All major life transitions that occur, will often involve the loss of a place, person or sense of self. This can happen naturally when a college student embarks for young adulthood as a working professional for the first time or when a couple gets married and has their first child together. Contrastingly, life transitions can occur abruptly and without notice. A death of a family member, a tragic loss of a loved one or a catastrophe that leaves you feeling paralyzed.
You should feel rest assured on one hand because any significant loss will cause people to experience a host of negative emotions (anger, anxiety, self-doubt, fear, etc) and a sense of a loss of self. And while such transitions through change and trauma will have individuals experience such negative emotions, processing and reflecting through that journey will often include: acceptance, an acknowledgment of letting go to accept a new normal, which in turn will lead to hope and an increased sense of self. I have found that those who are able to go through their challenging transitions, often come out of it learning more about themselves and the strengths they carry.
Walking alongside someone in your transition is vital in helping process and reflect on the change. I often come across individuals that have spent much of their lives dealing with change and trauma by "just getting through it," without ever really processing it. Over time, because of a lack of reflection and process, they may eventually hit a wall where they are left feeling overwhelmed and stuck. Often, that is our bodies way to say "slow down," and work through the various negative emotions that have built up. Certainly, this is easier said than done due to the great stressors we may face during our lives. Don't walk alone in this journey; work towards the goal of coming out of this transition stronger and better.