If you’ve done any type of traveling, it’s likely that you’ve heard of cultural shock. It can be akin to running from hot sand into the cool Atlantic ocean—the experience shocks your skin because you’ve transitioned from one physical circumstance to another. It takes your body time to adjust.
Travelers are used to culture shock. It’s the quick discovery of all the things that are different from culture to culture—the habits that make you stick out as a foreigner and identifies everyone else as the natives.
But have you heard of Cultural Stress?
culture shock (noun) – the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.
culture stress (noun) – the adjustment stage in which people accept the new environment, adopting new ways of thinking and doing things so that they feel like they belong to the new culture.
Culture stress is a lot less well-known because fewer people actually deal with this concept, but if you live in another country for an extended amount of time, this is a reality. Stress is something that we deal with over a long amount of time, that is slowly built up. It’s the pressure of trying to push your cultural view to shape and adjust to the culture with which you are living in.
It’s exhausting.
No matter whether you’re dealing with culture shock or culture stress, you need to allow yourself breathing space to adjust. Sometimes this means only completing one errand in a day when in your own culture you could complete all your errands in an hour. Sometimes it means holing up at home with your favorite movie and a mug of tea because you can’t deal with this unfamiliar culture.
Let yourself breathe before jumping back into the learning experience right outside your door or sometimes even within your very home.
Culture shock and culture stress are normal. If you travel, you will experience it so don’t expect yourself to be a Super Human Traveler impervious to the stresses of different cultures and traditions.
My favorite ways to recharge after difficult cultural experiences:
- A good book, where I know that the ending is already written and everything will be okay.
- Shutting myself in my room with Bride Wars (a favorite movie from college).
- Two pieces of dark chocolate.
- Laugh at myself and write a friend about my experience.
What About You?
Have you ever dealt with culture shock or culture stress? What did you do to regain your sense of self?
[If you’d like extra reading on this subject, check out Foreign to Familiar by Sarah A. Lanier. I highly recommend this book as an overview of dealing with cultures.]
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