Having Difficulties with a Life Transition?

 By Lori Oberacker, MS, LMHC

 

Are you struggling to cope with recent changes in your life? Has the loss of a loved one left you feeling sad, lonely or confused? Perhaps you’ve transitioned to a new role – getting married, new motherhood, blending families. Are you dealing with relational conflicts, divorce, career changes, financial stress, empty nesting, aging parents, grief or retirement?  These significant life changes can all cause distress, anxiety or depression. Changes and transitions are a natural part of life. Sometimes changes are welcomed and expected, or even exciting. Other times changes are unplanned, which can make you feel anxious. No matter how it happens, changes and transitions can be difficult. And for many, it can be hard to accept and cope with changes and move through life’s transitions.

Why is change so difficult?

It’s normal to find change difficult to manage. When you experience changes or transitions in life, you’re letting go of what’s familiar and moving toward something new. Such moves can be stressful, regardless of whether they are positive or negative, planned or unexpected.

Stress can affect you emotionally or physically. You might experience:

•   Feelings of vulnerability, anxiety and uncertainty

•   Muscle tension, body aches and pains, and headaches

•   Disturbances in your normal eating and sleeping patterns

•   Poor concentration, fatigue and loss of energy 

Managing these feelings and physical discomforts can be difficult – but not impossible.

You can take many small steps to cope with, and overcome, significant changes and transitions. You cannot always control what happens, but you can begin to have more control over your reactions to what happens, as well as your outlook on new changes and transitions.

It is imperative to remember that your emotional and mental well-being is just as important as your physical health. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it’s a sign of strength. If you are having a hard time coping with significant life changes and transitions, it might be time to seek professional help.

Lori Oberacker is a licensed psychotherapist at the Community Christian Counseling Center.  She specializes in clients who are coping with significant life changes that cause depression and anxiety. Call to schedule an appointment with Lori today. 

Lori Oberacker, MS, LMHC Clinician

Community Christian Counseling Center 

www.CCCCpb.org 

email: loberacker@CCCCpb.org

561-622-5423 ext. 4

Bipolar Misdiagnosed as Depression?

Did you know that Bipolar disorder could be misdiagnosed as Major depressive disorder? According to researchers, the incidence of both disorders is similar. There are complexities to diagnosing each one of these disorders but there are some clear signs that a client may have Bipolar disorder instead of depression. Why is this so important? The medications to treat these disorders are different and a client may not have symptom relief if they are prescribed the incorrect medication. For example, antidepressants do not treat the symptoms of bipolar depression and may be labeled as treatment resistant depression. These symptoms can go under treated for years if the correct diagnosis is not made.

In a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), it was found that young people are more likely than adults to be misdiagnosed as depressive instead of bipolar. This is highly significant because these youth continue to have bipolar symptoms even after being treated with psychotropic medications!

Bowden suggests that we must be suspicious of a bipolar diagnosis if any of the following symptoms are present:

•    younger age of onset of symptoms

•    high frequency of depressive episodes

•    greater portion of time ill

•    acute onset or resolution of symptoms

•    more mood lability during the episode

•    more motor retardation

•    greater time spent sleeping

•    on psychometric tests, bipolar clients scored higher on extroversion, novelty seeking, being less judgmental

•    depression in the post partum period & seasonal depression

•    high energy

•    high capacity for productive work

•    impatient and easily annoyed

•    client is taking antidepressant and subsequently develops mood lability

Contact us to schedule an appointment if you or your loved ones has any of these symptoms and needs counseling. Call 561-373-2347 or email us at info@CCCCpb.org.

Bowden, C.L. (2001). Strategies to reduce misdiagnosis of bipolar depression.

     Psychiatric Services 52:1, 51-55.

Settled in our new Home & Expanding

We are happy to report that we moved into our new "home" on the campus of Trinity United Methodist Church in a house on the SW location of the property. Our building project is finally completed and we love our new facilities! We are so proud to have a free standing location in Palm Beach Gardens with 4 counseling offices, an administrative office, separate waiting area for clients, a group/board room & a kitchen.

We have also grown and added an office in Hobe Sound on the campus of First United Methodist Church of Hobe Sound. Please call us for professional, confidential, faith-based counseling by state licensed counselors. Some insurances accepted.