Tips to Avoid Relocation Depression

            Tips to Avoid Relocation Depression

In some occasions, after relocating, you may find yourself depressed. The hardest part of this is that you may not even realize it. You’re so focused on all you have to get done, that when that initial whirlwind passes, and you realize you have nothing to do (especially if you’re the trailing partner and don’t have a job lined up), you may find yourself suddenly demotivated, apathetic, and uninterested when loved ones try to offer you suggestions of things to do besides watch TV all day.

Even though there is a vacation feeling at the beginning of a move, there is also a natural mourning period– you’ll tend to miss the great friends and family you left behind, and perhaps that almost perfect job. But you may be thinking, “I’m living in Rome now, I should be excited. I’ll just try harder to be happy here.”

There’s an interesting discovery I made with several people I spoke to. When they really thought about why they were depressed, they realized that admitting they were happy after moving, made them feel they would have to give up the friends they had back home or dramatically change those friendships. They were so used to contacting these friends in moments of misery, that they were afraid their happiness might mean less contact with friends back home, and possibly not being as close to them.

If you truly cannot get yourself out of this rut, you should consider seeing a therapist to at least find some ways to manage the depression so you can begin to come out of it.

The good news is that there are several techniques you can use to avoid the depression from starting, or to get yourself out of a rut if you’re already there, provided you are willing to move forward and allow yourself to be happy.

The best thing you can do is adopt some strategies, before you leave, to try and prevent depression from setting in at all.

1. Make contacts before you leave, and reach out to them immediately after you arrive to make plans
2. Research the activities available in your host city and get a number and address and make plans to sign up for a class within the first month you arrive.
3. Bring a beloved piece of yourself – a photo, a wall-hanging you love – something that is uniquely you, and make sure it adorns a prominent place in your new home so you can look at it every day and be reminded of the parts of yourself you love
4. Join a local community – could be other Expatriates, or other people who love a hobby you enjoy – just connecting with others goes a long way in getting out of a rut.