Emigrating has become an increasingly common action due to the ease of travel and the fact that communication channels are increasingly advanced, facilitating information. However, migrating is not a decision that should be taken lightly for several important reasons.

Unfortunately, there are misconceptions about migration that have encouraged the standardization of this action. Little has been done about the emotional and psychological risks that can lead to a bad or sudden decision to emigrate.

But how can migration affect us psychologically and emotionally if we are in search of a better life?

The psychological impact of migration

Simply because of the false expectations that the normalization of migration causes , the lack of information can affect us to the point of triggering depression, anxiety and adaptation problems, where the stress of the simple fact of emigrating is the protagonist. The purpose of this article is to raise awareness about the psychological risks of migrating because we want to or not.

Our mind, however strong it may be, is going to run into murky waters when faced with a change as great as emigrating to another country. Of course, there are different types of migration and not all of them go through the same circumstances, but depression, anxiety and other stressors can affect us more than we think if we are caught off guard.

What can be the psychological risks?

Emigration involves many changes in a person’s life , whether it is going to study for a few months or being determined to look for better opportunities abroad for an indefinite period of time. Unfortunately, emigration is not synonymous with a better quality of life as many believe, since one has to go through previous periods of adaptation in order to recover part of the lifestyle one had, and not just the monetary one as many believe. Emigration also involves other types of loss , and like all losses, sooner or later a mourning process develops.

Every individual’s life is made up of multiple areas that make up their full development and are therefore very likely to be affected by migration: (Ziglar, 7 areas of life):

  • Career and work
  • Social: friends and environment
  • Family: support and healthy interpersonal relationships (as above)
  • Economic: independence and stability
  • Physical Health
  • Mental Health
  • Spirituality

Grief and migration stress

As mentioned above, when emigrating there will be mourning processes due to the change. All change generates stress, and all this can affect our emotional world , thus triggering possible psychopathologies (Lavieri, 2015).

Cultural change, nostalgia, loneliness , lack of social identification, anxiety and acute stress can also affect the immune system. Many immigrants do not seem to suffer from any type of alteration or anxiety during the first months of moving, either because they only went to study for a short period of time, the excitement of finding themselves in a new environment or because they have family and friends in the new country who help them adapt a little more quickly.

However, eventually social and cultural factors will affect the cognitive maps creating the famous culture clashes, differences in the way of working and even studying.

For example, education systems vary from country to country , just as work styles can vary as well (e.g. new technologies).

Considerations when migrating

To avoid as much as possible the possible adverse psychological effects of emigration, it may be useful to follow these guidelines:

  • Map out short, medium and long term objectives and goals.
  • Managing false expectations of immediate success (e.g., the American dream).
  • Avoid sudden migration if you have a psychological disorder or if you suspect one. If the person is suffering from depressive episodes, migrating without precautions can be very risky for his or her mental health.
  • Understand that self-esteem and identity can be greatly affected Lifestyle changes will occur.
  • Investigate the culture, social situation, climate and language of the country to which you want to emigrate Leave prepared to suffer any kind of discrimination and rejection. Whether we like it or not, it is a reality to which any immigrant is exposed, regardless of social class, race, age or sex.
  • Prepare papers, preferably avoid leaving undocumented . Leaving under illegality will increase the stress and the risk of having legal problems, such as being deported, not being able to open bank accounts or simply not being able to be treated in hospitals. (This opens the way to jobs where there is abuse and exploitation at work).
  • Understand that this step will affect your career and work identity . It is unlikely that you will get a job in your area right away, unless you are leaving with a job offer and yet there are risks to consider: importance of the position, contract, probation, training and time given by the company to accommodate you.
  • Understand that there will be emotional and work ups and downs. This also applies to those who migrate with children.
  • Take advantage of support networks. Do you have close acquaintances in the country?
  • Understand that professional help and family support should be sought if any symptoms of depression or anxiety are suspected that make you want to isolate yourself, lose your way, and affect performance at school or work.

And the relatives of those who are leaving?

For the families of migrants, it may be useful to follow these guidelines with the person who is leaving:

  • Avoid at all costs comparative comments with the immediate successes of acquaintances who emigrated.
  • Offer support and remind them of the advantages of the decision , encourage them to reach the proposed goal. And always remind them where their home is if they decide to return.
  • Avoid judging if you decide to return. Family support is essential in the face of such radical and risky mental health changes.

Conclusion

Emigrating is not an easy decision, and like every decision requires a lot of maturity to make the change as bearable as possible. It is necessary to understand the risks of emigration and the false expectations that are generated by seeing it as something popular to go to another country.

If the right measures and precautions are taken, emigration can be less risky and even take us to where we want to go with the best tools, making the most of new experiences.

Bibliographic references:

  • Lavieri, E. (2015). Most frequent psychiatric disorders in the immigrant: Anxiety, Mood Disorders and Addictions. Available at http://ecoterapias.com.es
  • Ziglar, T. (2016). The Wheel of Life. Available at https://www.ziglar.com/articles/the-wheel-of-life/