LIFE TRANSITIONS AND STRESS

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LIFE TRANSITIONS AND STRESS
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WHAT CAUSES STRESS?

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WHAT IS A TRANSITION?

• A transition is a short term life change
  characterized by a sharp discontinuity with the
  past. Thus, transitions have identifiable
  beginnings and usually definite endings.

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WHY DOES THIS CAUSE STRESS?

• Change can be good or bad, voluntary or
  involuntary.
• When change occurs the stable situation you
  relied on becomes new and unknown.
• This uncertainty can leave you stresses and
  uneasy.
• You might try to ignore or reject the change at
  first. This could leave you in a more complicated
  situation.

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LEARN TO EXPECT CHANGE

• Despite the fact that change can take many forms
• Realize that nobody can guarantee you stability
  or permanence
• Change wont seem like as big of a deal

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CHOOSE YOUR MINDSET AND YOU WILL HAVE CONTROL

• Since you cannot necessarily know the forms that
  change will enter your life, realize that you can
  control your mindset.
• This is a key concept to accept and use
  throughout your life

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HELP OTHERS

• Self benefit from gaining satisfaction
• Benefit to others
• Other people need help adapting
• This can lead you to feel more in control

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LIFE HAPPENS

• Question is not if
• But rather how are you going to deal with these
  happenings
• Transitions lead to profound change
• Can be positive!

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LOSS AND FEAR 2 COMMON COMPONENTS

• Loss of familiar people, places
• Feeling powerless
• Aching to return
• Formless anxiety
• The unknown is scary

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LIFE TRANSITIONS

• Starting and graduating from school
• Starting work
• Leaving home
• Getting married
• Having a child
• Having a child leave home
• Retirement

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DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES

• Learning to play with others
• Puberty
• Diminishing physical and mental abilities as we
  age

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BECOMING A PARENT

• Did You Know?
• The 2002-2003 average cost of a four-year private
  college is 18,273 (up 5.8 from last year.)
• Its never too early to start saving for your
  child education

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Get Ready..

• Stay healthy
• Choose a birthing facility
• Choose a child birth class
• Know your finances
• Investigate child care options

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Get set

• Items that are necessary for the arrival of a new
  baby
• A car seat
• Diapers
• Feeding equipment
• Clothing
• A crib, cradle or bassinet
• Bedding
• A changing table
• A high chair, a stroller

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Go!

• Dont forget
• Schedule Moms follow-up appointment with her
  doctor and babys first visit to the pediatrician
• Get a Social Security number for baby
• Childproof your home

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Tips to make a move easier

• When doing the moving yourself, it is important
  to rent a truck or van
• Before renting a truck, figure out what size
  youll need. Consult your local Yellow Pages for
  truck rental agencies, and call around to compare
  prices. Reserve the truck at least one week ahead
  of your move and allow even more time during
  peaking moving seasons or on weekends. Dont
  forget to reserve furniture pads and dollies or
  hand trucks at the same time.
• When packing the truck, put heavy items in fist
  so that the bulk of the weight is toward the
  front.

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If you are doing your own packing, the guideline
is to start a month before your move. Youll need
the following

• Boxes, get lots of them in a range of sizes.
  They should be sturdy and have tops. Get free
  boxes from liquor stores, supermarkets or your
  office. You also can buy boxes from a truck
  rental agency or moving company, but that can be
  expensive.
• Tape, string an scissors. Large rolls of 2-inch
  wide packing tape and sturdy twine works well.
• Marking pens to label boxes.
• Plastic bags, tissue paper, newspapers and small
  towels for padding.
• Be sure to label your boxes carefully. Youll
  want to specify the room a box is destined for
  and include a brief description of the contents.
  Label on the side of the box not the top.

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There are a million details that crop up before a
move. Use this handy check list to help you
remember what needs to be done.

