Moving and Mental Health Issues And just like other significant life stressors, the trauma of moving can cause a host of mental health and behavioral issues, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Stress is typical during a move, but when it starts to drastically impact mental and physical health, it becomes an acute stress disorder commonly referred to as relocation stress syndrome (RSS). RSS, also called transfer trauma, is a set of symptoms that occur when an individual moves from one environment to another.
“Moving a lot makes it difficult for people to maintain long-term close relationships,” said the study's lead author, Shigehiro Oishi, PhD. “This might not be a serious problem for outgoing people who can make friends quickly and easily. Less outgoing people have a harder time making new friends.”
Relocation stress syndrome is a nursing diagnosis characterized by symptoms such as anxiety, confusion, hopelessness, and loneliness. It usually occurs in older adults shortly after moving from a private residence to a nursing home or assisted-living facility.
Aside from the negative physical manifestations of stress, moving stress can also impact a person's mental health. Excessive stress can disrupt your normal thinking ability. Below are signs that moving stress has taken a toll on your mental health: Poor focus.
Even for those who suffer from them, the symptoms of relocation stress tend to subside within about 3-6 months.
All of these and more can add up and leave you feeling down and afraid. Many people can have anxiety and hints of depression when moving to a new place, and the feelings can be made even worse depending on the situation.
Transfer trauma is a physical, behavioural, and emotional reaction to a sudden change in your surroundings. This can happen with a move from a hospital to a care facility, from a care facility to a hospital, or even from one room to another.
Sometimes called "transfer trauma," Relocation Stress Syndrome is a set of symptoms that occur when an individual moves from one environment to another. These symptoms can influence our behavior, mood, and physiological well-being.
Disadvantages of moving to a new place include the stress of getting used to a new place. You won't know how to get around your first few days and may get lost on your first trip to the store. You may feel lonely because you left family, friends and neighbors behind –or your church and civic organizations.
Therefore, if you moved recently, and you notice your teenager or young child is having a hard time, be empathetic and supportive – especially if they have a mental health disorder. Moving can be traumatic and have long-lasting emotional effects: that's what the research says.
Adverse childhood experiences like divorce, domestic violence, substance abuse, and parents with mental health issues all can leave their mark on the child's forming brain and nervous system . The long-term result manifests as a struggle with symptoms of attachment trauma which last well into adulthood.
So how many times does the average person move in a lifetime? Whether they're changing jobs, upsizing their homes or just looking to try on a new neighborhood or dream city, Americans move an average of 11.7 times in their lifetime.
Moving brings up a veritable smorgasbord of emotions. Our homes are attached to our wellbeing, and physically tearing ourselves away from them may cause feelings of sadness, regret, frustration, and anger.
Is moving traumatic for adults? It can be, but adults whose job requires common relocation usually develop resilience and learn how to adapt to these changes easier.
Moving forces us to step outside of our comfort zone into a life of the unknown. For this sole reason, moving can create uncertainty. It is important to be able to identify why moving is stressful in order to help aid the anxieties of it.
Leaving home is not always easy. Homesickness, loneliness, stress and anxiety are all common feelings that may come up during your transition to independence. Even the happiest and most confident young people can struggle.
A person with ASD experiences psychological distress immediately following a traumatic event. Unlike PTSD, ASD is a temporary condition, and symptoms typically persist for at least 3 to 30 days after the traumatic event.
People living with residual trauma are continually getting ready for the next attack or life-altering event. When someone is preoccupied with a real or imagined threat, the resulting fear, rage, or disappointment will be reflected in the body. Research shows that trauma survivors suffer more illnesses.
Know That It's Okay to Move Away From Family
Moving is a big life decision, and it's totally normal to second-guess your choices. Still, there is nothing wrong with making the choice to move away from your family.
Give Yourself Time to Adjust
After moving to a new city, there can be a period of culture shock. If you're feeling overwhelmed, remember that there's no set time for how long it takes to adjust to a new city. Give yourself at least a year to get comfortable to your new life.