In this video, Dr Martine Luntz shares a quick tip for expats suffering from homesickness.
Transcript
Hi, I’m Dr. Martine Luntz, Clinical Psychologist, with a little tip for you expats living abroad.
One thing that we know from neuroscience is that our brain does not know the difference between actually seeing and experiencing something, and visualising it. When we visualise something, the areas of our brain that light up when we are seeing something or doing something in real life actually light up in our brains as well.
So if you’re feeling a little homesick, maybe imagine yourself sitting with a friend on your couch, having a cup of tea or a glass of wine; imagine yourself sitting in your favourite coffee house – something familiar from home, to give yourself a little dose of what you miss.
And also, you can do that in real life too. A lot of people will put pressure on themselves to completely immerse themselves in the culture. It’s OK to go find a Starbucks, you know? It’s OK to go find a slice of pizza every now and then to give yourself that little dose of familiarity in your week as well, as you’re adjusting.
So, happy trails to you all!
Dr. Martine Luntz, Psy.D. is the owner of Hazel Tree Online Counseling. She is a clinical psychologist who helps people across the world find their way back to well-being. She really enjoys helping people successfully adapt to new life circumstances, especially to that of moving and living abroad. Check out her website to schedule a free consultation – she would love to hear from you!