We all know life be life-ing, right? It don’t sit still... and if you’re a Black woman, neither do you.

Things change all the time—some big, some small. But here’s the thing: for Black women, we rarely talk about the shifts that come with these changes.

Yeah, like moving into a house or starting a job—all those 'good' things (and even the 'bad' ones)—they come with a newness that feels weird, sneaking up on us and making us think, 'Wait, is this feeling a thing?'

What Are Life Transitions?

Life transitions are those moments when everything around you—your routine, your relationships, your career—goes into flux (or sometimes just become plain undone). It’s when you suddenly realize that things have changed, and you’ve changed in ways you didn’t expect

For Black women, the PRICE TAG for these transitions often gets overlooked because, well, this stuff was supposed to happen. But the truth is, even when we think we’re ready, and even when we prepare to be ready... we don’t always be ready.

Here's the truth: pretending like shifts don't matter—or worse, ignoring them (like me with the inauguration 🙃) —only makes things harder in the long run—it leaves us feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, and honestly, a little lost.

The Silent Stress of Adjustment

You know that feeling, when you’re slowly heading toward hitting a wall, and it’s not just from work or family—nah, it’s EVERYTHING piling up on top of each other? That quiet exhaustion where rest days feel like a distant memory? But somehow, you still push through, with cups of coffee scattered throughout the day—except it’s been holding you up for several days now. It doesn’t quite feel like burnout because there are things you’re looking forward to... but there’s always just one more thing to do, making the finish line feel close yet somehow out of reach, like it’s within grasp but not quite there yet.

That’s the silent stress of adjustment that we don’t talk about. And for Black women, these transitions usually come with the added pressure of being superhuman—because apparently, we’re supposed to DO IT ALL and never flinch.

But here’s a CRAZY thought: what if we stopped acting like we don’t feel it? What if we just acknowledged the fact that life is changing, and it’s okay to feel some kind of way about it?

Good Stress, Bad Stress—It’s All Stress

Let’s get something straight: life transitions—whether “good” or “bad”—bring stress. That’s a universal truth, and trust, you’re not alone. But here’s where things get tricky for Black women: we often AUTOMATICALLY default to survival mode when stress hits because, unfortunately, we’ve practiced it so many times that we've become experts at it. And while survival mode might feel like a solution in the moment, here’s the reality—it turns temporary discomfort into long-term stress.

S/N: Unfortunately, this is what happens with how Black women process grief too. We fall into survival mode, pushing through the pain instead of allowing ourselves to truly feel and heal. AND THEN IT BECOMES COMPLICATED GRIEF. But that's another blog for another day. 

Girl, Survival Mode Ain't It 

Let’s break it down. Imagine you’re stressed about money, but you know it’s coming soon. When it gets here, boom—problem solved. Stress? Gone, right? But if you slip into survival mode—grinding, stressing, staying up late because that money ain't in your hands yet—you’re just wearing yourself out for no reason. Then, when the real stress hits, you’re already running on empty.

he healthier move? Think of your “grind mode” like a fire extinguisher. Keep it in a glass case, only to be broken in real emergencies—like severe extended trauma or tragedy that has no immediate end in sight, where all you can do is focus on getting through each day and meeting basic needs.

S/N: You’ve got to ask yourself a serious question though... why are we BLACK WOMEN living our regular, degular everyday lives like that?

If there’s no real fire but you break that glass anyway (and let’s be real, if you’re constantly breaking it), all you're left with is a mess, exhausation, and some monetary fines —and ain't nobody got time for that. 

Here’s What Happens When We Don’t Appropriorately Acknowledge The Impact of Transitions:

1. Identity Crisis, Anyone? When life transitions hit, your sense of self can get shaken up. You might start feeling like the version of you that had it all TOGETHER isn’t quite you anymore. It’s okay. What’s happening isn’t a loss of self—it’s an evolution. Remember, growth often feels uncomfortable at first. Sounds gross... It’s like shedding your skin, and no one truly tells you how awkward it feels.

2. Stress Through the Roof: If you don’t pay attention to the emotional present during life transitions, your stress level will rise faster than a pot of boiling water. Your body reacts to change, and without giving yourself the time to process, you’re left feeling way more drained than you should be.

3. Disconnection from Others: Here’s the thing: transitions affect relationships. When you’re going through a change, it’s easy to withdraw and keep it to yourself. But the truth is, you need a support system. And not just any support system—one that’s real, who gets it. Keeping everything bottled up while you’re silently struggling doesn’t help you connect; it leaves you feeling isolated, even when you’re surrounded by people.

Yes, I Hear You Saying, "What Do I Do About it?" 

First off, give yourself permission to feel. It’s not just a “phase” or “something you’ll get over.” This is a real shift, and acknowledging it is the first step toward thriving. Second, cut yourself some slack. You can’t be everywhere for everyone, especially while you’re navigating transitions. Set up that self-care plan. Third, get your squad together. Not just family. Find people who get it. People who don’t just listen—they’ll walk that transition with you. 

#CAPEOFFLIVEON

Sharell D. Cannady, CEO of Docked Ships

PLEASE. PLEASE. SHARE THIS WITH OTHER BLACK WOMEN. AND HAVE THEM SUBSCRIBE:  https://www.dockedships.com/stress-crisis-african-american-women-health

Wanna' revisit a blog/newsletter that had you like, “Wait a minute?”—No worries. Check em' out [click here].

At Dock Ships, we see "a future where African American women achieve social health & enjoy maximum wellness." 

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The Docked Ships Community (our social platform) is NOW in testing and development! And if you nosey, I ENCOURAGE you to come on down and take a look… but here’s the thing—it’s EXCLUSIVE.

Only Black women who are already subscribed to Boundaries and Edges or have an established relationship with Docked Ships (or have a referral from a Docked Ships plug) can join for free (yep, it’s FREE—for right now). If you’re interested in being a "guinea pig" during testing anddevelopmen, shoot me an email at [email protected]!

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