Living in a foreign country can pose a myriad of mental health challenges. These challenges range from homesickness and cultural shock to feelings of loneliness, depression, and stress. However, with the right mindset and tools, it is possible to overcome mental health challenges and come out stronger.
As someone who has lived in China for almost four years, I can attest to the difficulties of adjusting to a new culture and environment. At first, I felt like a fish out of water, struggling to connect with people and feeling isolated. However, over time, I learned to embrace the newness of my situation and began to explore all that China had to offer.
Living abroad can be a challenging but rewarding experience, and with the right mindset and support, you can overcome any mental health struggles that come your way.
5 Ways to overcome mental health challenges while living abroad
Be Patient with Yourself As You Adjust To Your New Surrounding
When moving to a new country, it’s normal to have high expectations. But what happens when things don’t turn out as you imagined? You may feel disappointed, frustrated, or sad.
However, you can avoid these negative emotions by being kind and patient with yourself. If everything goes according to plan, great! But if it doesn’t, give yourself time to adjust to your new environment.
Make new friends, learn some coping strategies, and don’t be afraid to try new things. It may take a while for you to settle in, but that’s okay, as long as you are willing to be patient through the process.
If you have been living abroad for a long time and still struggle with mental health challenges, know that it’s completely normal. We all face struggles at some point in our lives, whether we live in our home country or abroad.
Establish and Maintain A Healthy Routine
Routine can be helpful when trying to overcome mental health challenges. Routines can give you a sense of purpose, keeps you busy and helps you develop good habits.
Get a routine for yourself. Make it unique for your needs and schedules. Your routine can be anything from waking up or going to bed at a specific time, drinking water first thing in the morning, praying before living the house, or anything that works well for you.
These little things you do without much effort can help you become more productive and use your time effectively.
So while you’re living abroad, make a routine for yourself. You’ll be amazed to find out how your routine helps you adjust quickly to your new environment. And remember routines don’t have to be boring. You can always add or take off things that don’t work for you anymore.
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Join Support Groups and Other Communities
One other effective strategy to cope with mental health challenges while living abroad is to seek out support groups and communities. These can be composed of individuals from your own country, religion, or other shared interests.
Joining such groups can help alleviate feelings of loneliness by connecting you with others who face similar challenges or goals. Additionally, participating in a community can be an easier way to make new friends and build meaningful connections.
Another option is to explore social media groups specific to your cultural background in your host country, for instance, the “Igbos in China or Nigerians in Germany” group. There are always groups like this on social media usually with no restrictions to join as long as you are from that country.
Be Willing To Explore and Try New Things
The willingness to try new things can help you get used to your new environment much faster. You should be open to trying new things. Learn new positive habits, taste local dishes and cuisine, visit the nice places around you or volunteer in local activities.
I’ve met a lot of people who make statements like “I can’t eat this, I’ve never eaten it in my life” or “I’ve never done this before, so I can’t do it.” However, these kinds of statements can actually hold you back from getting used to your environment.
I’m not telling you to do anything against your morals or eat something you’re not permitted to eat by your religion. There are certain things you could do for the first time that may not hurt you in any way, like going for an evening stroll or trying a new form of exercise or entertainment. There has to be something out there for you.
Not being willing to try new things can have negative effects on your mental health, and you definitely don’t want that. It decreases self-confidence, contributes to boredom, increases anxiety, and so much more.
Being Alone Does Not Have to Be Lonely
Most people who travel from their home country to a new one often do so alone. In my case, I travelled to China, a new country, a new city where I didn’t know anyone from back home. At first, I was excited, but when I finally arrived, the excitement faded away, and I struggled a lot. I didn’t know what loneliness felt like until I left Nigeria.
Initially, you might feel lonely when you are in a new environment where you don’t have any friends, or maybe you are not yet used to the people there. Whatever the reason may be, feeling lonely is a common experience.
Nevertheless, being alone does not have to be lonely. In fact, being alone can have several advantages, especially for mental health. It can be an opportunity to learn more about yourself and to cultivate self-awareness.
If you find it difficult to make friends or to socialize, there are still several ways to enjoy your time alone. You can explore your new environment by going sightseeing, trying out new activities, or learning new skills. There are also plenty of online courses available on various topics that can keep your mind engaged and busy.
Engaging in these activities can help prevent feelings of loneliness and depression, especially when living abroad.
You might be interested in: 10 Exciting Things You Can Do During Your “Me Time”
Conclusion
Living abroad can be an exciting and life-changing experience, but it can also present mental health challenges. Adapting to a new culture, language, and environment can be overwhelming, so that’s why It’s important to take care of your mental health when you are far away from home.
Focus on yourself and find ways to enjoy your own company.
You can make the most of your time abroad and come out of the experience feeling more self-aware and resilient.
Have you travelled or lived abroad, how did you overcome mental health challenges?
DISCLAIMER:
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is provided for general information only.
RECOMMENDATION
If you need help or know someone who needs help with their mental health or mental illness, check out the resource page for mental health resources.
