Program & Services

None of Us Can Stop Change

We experience change every day. It might be a common annoyance like the streets are closed on your way to work. Or it might be a life changing events like the loss of a loved one. It's not that we don't expect change in our lives. It's just that it would be nice to have some advance warning.

Coping with the stress and sadness that can go along with change is hard. Your Magellan program understands that. Change is a part of life. Counselors are available to help you deal with changes.

Change happens. It's how we handle it that counts.

In today's world, we expect change to occur. But you might need help dealing with it. Our counselors are available to assist you, your dependents and household members. They can help sort out the change that's going on in your life. A counselor can help develop a plan of what to do next.

Your program has counselors who can listen to your concerns. They can help you to cope with change. A counselor can direct you to other resources in your community. Our counselors can help you with:

• Changes in relationships - marriage, end of relationship, or the loss of spouse or family member
• Changes at work - merger, loss of job, or a job promotion
• Changes in life - a new baby, adoption, moving, elderly parents, or illness

The funny thing is, it doesn't matter if the change is good (a job promotion) or the change is bad (the ending of a relationship). Change still adds stress to your life. If you can't reduce the stress, you might be at risk for depression.

What are the stages of change?

You need to know that you go through stages of change. It will help you to feel more in control. Then you can understand the change and deal with it better. There is a three-step process to dealing with change. The more you know, the quicker you can cope with the change. The three stages of change are:*

• Endings. All changes, surprisingly enough, begin with an ending. A job ends, a marriage ends. This is usually difficult to deal with, even when the change is for the better. Stress can occur at this stage as we try to decide what to do.
• Neutral Zone. This is the period between an ending and a new beginning. During this period, we experience the most stress as we try to move past our loss to something new.
• Beginnings. A new beginning can bring with it stress. We need to adapt to our new job or new relationship. Here, we focus on new thinking and new goals.

Healthy Ways to Deal with Change

Dealing with change can be made easier if we are open to the thought of it. The following are some tips for dealing with changes as they happen:

• Manage the Stress From the Change. Change and stress go hand-in-hand. Practice relaxation techniques, meditate, or use other stress-reducing tactics. It will keep stress in check.
• Take a More Active Role in Your Life. Be more aware of what's happening around you. Be more aware of what's happening in your life. Then you may notice changes when there is still time to deal with them.
• Develop a Plan. Proactively planning steps to handle change will lessen the affect it has on your life. It will help give you more of a feeling of control. Focusing on specific aspects of a change that are in your control makes the change easier to handle.
• Practice Coping. Get into the habit of adapting to new things. You can start off small. Take an unfamiliar route to work. Read a book about a subject you know little about. Activities such as these will make it easier for you to cope with change when it occurs.
• Learn to Enjoy Change. When you have a positive outlook about change, it makes it easier to handle when it occurs. Don't think about change in a negative way and add stress. Look at change as a way of keeping your life fresh and exciting.
• Talk About It. Don't keep feelings of sadness and stress bottled-up inside. Talk to someone you trust and feel comfortable with. Talking about what you're going through can help.