You arrive in a new country or a new place. You find yourself going through an enormous number of feelings of uncertainty and confusion. That is a direct effect of what can be called a cultural shock. A culture shock is neither good nor bad. It is a normal experience. Many go through it when moving into a different environment. In fact, it is very common in study abroad students.

A cultural shock can produce a range of symptoms. These symptoms vary from one person to another in style and intensity. These may include, being homesick, feeling isolated, irritability, social anxiety, sleeping disorders, and eating disorders among other uncomfortable symptoms.

Each one of us has a different timing in our adjustment process. During this adaptation process, people must deal with leaving home and everything related to it. This means, leaving family, friends, pets, food, social norms, and beliefs. The adaptation process can be intense regarding the person’s own tolerance to frustration. New places, new rules, and mistakes are part of the game.

The intensity of the adaptation process is also given by the differences between to two cultures. We all tend to judge situations according to our own standards. We use our own system of thought. During the adaptation process, we need to interpret and judge the new culture with new standards.

Stages of culture shock

Culture shock is usually divided into 4 stages, honeymoon, frustration, adaptation, and acceptance.

Honeymoon stage. You will feel thrilled by the new environment and the new adventure. Everything is new and seems exciting, you are willing to be like a sponge and learn everything you can.

The frustration stage. As we all know, after honeymoon comes reality and with reality the frustration or disappointment moment. You miss absolutely everything and everyone back home. You get irritated when making mistakes, especially when there is a language barrio. Get tired of misunderstanding other actions and or conversations or even the way others do things. Easy tasks seem so difficult to achieve that they can lead to exhaustion.

The adaptation stage. Gradually you start feeling more at home in the new place. The adjustment does the rest. Even though you still have certain difficulties with easy tasks, interpreting others becomes easier. You feel better.

Acceptance Stage When you get to this stage you can start enjoying the differences between this new place and yours. Which leads to an increase of confidence and a return of your sense of humor. The stress from the frustration stage usually has been faced, not necessarily resolved, but you are more relaxed about it.

Think it this way, the fact of being cut off from behavioral cues,, finding that your own values  are being brought into question and brought into question and feeling you just don’t know the local rules… all together cause the common culture shock

Tips…

From my experience as an expat, I find creating habits is the best way to deal with cultural shock. My work as a therapist also supports this view. Having discipline is also essential. Time is an enormous part of the process of overcoming the shock.

Here are some tips…

• Be nice to yourself, and allow and embrace your mistakes.
• Open your mind and do not judge by comparing the new place with home.
• Make the effort and be open, try to socialize more with the locals

Ask for help.

If you feel you are experiencing some of these symptoms, embrace the process to handle it. The “secret” is to realize you are going through culture shock, own it, and do your best to overcome it.

This cultural shock can be hard at times. If you feel you cannot deal with it, reach out for help. There are no reasons why you must go through it alone. At Estrada Vigil & Medical Group we can give you a hand! We offer in-office and online services.