I am delighted to invite you to join with me today to review and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of international travel and a nomadic lifestyle!
We will delve into the positive and negative impacts on the brain and reveal how travellers can experience meaningful and life enhancing experiences that promote personal development, growth, and wellbeing. So let us jump straight in now and review the main themes that relate to it all. There are always two sides to the coin.
What do we gain from international travel?
Exposure to new cultures, ideas and beliefs will broaden the mind with fresh perspectives and it also enhances cognitive flexibility. This leads the individual to their own increased creativity, ability to solve problems and a greater sense of empathy with others who are different to them.
Visiting as a tourist enables us to absorb through all five senses the sights, sounds, aromas, tastes, and feelings of places new to us. Working in other countries may bring an increase in salary and opportunities for career progression. Living in a place where people do not speak in our native tongue provides ample scope for learning the language and adding to our skills base as well as our understanding of what at first can seem a strange environment.
What are the risks of international travel?
Well, it can be quite stressful when dealing with unfamiliar surroundings, people, and language. Crossing time zones can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, leading to “jetlag” and cause sleep disturbances and mood changes and reduce cognitive function. Travel to some less developed parts of the world can expose us to infectious diseases which can sometimes lead to serious neurological complications. Chronic levels of stress on the mind and body can of course increase the risk of developing mental health problems like depression and anxiety.
What are the common causes of depression and anxiety in overseas travellers and expatriates?
Unfamiliarity and feeling outside of our comfort zone are a major factor in making us feel anxious and low. We lose our self-confidence and can feel almost like a child again relying on others to guide us. It is advisable to educate ourselves beforehand about the local customs, traditions, and social norms so that we can adapt and fit in. Leaning about local social etiquette can save us from being embarrassed or unintentionally offending someone!
Language barriers can be particularly challenging and when we do not understand what people are saying and what is going on we can feel intimidated and lost. Having a pocket dictionary or language app is a travel essential and gather information in advance about everything from driving routes, public transport systems, office hours, dress codes and so on so that you know what to expect. Here I am in this photograph with the local staff when I was working at the British High Commission in Tonga, South Pacific – not as “booted and suited” as expected in London or New York!
Personal safety can be a real concern in some parts, so we need to do plenty of research about our destination and take the necessary precautions, avoid unsafe areas, and keep ourselves and our belongings secure. Registering with, or at least knowing how to contact, your own country’s Embassy or Consulate, and knowing how to contact the local emergency services can ease the fear factor. It is easy to find all the information we need online. Get prepared before you go!
Homesickness. Leaving friends, family and any pets behind can lead to distress especially if we are in a situation where it is difficult to build a social life and support network locally and we feel isolated and lonely. So do keep your loved ones back home informed of your whereabouts and activities and establish regular communication when you can via phone, email e or video call. It can be frustrating with different time zones or if there is not a great connection so sometimes an old-fashioned card or letter in the post to send home can help those people who miss you too!
What strategies can help?
Engaging in favourite activities that you enjoyed before you moved can also be a great way of providing some sense of normality in your new life. It could be just listening to music or reading a book, although going to the gym or fitness class, sports or other hobby can also be an opportunity to make new friends and contacts.
Mindfulness is a very familiar buzzword now and it is no different abroad! Mindful travel just puts the emphasis on being present in the moment wherever you are and not running over in your mind the events of yesterday or worrying about any events coming up tomorrow. Focus on the “now” and connecting with the new environment around you. What can you see? What can you hear? What can you smell? What do items around you feel like to touch? What does the food or drink taste like? Slow down and, instead of rushing, take time to appreciate architecture or scenery around you.
Practice an attitude of gratitude. Rather than focus on the things you find uncomfortable about the location, concentrate on what there is to be thankful for, whether that be fabulous weather, a kind and helpful passerby, or a delicious meal and hospitality you have been offered. Praise yourself for all your achievements however minor, and whether figuring out the local currency, mastering a few phrases of the local language, finding a social group, unpacking boxes from your move and so on. Just as it applies to our home base, we can also feel good if we are able to respect local culture, promote sustainability and support local business, community, and conservation where possible.
What if the depression or anxiety is severe?
If the feelings persist it is important that you seek help from a mental health professional. It may be that it is difficult to access support locally due to lack of availability, language, and high-cost barriers. However, many practitioners now treat clients online. As a counsellor myself I have worked with many expatriate clients successfully this way.
I invite you to check out the information and FAQs at lyndabrettle.com about the way I work with the Emotion and Body Code system which is a powerful method to release negative emotions and restore balance to mind and body very swiftly and easily. Sign up there to receive regular updates, hints, and tips for optimal emotional and physical health.
And remember to join me here next time for some fascinating behind the scenes stories of my own travel adventures!
