coping with change

i'm back...twice in a day. *chuckle*

gonna go out for my appointment soon but wanna jus type tis article that might come in handy for some of us some day.

the straits time, recruit section,

thursday, 24 november 2005
"your mind at work" series

COPING WITH CHANGE - dealing with the unfamiliar is challenging, but you can approach it positively by leong phei phei

have you jus welcomed a new colleague at work? or are you coping with added responsibilities that came with a job promotion? perhaps your office has relocated, and you are finding it difficult to deal with the unfamiliar environment?

well, these are just examples of changes you may encounter every day in your workplace. whether they come one at a time or all at the same time, changes are bound to trigger a reaction.

dr adrian wang, consultant psychiatrist at gleneagles medical centre, said, "we are all creatures of habit. change involves moving out of our comfort zone into the unknown. we feel a loss of security and we may feel unsure of our abilities to cope.

"i have come across patients who do not cope well with change. sometimes, it is the nature of the change - for example, being told to do a job one is not comfortable with, or suddenly being overwhelmed by an increased workload.

"other times it is the way it is done - for example, being demoted to a lower profile job. or, it might be the timing - if one is already burdened by other stressors, even a small change can trigger a negative reaction," he added.

for some people, a small change can send them into a panic mode. for others, they adopt the attitude that "change is the only constant in life" and try to cope with these unforeseeable circumstances.

"people who are obsessive, controlling and inflexible are more resistant to change. in other words, these are people who like being in control of situations. change involves them giving up some of this power and facing the unknown. they find this very unsettling," said dr wang.

most of us feel better after talking to someone, normally our superiors at work or a trusted co-worker when it comes to dealing with changes at work. "however, if the change triggers emotional reactions severe enough to interfere with your work, social or home life, you might need to seek professional help.

for example, if you start getting anxiety attacks, insomnia, appetite loss, crying spell or a depressed mood, then it is time to see a doctor," advised dr wang.

here are some tips to cope with change:

do not rush it

as change involves a transition from one set of circumstances to another, give yourself time to adjust and settle down.

do not take it personally

change happens to everyone. if you find it difficult to cope with new circumstances, chances are, another person will find it difficult, too.

do not focus on the negative

if you look only on the bad side of things, you are missing out the good.

learn from it

each new experience is an opportunity for you to grow wiser and stronger.

it all will end

no matter what the magnitude of the change is, all changes will come to an end when the circumstances are in place and become familiar. normality will definitely return.