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What is culture shock? -

Culture shock comprises a range of symptoms that are caused by a number of factors when one visits or moves to a different place with a different culture and/or customs, among other factors.

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What is culture shock? -

This unfamiliarity with the new environment requires an adjustment, which can trigger a number of physical and emotional responses.

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What is culture shock? -

"Culture shock is an illness resulting from the loss of meaning brought about when people from one symbolic reality find themselves immersed in another," explains Rachel Irwin, a researcher at Lund University in Sweden.

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What can trigger culture shock? -

Culture shock can be triggered by a number of factors, including unfamiliar local customs, culture, and religious values.

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What can trigger culture shock? -

Other factors that can cause culture shock are the weather, food, and language.

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What can trigger culture shock? -

The general environment, even within the same country, can cause culture shock, too. A good example would be someone moving from a rural area to a big city.

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Who can experience culture shock? -

Culture shock can be experienced by a number of people in a wide range of situations. A tourist, for instance, can experience it.

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Who can experience culture shock? -

Exchange students, people who retire abroad, and individuals who move to a different country to work are also at risk of suffering symptoms of culture shock.

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What does culture shock feel like? -

Leaving our comfort zone is always challenging, and this is exactly what happens when we experience an unfamiliar environment. We need time to adjust and, until we do, we experience a wide range of symptoms including anxiety.

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What does culture shock feel like? -

Feeling homesick is normal as we adjust to a new environment. Again, we think about our comfort zone. Feelings of helplessness and isolation are normal, too.

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What does culture shock feel like? -

We are creatures of habit, and where (and how) we live is what makes home, home. “When we are suddenly taken out of this system of beliefs and habits, out of the ways we structure our life, we are left with no means to frame and define who we are," explains Rodanthi Tzanelli, a professor of cultural sociology at the University of Leeds in the UK.

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What does culture shock feel like? -

This is a stressful situation, and as such it can cause a number of other symptoms, including irritability, sadness, and even disturbances in our sleep and eating habits.

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The four stages of culture shock -

While this might not be the same for everyone, many people go through four distinct phases of culture shock. Let’s take a look at them in more detail.

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The honeymoon stage -

This is usually the first stage. There is a sense of enthusiasm for the thrill and adventure of being in a new place.

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The honeymoon stage -

While this might last during a short tourist trip, things might be different for those who move to the new environment, where the excitement will eventually fade away.

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The frustration stage -

When the initial excitement fades away, we may start to notice and feel the frustrations of being in a place where things are done in very different ways, where we don’t dominate the language, and fatigue and irritability start to set in.

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The frustration stage -

We may also feel disappointed with a number of things. This is particularly true when we visit, or move, to a place that we have a romanticized vision of. We watch movies, read about, and see images that don’t actually reflect the reality of the place.

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The frustration stage -

We may start to feel a bit overwhelmed with all the differences, which can translate into feelings of anxiety, sadness, and anger.

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The adaptation stage -

Humans adapt. We're really good at it, and that is why we have survived for such a long time in all kinds of environments. This stage will eventually happen for those who move to an unfamiliar environment.

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The adaptation stage -

People, local costumes, and everything else will slowly become more familiar, causing the symptoms of the previous stage to subside. From conversations, to dealing with bureaucracy, everything gets just a bit easier.

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The acceptance stage -

This is when we return to a state of homeostasis, where all those changes don’t actually affect us, because they have become familiar and therefore comfortable.

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The acceptance stage -

This stage doesn’t necessarily mean that the new environment is completely understood, but we no longer feel overwhelmed by it, and consequently may feel more relaxed and happier.

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Tips to overcome culture shock -

There are a few things you can do to make the whole process a bit easier. It begins with being open-minded about the place you’re going to. If you are traveling to a different country, study its culture and customs, and learn as much as you can about it beforehand.

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Tips to overcome culture shock -

Don’t compare it to home. We tend to do this when we visit a new place (especially if things are completely different from what we’re used to). This will also help you to not think of, and therefore miss, home as much.

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Tips to overcome culture shock -

Write it down. Journaling your experience is a great way to manage culture shock. Make an effort to identify positive aspects and write them down.

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Tips to overcome culture shock -

Don’t isolate yourself. It’s hard to meet people sometimes, but make an effort to socialize as much as possible, with as many people as possible.

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Tips to overcome culture shock -

Be mindful of what you’re experiencing. Accept that culture shock is part of the process and it’s normal, and that you will overcome it. Feel what you need to feel, and know that it’s absolutely normal.

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Is culture shock good or bad? -

We tend to look at culture shock as a negative reaction to change. But most of these negative effects are transient, and in the end we gain a new experience that will contribute to our personal growth. So, maybe culture shock is not so bad after all.

Sources: (Investopedia) (Live Science) (Global Perspectives)

See also: The pros and cons of living abroad

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