Coping With Moving Anxiety and CPTSD: Why Change Feels So Hard
- diaryofafloppingfi
- Aug 7, 2025
- 3 min read
Change is one of the hardest things we can experience especially for those who suffer from anxiety disorders, neurodivergence, or complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). Many of us rely on routines to feel safe and maintain a sense of control. When those routines are disrupted, it can trigger feelings of fear, overwhelm, and even old trauma.
Losing Your Safe Space During a Move
One of the most difficult parts of moving, for me, is the loss of my “safe space.” This is the environment where I decompress, enjoy privacy, and limit sensory overload. It’s also a space where my boundaries are respected—something I’ve always fought hard to establish.
With a move, that safe space disappears. Even once a new one is set up, it won’t feel quite the same. The computer will be in a new spot. The room will have a different layout. Even the window will face a different direction. While others may adjust quickly, for someone with CPTSD, it takes time to feel safe again.
How a Disorganized Space Affects Mental Health
Our environment has a direct impact on our mental well-being—and it often reflects it, too. Over the years, I’ve learned that I can’t function well in clutter or disorganization. But with depression, anxiety, and likely ADHD in the mix, my space can quickly become chaotic.
Normally, I try to manage it by decluttering monthly and tidying a little bit each day. But during a move, everything is out of place. Nothing has a home yet. Even the things I know where to put still require energy and effort that I may not have in the moment. It’s overwhelming, and staying on task feels nearly impossible.
I keep reminding myself: one thing at a time. If I keep poking away at the mess, eventually, both my space and my mind will feel more settled. I want to make a to-do list as it usually helps me, but I can’t even find my notepad right now.
Adjusting to a New Routine After Relocating
It takes a long time to rebuild a life in a new place, especially if you’ve moved to a new town or city. Everything is unfamiliar—from the garbage day schedule to the social expectations. Even simple things like grocery shopping or grabbing coffee feel strange when the environment is new.
Still, I’m trying to remind myself that embracing change is part of healing. Moving doesn’t mean erasing everything about your old life. You still have your friends, your preferences, your rhythms, but just in a different place.
Final Thoughts: Take Change One Step at a Time
Life transitions are tough for anyone, but especially for those living with anxiety or CPTSD. When routines break down, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling apart too. But the truth is, you’re adapting, and that takes courage.
Don’t rush to fix everything at once. Just focus on one small thing at a time. Bit by bit, a new sense of safety and structure will start to form.
How do you handle moving and managing mental chaos? Let me know in the comments below! Or find me on social media!
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The Diary Of A Flopping Fish and any posts or articles published on Diaryofafloppingfish.com are not reviewed by a therapist or medical or mental health professional. Resources are cited and opinion is opinion. No advice or opinions in any articles replace professional advice from a doctor, therapist, or any other kind of health professional. The author is not a licensed professional of any kind.
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