AU Student Life!
An E-newsletter for American University students
produced by the Counseling Center
www.american.edu/counseling

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Part 2: Be well! Great ways to enhance your psychological health

Topics include depression, alcohol, anxiety, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder.
Confidential conversations with a professional counselor are also available.
Contact the Counseling Center, MGC 214, x3500.

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Part 3: Dear Cyberdoc: Tips for studying abroad

Dear Cyberdoc,

I’m excited about studying abroad next semester, especially because I’ve never spent an extended period of time in another country. When my brother studied abroad, he said it was a culture shock to live someplace new. What should I expect about living in a different culture?

- Anticipating study abroad

Dear Anticipating,

Culture shock refers to the emotional disorientation people experience when they move from a familiar culture to an unfamiliar one. Suddenly, without the familiar cues and symbols of social interaction, it can be difficult to feel confident about even the most mundane things that we take for granted, such as how to greet people, what to wear, how to establish friendships and intimacy, or how to interpret the implied or unspoken meanings in conversation. This kind of emotional disorientation affects people in varying ways, from mild anxiety to full blown panic or depression.

Fortunately, feelings of discomfort tend to fade over time. It's important to anticipate and recognize the experience of culture shock so that you can manage it more effectively.

Symptoms of Culture Shock

-Feeling irritable, sad, or depressed
-Feeling intensely homesick
-Feeling bored
-Crying unexpectedly
-Feeling disconnected from people of the host culture
-Intense feelings of loyalty to one's home culture
-Compulsive eating or a loss of appetite
-Physical concerns such as headaches, stomach aches, or general feelings of sickness
-Sleep disturbance
-Decreased concentration or motivation
-Exaggerated cleanliness or lack of cleanliness


Coping Tips

Learn as much as you can ahead of time. The more you read and learn about your host country and culture, the less you'll feel shocked by how things work when you're finally there. Instead, you'll be able to settle into understanding and appreciating the differences.

Talk to people. The more people you interact with, the better you'll feel. Talking to people and asking questions about how things work or what things mean is one of the best ways to acculturate. Not only will it help you improve your language skills, it will also allow you to learn informal phrases or terms that you may not have learned in books.

Go out. You can't familiarize yourself with your host culture if you're sitting in your room. Even when you don't necessarily feel like it, it can be helpful to push yourself to go out where you're observing and interacting with people. Even if language is a barrier, you can still find a good observation point (i.e., a museum or shopping center) and watch, listen, and learn.

Exercise. You probably noticed that many of the symptoms of culture shock listed above are similar to symptoms of depression and anxiety. In the same way that exercise can stave off symptoms of depression or anxiety, it can also help you to manage the symptoms of culture shock. Exercise gets the endorphins flowing and can give you a sense of well being and control.

Share your experiences. Talking with people who are having (or have had) a similar experience is a great way to make sense of and normalize all the emotional ups and downs and the unusual physical symptoms that are characteristic of culture shock.

Stay connected with friends and family. It's not unusual to really start to miss family or friends back home, to feel out of the loop, or to feel disconnected because they don't know what you're going through. It can be helpful to take pictures and mementos from home, and to write or call on a regular basis so that you still feel connected with your life at home.

Be patient. Remember, culture shock is a common experience and part of the adjustment process. However, it is not permanent. Hopefully, being aware of some of the signs of culture shock and being proactive in familiarizing yourself with the culture will help you get the most out of an exciting study abroad experience. If, however, your symptoms persist and you think it might be something more serious, it might be worthwhile to discuss your concerns with a professional.


Remember, it's possible to minimize the impact of culture shock just by anticipating it, recognizing the signs, and trusting that it will abate over time. In addition, holding a positive, non-critical attitude toward the host culture can go a long way toward helping you acculturate more quickly, and will help you get the most out of your travel abroad.

-Cyberdoc




Submit your questions for "Dear Cyberdoc" to bowers@american.edu. Your identity is confidential, and if your question is selected for this newsletter it will be posted without your name attached. If you'd like a personal response or if your concern is in any way urgent, don't write to “Dear Cyberdoc”! Instead, call x3500 to arrange to speak with a counselor.