Cultural and Integration Difficulties
In many ways, and with the help of globalisation and technology, the world has become a small place. Many people are living in countries that they would not call ‘home’. They have relocated for work or lifestyle purposes and find themselves in a country where the culture, lifestyle and even the food and languages spoken are different. Cultural integration is an important and relevant topic now, especially when people struggle to integrate. Our counsellors can help you overcome this cultural hurdle.
Are you experiencing integration difficulties?
These are a few examples of the differences in cultures that one may experience when relocating to a new country and integrating into that culture.
- Feeling homesick and missing the familiar – This is one of the most common difficulties faced by those who are living in a new country and integrating into a new culture. It stands to reason that, when everything around you is new and foreign, that you also feel a little insecure and unstable. Human beings enjoy stability and familiarity so missing home is an understandable and common difficulty.
- Lack of support – The homesick feeling can be exacerbated when there is little contact with people from home, or when you begin to hide the problems you are facing from your loved ones. Having little support can result in feeling isolated and alone, and these feelings can serve to magnify the differences in culture that you are experiencing.
- Language differences – Often this can be a big source of frustration, especially when you are struggling to communicate your needs and questions. It is not common for people to relocate to a country with a very different first language, but it does happen, and it can become a big contributor to the adjustment stress experienced.
- Different cuisine – Another adjustment, when coming from a very different culture, may also be the cuisine. Different cultures have different foods that they enjoy preparing and eating. If you find yourself in a place where the food feels very foreign or tastes very different to the food you are familiar with, it can add to your general sense of isolation and instability.
- Adjusting to the finer nuances in a particular society -For example eye contact – in Africa many cultures believe that eye-contact is a sign of superiority so in order to respect the person they are speaking to they will maintain very little, if any, eye contact. Lack of eye contact is experienced as disrespectful, or mistrustful in many western societies. Australian culture is also more forthcoming in disclosing personal information, whereas many European cultures will feel intimidated and offended by this sort of disclosure.
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When to seek assistance
Relocating to another country is not an easy task and there are many factors that can contribute to general emotional instability.
It may be time to speak to a counsellor and seek support if you are:
- Feeling alone, isolated and very homesick
- Experiencing the signs of depression: disturbance in sleep and appetite, general lethargy, low motivation, tearfulness and hopelessness
- Experiencing anxiety: shortness of breath, racing heart, butterflies in the stomach, excessive sweating, trembling, and disturbed sleep or appetite.
- Feeling demotivated and lack energy
- Uninterested in experiencing new things and going site seeing
- Finding it particularly difficult to meet new people and make friends
- Finding that you are hiding your problems from friends and family back home.
If you find it difficult to discuss your experiences and difficulties with your loved ones, then it is essential that you find support in counselling services.
Agoraphobia
A fear of open spaces. Someone with this phobia will prefer to stay indoors and find it extremely anxiety provoking, if not impossible, to be outside.
Social Phobia
A fear of social situations. Someone with social phobia finds that being in a crowd of people (however small) is very anxiety provoking and, as a result, avoids all social situations.
Specific Phobias
Fear of situations, places, animals or objects. This can include an intense fear of spiders, clowns, circuses, shoes, heights, flying and many more. In fact there is no real limit to what specific phobias one may experience.
Recognise the signs of phobia and get help as soon as possible.
How can counselling help me?
Counselling for cultural integration difficulties focusses mainly on offering support and assistance in adjusting to your new environment. If you are struggling with anxiety or depression as a result of the adjustment difficulty, then you may be treated with anti-depressants and anxiolytics to help you cope.
Your counsellor can also help teach you about the culture you are integrating into. He/she can provide a neutral and supportive space in which you can explore the finer nuances and social behaviours of the new culture and your counsellor can provide insight for you. It is important that you have some support when adjusting to your new country and, if you find it difficult discussing your experiences and difficulties with your loved ones, then it is essential that you find support in counselling services.
Our Psychologists
Mitchell Chikwakukire
Dr. Atholl Murray
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