Understanding Transition Stress
Adjusting to a new phase in life, whether it’s leaving a career, stepping into a different role, or redefining your purpose, can be challenging. Below are key ways transition stress might be affecting you:
The Strain of “Thee Before Me”: Your military or first responder mindset may prioritise others, leaving little space for your own needs, leading to burnout or heightened anxiety.
Communication Challenges: Avoiding difficult conversations at work or at home can cause misunderstandings and erode important relationships.
Isolation and Abandonment: Leaving behind a career often means leaving behind a tight-knit community. Without that, it’s easy to feel alone in your struggles.
Struggling with Family and Community Life: Integrating into a new rhythm—whether with family, in your local community, or at work—can feel overwhelming, increasing the risk of fractured relationships or isolation.
Adapting to the Unknown: Leaving a close-knit military community can feel isolating. In a new workplace, adapting to unfamiliar norms, language, and culture often triggers hypervigilance and trust issues. You may overextend yourself, unsure where you truly belong.
Loss of Belonging: The absence of a larger mission, shared goals, and aligned values can create a sense of detachment and longing for meaningful connection.
Career Uncertainty: Frequent career shifts, or “job hopping,” can make finding stable employment harder, potentially branding you as unreliable or unemployable.
Identity and Purpose: You might find yourself asking, “Who am I now? What do I do next?” The loss of a clear identity, especially without the uniform or defined role, can be disorienting.
You’re Not Alone
These challenges are common symptoms of transition stress, but there’s a way forward.
At What Makes the Difference, we see you and understand the ripple effects these changes create.
We’re here to help you and your family find clarity, purpose, and a path toward a better future.
Let’s Start the Journey Together.