​Change and How to Cope

By Sarah O'Driscoll (Counsellor)

Change can be defined as to make the form, nature, content, or future course of something different to what it is or from what it could be if left alone. (Dictionary.com, 2020)
 
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many immediate changes to life as we know it and quite possibly post pandemic, this can cause high levels of stress, anxiety, overwhelming feelings, frustrations, and uncertainty. Some of us have spent most of 2020 in some sort of isolation leaving us with an abundance of time to think about the “what ifs” and “why’s” and the personal impact of these changes.
So what can you do to make this time of high stress and crisis easier?
 
How to cope with change?

1. Think things through: and ask “what is the worst that can happen” we are often scared of change due to the fact we fear the unknown. A great way to deal with these feelings is to think the situations through carefully and write down the best and worst possible outcome putting these feelings down on paper helps. You can also think about the last time you had similar fears and how the situation worked out in the end.
2. Ask yourself how much you can control: when a big change is occurring it is important to figure out how much you can control this will help you in putting the situation in perspective.
3. Accept and Reframe: if this change is beyond your control try to take a reflective view. Accepting that you are not able to control the situation will bring you greater peace of mind than waging an unwinnable war which will in turn just cause stress.
4. Celebrate the positives: focusing on the positives of the change can help you greatly in managing the change, try to assess the situation and write down the positive aspects even when this appears to be difficult.
5. If the unwanted change is within your control: try to deal with it in a pro-active way. Implement problem solving techniques or set some goals to address any challenges focusing on the problem itself and developing an action plan is useful.
6. Manage your stress: improving the way in which you handle stress will greatly help you when dealing with change, the use of mindfulness or meditation are great strategies.
7. Seek support: being overwhelmed is a perfectly normal reaction to change, however if the change you are facing is big or involved this is when it might be best to seek some support. You might consider asking friends and family or outside professional help. (Government, 2020)

At the end of the day change WILL occur whether we like it or not, the world and society around us is constantly evolving. Positive and negative change will have an impact but there are ways to adapt in healthy, less stressful ways.
 
 
References:
Dictionary.com. (2020, August 15th). Dictionary.com. Retrieved from Dictionary.com: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/change
Government, A. (2020, August 15th). Dealing with change . Retrieved from Reachout: www.reachout.com