dark blue banner with light blue writing | the not-so-secret anxiety diary | Laura Rippeon, LCSW, LCSW-C | Therapists Wilmington, NC | therapist near me

Why is Change so Hard When You Have Anxiety?

Change can be rough. It can be a small detail in some plans or a big life event. In both circumstances, you may feel the stress and anxiety that comes along with the change that is about to happen.

black woman with brown fuzzy sweater pulled up over her mouth | stressed out woman | feeling nervous | Therapist Wilmington, NC | therapist near me

You plan ahead trying to work out all the “what ifs” that come along the way to better prepare yourself for if something happens what will be plan B, C, and D.

This doesn’t always work out, and even if you think you have backup plans, the feelings of nervousness and impending doom thoughts still take over and hijack your brain.

The reality is that change can be incredibly difficult and becoming more open to change can make a big impact on your life.

In this blog, I’m talking about the difficulty of change when you have anxiety.

I am an online therapist Wilmington NC and specialize in therapy for high achievers living in North Carolina and Maryland. I work with anxious high achieving women and provide anxiety treatment and focus on other topics such as perfectionism and overcoming burnout.

Ready to get started in anxiety therapy with me? Click the button below to reserve your free 15-minute consultation on the date and time of your choice.

Schedule my free consultation

Keep reading to learn why change is so hard and what you can do to make it a little bit easier.

Why is Change so Hard?

Change can be really difficult for everyone but it can be especially difficult for folks that experience an overactive anxious system.

Most of my clients with anxiety prefer to know what to expect and depend on consistency, stability, and reliability. Anxiety keeps you striving for a false sense of security because it feels safe.

Change is unpredictable and can cause stress. The effects of change can cause you to feel overwhelmed and believe you have no control.

What Happens if You Resist Change?

While change can be difficult it is also necessary and an important part of life. If you resist change it can impact your ability for personal growth, destroy relationships, and can hold you back in your career.

These things can then cause an increase in depression or anxiety.

5 Tips To Embrace Change

Embracing change may never come easy and you may never enjoy the process. The tips listed below are intended to make the process a little easier. Check out these 5 tips below to make the change process a bit smoother.

Tip #1 to Embrace Change: Willingness

wooden blocks spelling change and chance | anxiety with change | feelings of anxiety | therapist for anxiety in Wilmington NC | therapists Wilmington NC | therapists near me

Taking steps towards embracing change is about willingness and openness. Having the mindset that you are open to experiencing change is often the first step and half the battle.

Tip #2 to Embrace Change: Know your values

When starting to embrace change exploring and identifying your values can be helpful. Your values can help guide you and then help you to take action in the direction of your values.

Tip #3 to Embrace Change: Acknowledge your feelings

Name your feelings and let yourself acknowledge they are showing up presently. This can help you to accept your feelings instead of avoiding them and pushing away from them. This is an important step in the process.

Tip #4 to Embrace Change: Bring in the self-compassion

When you are embracing change it can be very difficult. When things are difficult, it can be easy to be harder on ourselves if we didn’t do something well or our expectations weren’t met in another way.

Try treating yourself as you would treat your best friend experiencing the same thing you were. Most times we are quick to give others kindness, grace, and compassion but won’t do so for ourselves.

Tip #5 to Embrace Change: Get support

Asking for help isn’t easy but it sure can make all the difference. Asking for help doesn’t mean you are weak or unable to do something. When you are embracing change, asking for help can look like acknowledgment and validation that what you are experiencing is difficult or it can be an action of some sort.

Begin Anxiety Therapy in Wilmington, NC at Calm Waters Counseling

Change can be challenging and it doesn’t seem to matter if it is a significant change or a little change. Sometimes it can all feel the same especially when you have anxiety.

Change is inevitable and it can be really important to have an understanding and some skills on how to best cope with change when it happens to you.

I use acceptance and commitment therapy for anxiety treatment.

Learn more about ACT therapy in Wilmington, NC, and discover if Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a good fit for you.

Get started in therapy at Calm Waters Counseling by following these 4 simple steps:

anxiety therapist in Wilmington, NC | therapist for anxiety in Wilmington, NC | therapist near me | therapists Wilmington NC | therapists near me

Click the button below to schedule your free 15-minute consultation
Complete the brief questionnaire sent to your email before the consultation
Meet with your ACT therapist
Start living your life with more flexibility

I'm ready to sign up

Therapy for High Achieving Women in Wilmington, NC

You are busy chasing your dreams, fulfilling your goals, and checking off your to-do list.

I get it!

I understand the challenges high-achieving women deal with and the sacrifices they feel like they have to make along the way to get to where they want to be. This is why I believe therapy for high achievers is so important.

You can learn more about me and my Wilmington, NC online counseling practice.

Check out all services at Calm Waters Counseling, listed below: