TOPIC: What to Do When Everyone Around You Is Moving On and You Feel Stuck
POST BY: Lyla Mills, LMSW - CLICK HERE TO SEE HER BIO
WRITTEN: June 26, 2025
WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2028
Your friends start getting married. They buy homes, move in with partners, land promotions, or post smiling pictures from places you can’t afford to visit right now. Or maybe it’s the opposite, maybe you’re the first to get married, or start a career, and you’re suddenly left feeling like no one around you fully understands what you’re going through.
Adulthood rarely unfolds in sync. As we move through our twenties and thirties, our paths start to diverge. One friend might be starting a family while another is moving across the country to chase a dream. Some are still figuring it out entirely. In the midst of all that change, it’s easy to start feeling behind—or isolated.
When you find yourself in a different season of life than your peers, it can bring up deep feelings of disconnection. There can be grief for what was, fear about what’s next, and pressure to meet milestones that may not feel right for you. These feelings can sit quietly at first, then turn into anxiety, depression, or even a sense of losing touch with who you thought you were.
Working with a therapist during these transitions can help you reconnect with your own voice. Whether through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), narrative therapy, or a more somatic approach, the goal isn’t to “fix” you, because you don’t need to be “fixed”... it’s to help you feel grounded in your own life, practicing radical acceptance, even when others around you are living theirs differently, AND help you with leaning in towards your core values and how to achieve the life YOU want.
Not every therapist will be the right fit, and that’s okay. Finding someone who understands the nuances of emerging adulthood, the grief that can accompany growth, and the complexity of changing relationships can make all the difference.
There’s no single map for adulthood. There’s only your path, and the courage it takes to walk it, especially when it doesn’t look like anyone else’s.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
At JCACounseling, every step is met with empathy, understanding, and compassionate, personalized support for individuals and families facing life’s challenges. Begin the journey toward healing and growth through Healing Through Connection—call to speak with a therapist today or schedule a consultation.
📞 Call 404-834-2363 or visit https://calendly.com/jcacounseling to schedule a consultation.
