The idea of change can be a scary thing.

It can be a sign of something ending, the possibility of entering a season of the unknown and a time when the person you are today could change forever, for better or worse.

But along with the scary aspects of change are the endless new possibilities that come with it. The fear of the unknown can quickly turn to excitement over something new on the horizon, leading to an evolution of who you are as a person and the circumstances that surround you – but at times, we can become so paralysed by the fear of change that we’re unable to see the positives at the heart of it.

Recognising whether you are truly afraid of change isn’t easy to see on your own, but as therapist Amber Elizabeth Smith notes, there are a few key signs and recognising them could help you to identify your fear and move forwards.

8 signs you are afraid of change, according to a therapist