Homesickness

Imagine leaving your home, where you were born, spent your childhood, made friends, and created memories, a place so close to your heart where you learnt everything you know, your culture, your values, your perspective of life.

Sometimes moving can be exciting, a new beginning and a new chance. The reality, however, is not all positive, even when one is moving in privileged circumstances.

Research shows that there are a few psychological stages involved in the process of acculturation:

Honeymoon, Crisis, Recovery, and Adjustment.

 

• The Honeymoon Phase

If you voluntarily moved to a country in a safe and legal circumstances this phase often involves excitement with the new, discovery and it is considered a positive phase, especially if you are already fluent on the language spoken.

• The Crisis Phase

The person starts experiencing the culture shock, feelings of sadness, homesickness, anger, frustration, social isolation, and even more serious issues such as depression, illness and problems with self-esteem. Often this happens because the person is having difficulties integrating the new culture customs and moral values. Therefore, lots of confusion of what is right or wrong tends to take place.

• The Integration Phase

The Integration and Adjustment phase involves the acceptance of the new culture norms, and slowly the person starts integrating and even practicing some new values. Finding the balance between who you are in your culture of origin, and who you are becoming in the new culture is vital for a healthy transition.

Suggestions to improve negative emotions

Feelings are not Permanent

Remember that everything in life is temporary, experiencing negative emotions with changes is common to any transition. Remember that you must give time for yourself to create a routine and adapt to the new lifestyle.

Look for Community Resources, Support Group

Keep in touch with your family and your friends from your country. Find people that are going through similar experience. Find a place where you can get food supplies from your home country. Visit restaurants from your country if existent where you are. If you use social media look for groups from your country living where you are living.

Self-Care

Practice self care and self compassion. Avoid blaming yourself for not adapting or speaking the language perfectly yet.

Speak and Reach Out

Try to make friends who are going through a similar process, call your family back home, or see a mental health professional, avoid isolation. Do not stop speaking because you think you don’t speak the language fluently. Most people are not judging you while you are speaking, and they view that as an act of courage and effort.

Be Curious rather than Judgmental

Give yourself time to get know more about other people’s values and culture. Be open minded to learn new things about others.

Make an effort to learn the language of the country you are living

Communication is a survive tool. Not being able to communicate can generate isolation and loneliness, confusion and shame.

February 21, 2023