Common Signs of Culture Shock
These are some of the common symptoms of culture shock to look out for:
- Homesickness
- You miss your family and friends back home and you may want to be back in the familiarity of home.
- Change in appetite or weight
- Your eating and drinking habits have changed, and you are either eating and drinking too much, or not eating much at all.
- Irritability
- The littlest of things can make you mad, and sometimes yell out in frustration.
- Boredom
- You have no desire to explore the new town or culture you are living in, and spend much of your time inside.
- Hostility and stereotyping
- You do not like the people in your host country, and avoid making new friends.
- Inability to work efficiently
- You are low energy and are unmotivated to work on new projects.
- Conflicts with others
- You may find yourself in a bad mood and in more confrontations than usual.
- Unexplained crying, depression, or feel out of control
- You are depressed, and have unexplained crying. You may also notice physical problems related to stress or anxiety, and may not feel like you are in control of your environment.
- Vulnerable, fearful, or anxious
- You feel scared, nervous, or vulnerable in your new environment or when talking to native people.
- Headaches, pains, and allergies
- Sleeping too much or too little
- You are unwilling to leave your room or your bed.
- Idealizing your own culture
- You feel that everything was better back home.
- Trying too hard
- You become obsessed with the new culture in an effort to adapt.
- Questioning your decision
- You're no longer sure that choosing to study internationally was a good idea.
