A Season of Grief, Transition, and Overwhelm
There are seasons in life that feel steady and predictable. And then there are seasons that quietly — or suddenly — undo us.
Grief. Transition. Overwhelm.
These experiences often arrive together. A loss may not only be about death — it can be the end of a relationship, a career shift, a health diagnosis, a child growing up, financial strain, or even becoming the version of yourself you once prayed for. Transition, even when positive, carries grief. And overwhelm is often the nervous system’s signal that too much has changed, too quickly.
If you are in a season like this, you are not weak. You are human.
Understanding Grief Beyond Death
Grief is the emotional response to loss — and loss is broader than we are taught.
You may be grieving:
The person you used to be
The expectations you held for your life
Stability that once felt certain
A relationship that changed
Health that no longer feels dependable
A role or identity that anchored you
Grief often presents as:
Fatigue or low motivation
Tearfulness that feels unpredictable
Irritability
Brain fog
Sleep disruption
A sense of “I don’t feel like myself”
In psychiatric care, we often see grief masquerading as anxiety or depression. Sometimes it is both. Grief is not pathology — but when unprocessed, it can evolve into more persistent mood or anxiety symptoms.
Why Transitions Are So Dysregulating
The brain loves predictability. Stability lowers cortisol and supports emotional regulation. Transitions — even welcome ones — disrupt that stability.
Examples include:
Starting or leaving a job
Moving
Beginning or ending a relationship
Entering motherhood or an empty nest season
Returning to school
Shifts in financial or family structure
Transitions demand cognitive flexibility, emotional processing, and behavioral adaptation — all at once. If you were already stretched thin, your nervous system may interpret change as threat.
Overwhelm is not failure. It is often a capacity issue. Your plate expanded faster than your coping bandwidth.
The Physiology of Overwhelm
When overwhelmed, the nervous system may move into:
Hyperarousal (anxiety, racing thoughts, irritability, insomnia)
Hypoarousal (shutdown, numbness, exhaustion, avoidance)
This is not a character flaw. It is autonomic physiology.
Chronic stress elevates cortisol and can impair:
Concentration
Working memory
Emotional regulation
Sleep architecture
Which then increases shame — “Why can’t I just handle this?” — compounding distress.
Understanding this cycle is often the first step toward self-compassion.
What Healing in This Season Actually Looks Like
Healing in a season of grief and transition rarely looks productive or impressive. It often looks like:
Lowering expectations temporarily
Protecting sleep
Reducing unnecessary obligations
Naming the loss out loud
Allowing tears without judging them
Accepting that motivation may fluctuate
It may also involve:
Medication adjustments when symptoms become impairing
Structured psychotherapy (CBT, ACT, trauma-informed therapy)
Nutritional and laboratory evaluation if fatigue or mood symptoms are persistent
Nervous system regulation strategies (breathing, movement, structured routine)
There is no moral superiority in “white-knuckling” a hard season.
Questions to Gently Ask Yourself
What am I actually grieving?
What changed — externally or internally — in the past 6–12 months?
Where am I expecting myself to function at pre-transition capacity?
What would support look like right now?
If someone I loved were in this season, how would I speak to them?
We are often far kinder to others than to ourselves.
When to Seek Professional Support
Grief and transition are normal. However, additional support may be helpful if you notice:
Persistent hopelessness
Suicidal thoughts
Severe insomnia
Panic attacks
Significant appetite or weight change
Functional impairment at work or home
Escalating substance use
There is strength in early intervention. Mental health care is not only for crisis — it is for stabilization and optimization.
A Final Word
Seasons shift. That is both the pain and the promise.
You may not feel strong right now. But continuing to show up — even imperfectly — is resilience. Grief does not mean you are broken. Transition does not mean you are failing. Overwhelm does not mean you are incapable.
Sometimes it simply means life is asking you to grow — and growth almost always requires letting something go.
If you are in this season, you do not have to navigate it alone. Support, structure, and compassion can coexist with forward movement. And even in the heaviness, healing is possible.