• Banks, Close current accounts if they are not
  transferable and establish new accounts at your
  new location. Be sure your old bank has your new
  address.
• Insurance, Notify your agent of your new address
  and discuss how your insurance needs may change
  with your move. For instance, you probably wont
  need as much coverage if youre moving from a
  house to an apartment.
• Utilities, Establish cut-off dates and give your
  forwarding address to all utilities and services
  including telephone, cable TV, electricity, gas,
  water and garbage removal. Arrange for utilities
  to be started in your new home so everything will
  be working when you arrive.
• Medical records, Obtain records from your
  doctor(s), dentist, ophthalmologist or
  optometrist, and veterinarian. If youve already
  selected new health car providers, make
  arrangements to have your records sent directly
  to them.
• Delivery services, Arrange to discontinue home
  delivery of newspapers, milk or diapers.
• Change of address, Fill out a forwarding address
  form at the post office and pick up a stack of
  change-of address forms to send to the following

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ABOUT GETTING MARRIED

• Take a deep breath and relax. This is supposed to
  be a dream come true,a day youll both remember
  for the rest of your lives. And it will be.
  Formal or informal, big or small, any wedding is
  a bit of a production.

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DID YOU KNOW?

• According to theknot.com the US average wedding
  budget is 19,000.
• If youre a soon-to-be newlywed, let us help you
  get a handle on your wedding budget and other
  money matters.

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TIPS FOR GETTING THROUGH THE WEDDING

• Down the aisle in style
• Of course, the bridal gown is an important item
  to the couple, and it can be a considerable
  expense. Bridal magazines highlight a variety of
  styles and are good place to star searching for
  that perfect creation. Many brides have their
  wedding dresses custom-made, but there are less
  expensive options. Purchase a dress off
  the-rack, buy a sample dress, get a dress from a
  secondhand store, checkout one of the growing
  number of bridal factory outlets, rent a dress or
  borrow one from a friend or relative.

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TIPS FOR GETTING THROUGH THE WEDDING CONTINUED.

• Club WedThe Honey moon
• One big-ticket item that deserves some extra
  attention because of the emotional and financial
  considerations is your honeymoon. Most couples,
  budget permitting, go on their honeymoon soon
  after the wedding. The honeymoon gives you an
  opportunity to relax after the stress and
  excitement of the wedding and before you start
  setting up your household. But make your plans
  early, so youll get your first choice of a
  hideaway. By starting early, you may even find
  discounts on airfare and accommodations.

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WEDDING COSTS

• Budgeting your wedding is extremely important

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LOSING A JOB

• Did you know?
• Nearly 9 million persons are unemployed.
• Know the specifics of your benefits and
  retirement plans and be prepared to face
  unemployment

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IT WILL HELP TO GET THROUGH THIS TOUGH TIME IF
YOU

• Share the news with your family
• Give yourself permission to grieve
• Seek outside support

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FINDING A NEW JOB

• Make a resume be sure to include the following
• A header. This should include your name, address
  and phone number.
• Objective or Summary Statement. A sentence or
  phase describing the type of job you are seeking.
• Work history (last job first). List employers,
  the dates worked and a brief description of your
  duties and accomplishments.
• Education (highest degree or diploma first).
• Special skills. List computer or language skills
  or other talents relevant to the job for which
  you are applying.
• Honors and activities. List awards you have
  earned, clubs or organizations your belong to
  activities and hobbies.

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TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW

• Arrive slightly early
• Dress appropriately
• Bring your resume and samples of your work, if
  applicable
• Shake hands firmly
• Be positive
• Answer questions clearly and concisely. Dont
  ramble, but dont answer with just a yes or
  no.
• Ask questions about the position and the company
• Sell yourself. If your interested in, and
  qualified for , the position, you have to
  convince the interviewer that youre the best
  candidate for the job. Tell him or her what you
  can do for the company.
• Dont ask about salary and benefits. Thats a
  subject best left for a second interview, or
  better yet, a job offer.
• Avoid nervous gestures
• Be prepared to furnish personal and business
  references. Most employers expect at least
  three. Have them printed on a separate sheet of
  the same paper used for your resume.
• Follow up with a thank-you letter to the person
  who interviewed you

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Group Activity

• Put Yourself in Their Shoes

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Breaking into Groups
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Please discuss the following questions with your
group. Be prepared to share your thoughts with
the class.

• Is your life transition a eustress or distress?
• Why might this life transition seem stressful?
• What are some emotions that you may feel?
• What are some ways that you could alleviate these
  stresses?