The Impact Moving Can Have on Your Mental Health
Many people experience one or more significant moves during their lifetime. Relocating, no matter how far, can be a major life transition that requires us to adapt to a new environment, routine, and space. Even when a move is positive and something we have chosen, it can still bring feelings of stress, uncertainty, and emotional disruption, highlighting the connection between mental health and moving.
There are many reasons why someone may move. It could be for work, relationships, family, education, financial circumstances, or simply a desire for change. Whatever the reason, moving can bring a mixture of emotions and experiences as we adjust to a new chapter of life.
As someone who has relocated to an entirely new country and continent, this is a topic that feels particularly familiar to me. I understand how exciting a move can be while also recognising the emotional challenges that can come with adapting to a new environment and way of life.
The Emotional Impact of Moving
Moving can affect us emotionally and psychologically, and it can also have an impact on our physical wellbeing. While everyone’s experience will be different, some of the challenges that can arise after relocating include:
Stress and anxiety: Moving involves a significant amount of change and uncertainty. From organising the move itself to adjusting to a new environment, it is understandable that this can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety.
Feeling overwhelmed: Packing, organising logistics, physically relocating, and setting up a new home can feel like a lot to manage at once. It can take time to feel settled and regain a sense of control.
Grief or sadness about leaving people and places behind: Even when you are excited about your new home, leaving behind friends, family, familiar places, or a previous way of life can bring feelings of sadness and grief. Saying goodbye can be particularly difficult when you know things will not be the same again.
Loneliness and isolation: When you are new to an area, you may not know anyone or have an established social network yet. While this can be a common experience after moving, it can still feel extremely lonely and isolating.
Homesickness: Missing your previous home, familiar surroundings, people, food, routines, or even small everyday comforts is a common experience after moving. Homesickness can be particularly challenging when you are far away from your previous support network.
Identity and belonging: A move can disrupt many of the things that previously helped shape your sense of identity and belonging, including relationships, work, routines, and your wider community. Being in a new environment can sometimes lead you to question where you fit and how you see yourself.
Cultural adjustment: Moving somewhere with a different culture, language, customs, or way of life can create an additional layer of adjustment. It can take time to understand and feel comfortable within a new culture, and you may sometimes experience feelings of being different or not quite fitting in. Cultural adjustment can involve adapting to differences in language, social norms, communication styles, food, humour, healthcare systems, and expectations around relationships or work.
Financial concerns: Relocating can be financially demanding. There may be moving costs, changes in employment, new living expenses, or a period of uncertainty while looking for work. Financial stress can add another layer of pressure during an already significant transition.
Loss of routine or familiarity: Your usual routines may change when you relocate. Even small things, such as where you shop, exercise, socialise, or spend your free time, may be different. Your new surroundings can initially feel unfamiliar, and it can take time for them to begin feeling like home.
Starting over: For some people, moving really can feel like starting over. You may need to establish a new job, friendships, relationships, routines, and support network. Building a new sense of home takes time and energy.
The Positive Side of Moving
After reading the section above, it may seem as though there are many difficult aspects to moving. However, with these challenges can also come opportunities for growth and positive change.
Here are some of the potential positives of relocating:
New opportunities: Moving to a new area can open the door to opportunities that may not have been available to you previously. You may discover new places, activities, career opportunities, or experiences.
A fresh start: Sometimes, having the opportunity to start again can be refreshing. A new environment can provide a chance to reflect on what you want from your life and create changes that feel meaningful to you.
Meeting new people: Moving can provide opportunities to meet people you may never have crossed paths with otherwise. Joining a local club, class, group, or community can be a great way to begin developing new connections.
Greater independence and confidence: Successfully navigating a move and adapting to a new environment can help build confidence and independence. You may discover that you are capable of managing challenges that previously felt daunting.
Healthier routines: A new environment can also provide an opportunity to establish routines that support your wellbeing. If there are habits or routines you would like to change, a move can sometimes provide the motivation to create something new.
Ways to Protect Your Mental Wellbeing
It is important to take care of yourself while adjusting to a new environment. There is no single approach that works for everyone, but some strategies that may support your mental wellbeing after a move include:
Maintain contact with friends and family: Staying connected with the people who know and support you can be particularly important after moving. Regular phone calls, video calls, or messages can help reduce feelings of isolation and homesickness.
Establish routines: Creating some familiar routines can help your new environment begin to feel more normal. This could be as simple as maintaining a regular sleep schedule, exercising, doing a weekly food shop, or setting aside time for activities you enjoy.
Explore your new surroundings: Getting to know your new area can gradually help it feel more familiar. You could explore local parks, cafes, community spaces, clubs, or classes. These can also provide opportunities to meet new people and develop connections.
Give yourself time to adjust: There is no strict timeline for settling into a new environment. Everyone adjusts differently, so try not to compare your experience with someone else’s. Be patient with yourself and recognise that feeling unsettled does not mean that you are doing something wrong.
Talk about how you’re feeling: Talking openly about your experiences can help you process difficult emotions rather than keeping them to yourself. This could mean speaking with a friend or family member, writing in a journal, or talking to a mental health professional.
Take care of yourself: Self-care can be an important part of supporting both your physical and mental wellbeing during a period of transition. This might include getting enough rest, eating regularly, moving your body, spending time outdoors, or making space for activities that help you relax. If you need support planning your self-care activities, I have a free Self-Care Planner available on my Resources page that you are welcome to use.
Carry over familiar comforts: While a move can be a good opportunity to create new routines, you do not have to leave everything behind. Bringing familiar items, continuing activities you enjoyed in your previous home, or maintaining certain traditions can provide a comforting connection to what you already know.
Consider professional support: Therapy can provide a safe and supportive space to explore the feelings and challenges that can come with moving. If you are experiencing persistent anxiety, low mood, tiredness, isolation, sleep difficulties, or are finding it difficult to manage your day-to-day life, you may benefit from seeking professional support.
Conclusion
Moving does not have to be a negative experience to be emotionally challenging. You can be excited about a new chapter while also grieving what you have left behind. These feelings can exist alongside one another, and experiencing difficult emotions does not necessarily mean that you have made the wrong decision.
Adjusting to a new environment takes time, and there is no universal timeline for feeling settled. Be patient with yourself and give yourself grace as you build new routines, relationships, and a sense of home.
As an American who has relocated to the UK, I understand that moving and adapting to a new culture, environment, and way of life can bring many unique challenges. I particularly welcome my fellow Americans living in the UK who may be navigating homesickness, cultural adjustment, identity, relationships, or the emotional challenges of building a life away from home.
If you are finding the transition difficult, you do not have to navigate it alone. Support is available, and I would be happy to support you.
If you are interested in one-on-one talk therapy sessions, please feel free to get in touch with any questions or to enquire about scheduling. You can contact me at contact@renewedhorizonscounselling.co.uk or through the contact form on my website.
I look forward to hearing from you.
