On Monday morning, with great anticipation and the thrill of recognizing hard work  fulfilled, I opened the doors to my new therapy practice, Moore Life Counseling. It was a moment filled with pride and purpose, followed with familiar waves of anxiety. I was reminded how even joyful transitions can stir up echoes of the past, especially for those living with Complex PTSD (CPTSD).

Unlike PTSD, which often stems from a single traumatic event, CPTSD typically develops from prolonged or repeated trauma, often in childhood. These experiences can deeply shape a person’s sense of safety, trust, and identity—making change, even positive change, feel destabilizing.

Major life transitions can be uniquely challenging for those with CPTSD because they may trigger:

• Loss of control – Positive changes can still feel unsafe.
• Fear of the unknown – New situations can mirror early experiences of chaos.
• Attachment disruptions – Change might awaken fears of abandonment.
• Shifts in identity – Altered roles can unsettle a fragile sense of self.
• Body memories and emotional flooding – Triggers may arise without an obvious cause.

If you find yourself reacting strongly to a big life change—moving, starting a new job, ending a relationship—it doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means your nervous system is working hard to protect you, even if its methods are outdated.

Some supportive strategies include:

• Practicing grounding and self-compassion
• Creating predictable routines
• Naming fears and inner parts
• Processing triggers with trauma-informed therapies like EMDR or ART
• Leaning on safe, supportive relationships

As I step into this new season, I’m reminded that healing doesn’t mean we never get shaken—it means we’ve learned how to find our footing again. My hope is that this space becomes a place where you can do just that.

Recommended Resources:

• Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk