Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to undergo often radical alterations in one’s emotional or mental state or attitudes.

1966		J. Mills Panic in Needle Park (1971) 23: Most junkies never tried it because it meant going through too many ‘changes,’ too many complications.
1971		H.E. Roberts Third Ear n.p.: changes n. difficult times; adverse circumstances. Used with ‘going through’ or ‘putting one through.’ [Ibid.] going through changes having difficulties; being regularly on the receiving end of bad news or adverse circumstances.
1973		D. Goines Street Players 146: Not liking the changes he had to go through.
1981		M. Baker Nam (1982) 6: ‘If you keep going through all these changes, we have the right to pull y’all out of here [...] and put you on the bus to boot camp.’ Everyone got kind of quiet.
1993		J. Mowry Six Out Seven (1994) 151: Hang chilly, Tam. Sabby been through a lotta changes today.

to alter, often radically, another person’s mental or emotional state, opinions or attitudes.

1962		H. Simmons Man Walking On Eggshells 185: Aw baby, now you really taking me through some changes.
1968		N. Heard Howard Street 136: If that chump hadda took me through the changes I heard he took y’all through I’da offed him quick.
1969		C. Brown Mr Jive-Ass Nigger 20: ‘[A]s long as these niggers come over to Copenhagen with some American dollars [...] they can stay, but when the bread run out, send the niggers back to us; and we'll whip their heads some more and put 'em through some more changes’.
1971		R. Woodley Dealer 117: I want to put a phone in [an automobile], but the telephone company will put you through a change now to do it.
1974		V.E. Smith Jones Men 22: Why you wanta be putting me through all these changes, Steve?
1979		E. Torres After Hours 64: I been put through too many changes.
2000		F.X. Toole Rope Burns 228: What these changes you be takin me through, fool?

see separate entry.