Moving to a new country is not always as easy as it seems.
Between the cultural shock, climate differences, language barrier, homesickness, acceptance issues, security fears and so on, it’s common for foreigners abroad to feel out of place and suffer consistent mental health problems.
Just the thought of being separated from family and friends, the feeling of loneliness, the need to survive and be independent, financial insufficiency, challenges with fitting in with the language and culture can contribute to increasing levels of stress and anxiety.
As the holidays draw nearer, it is easy to feel left out as you see the usual family holiday rituals being continued without you. It can be tough making new friends, especially if you have a lot of friends you left back home and you find it hard to meet new people here.
How exactly do you survive and make the most of your stay in Russia and manage your mental health in the most effective way possible?
Join a community of like-minded individuals: There are Africans everywhere in Russia— from religious organizations e.g your local church or fellowship, the association of students from your country to local meetup groups in your city.
Don’t be a lone ranger. As convenient as that may be, it will only isolate you and keep you in a shell where you can’t reach out to people for help when you need it. Go to that get-together, attend that birthday party, accept that invitation and get out of your comfort zone.
Stay in touch with friends and family from home: The internet has made it even easier to stay connected to everyone back home. You can reach out to them randomly or even schedule specific dates and times to have video calls as part of your routine.
Be careful who you confide in, and try to develop deeper bonds with the people you actually trust. Drop a message saying you love and miss them when you can and remind them how much their connection matters to you.
Be busy: Spend some time doing something you actually love— even after getting immersed in your academics or work, find time to explore your interests. Try to stay on top of your school work and do your best in every class.
Then create time and save money to enjoy yourself— go on dates, laugh over some comedy, watch movies, play games, snap pictures, learn a new skill and perfect your talents. Learn about topics that make you happy and invest more time and energy developing them.
Take care of yourself: Don’t let mental health issues reduce the quality of your life. Avoid alcohol, smoking and drugs as much as you can. Instead try to get plenty of sleep, be physically active and eat well as much as you can.
Try to stay away from friends that influence you negatively. Avoid spending too much time on social media taking in bad news or looking at the lives and ‘perfect’ experiences of other people to avoid negative emotions.
Be honest with yourself and with others: Your health is very important— assess your mental state regularly and manage your expectations from life. Some days will be more challenging than others so it is important to recognise when you need a little more patience with yourself.
Don’t keep your struggles to yourself. Open up about your feelings and emotions to the important people in your life when you can and seek professional advice when necessary.
On a lighter note, did you know that to survive in Russia (or in any new country), you need a phone, data, enough phone battery, good network and money in your account. That way, you can never get lost.
Even if you don’t know where you are or what you’re doing, you will always find your way home.
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