chaos of going from one way of life to another. And you survived. You will survive this one as well.

Transitioning into Adulthood

Another mom recently shared with me that her son was near panic at figuring out how to finish college, decide what to do next year, and make it happen. If you have a child or a young friend facing this challenge, show empathy for him or her. Recall your first huge transition into adulthood. Think back the last part of your senior year of college. You were trying to finish your school work and decide about work or maybe graduate school. Where would you live? What would you do? Would you get a job in your chosen field?

In the midst of this, you were probably saying goodbye to some special friends as you all prepared to go to your first real adult jobs. You may have been making the decision whether or not to marry your college sweetheart (or even your high school sweetheart). If you had a job, it was most likely a part-time, for-now sort of job. After college, jobs are a full-time, semi-permanent deal. It’s a leap into an unknown realm. No wonder many young adults feel as if they are facing lions, tigers and bears! Oh my.

Advise your young friend that although you probably felt panicky at times when you were in their shoes, you made it t to the other side more or less successfully–and they can too. You, having already gone through at least one huge transition (two, if you are a parent), are the voice of experience.

So Much to Do: Start to Calm the Panic

When there are so many things to do and many of them are things we do not know how to do or have little experience with, life seems overwhelming. Some transitions, like divorce, take longer than others.

Focusing on one thing at a time can calm panic and overwhelm. Start by making a list of what needs to be done. If you must, you can make a list of what you want to get done. However, a master list of what must be done to get to the other side of this transition is the key. Now, look at your list and decide what you need to do first. If you are having trouble making the decision, remember food and shelter are the two most basic needs, followed by transportation.

Once you know what needs to be done first, break that task down into small steps. For example, if you need to move, first create a budget and determine what you can afford. Second, search for housing within your budget. Once you have found a place to live, you can move on to the tasks of packing and moving. The mom of the young man who was near panic about graduating college told me he calmed down immensely when he wrote down what he needed to do and then tackled one thing at a time.

What If You Need to Change Jobs?

If you are going from a student to a worker or a stay-at-home mom to a worker away from home, think about what needs to be done. First, assess your skills and interests. What Color is Your Parachute is a great resource for exploring your career path. Then, update your resume and start applying for jobs. If you do not want to work away from home, there are many jobs for work-at-home moms. (Stay tuned for more on career exploration in future posts.) Once you know the type of work you want to do and your resume is polished, start applying for jobs.

Calm the Panic During Transistions

You’ve Got This

Remember, you have probably made at least one, and probably more than one, major life transition. You know you can do it. Remember what worked well and what you want to improve on during the next transition. Make a list, prioritize, and then break it into small steps.

Do not worry if you don’t have the process perfected yet. You will get another chance. Life is full of transitions. Do you need a little boost? Check out 4 Inspirational Quotes That Guide My Life.

If you found this framework helpful for calming your panic during transition, please share it.

What transitions have you been through? What helped you?

 

 

Tamara Mason

Hi, I’m Tamara the creator of Empowered Single Moms, a single mom, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and the author of Thriving a Single Mom’s Guide to a Happy, Positive Life and Thriving a Single Mom Journal. I have a solo private psychotherapy practice where I treat anxiety, depression, and relationship issues.

As a member of the Empowered Single Moms community, I believe you can stop carrying the weight of the world alone and build a life you love. Join my mailing list and get 5 Keys to Single Mom Success.

If you want to be even more connected, join Empowered Single Moms Life Coaching Community.

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Filed Under: Divorce, Single Mom Life Tagged With: Depression and Anxiety

Previous Post: « How to Survive 20 Hours in a Car with Children
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Haralee

    May 8, 2017 at 4:48 pm

    Perspective is very important in dealing with transitions. Doubt is normal. I have asked myself to look at the big picture and will this anxiety over change wane or not and to give it time.

    Reply
    • parenting2homekids.com

      May 9, 2017 at 2:42 am

      Haralee, Yes doubt is normal and thinking about will this matter in 5 years is helpful too.

      Reply
  2. Hena

    May 8, 2017 at 5:05 pm

    Well take a pause and remember how one handled previous transitions would surely help to reduce the panic. Faith in God can help one in tackling the situation very effectively. Good article.

    Reply
    • parenting2homekids.com

      May 9, 2017 at 2:40 am

      Hena, You are absolutely correct a strong faith helps with all difficulties in life.

      Reply
  3. jessica

    May 12, 2017 at 1:06 pm

    great share. i’ve had anxiety all my life and meditation has been one of the biggest things to help calm the panic. it’s tough to find the time to sit down sometimes but in the long run it’s one of the best choices i’ve made.

    Reply
    • parenting2homekids.com

      May 14, 2017 at 4:02 am

      Jessica, I am glad you find meditation helpful. Have you tried a brisk 45 minute walk?

      Reply
  4. everything i do irritates my husband

    September 8, 2017 at 2:05 pm

    Keep the faith, my Internet friend, You are a first-class writer and deserve to be heard.

    Reply

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Hi I’m Tamara. I believe you can stop carrying the weight of the world alone. You can have the confidence and support you need to build a life you love. I am here to show you the way. More about me

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