Beginning a new life in Australia may become challenging. One of the most common and recurrent issues that Indians in Australia experience is cultural differences. This occurs as a result of differences in attitudes, lifestyles, eating habits, relationships, and other factors. Furthermore, sometimes Indians may find signals of social engagement, communication patterns, and Australia’s value system challenging to understand.
People may experience different kinds of stress due to life shifts. Some might experience eustress, a type of stress that motivates you to take on new challenges and create progress. On the other hand, Stress that lasts for a long time can have a detrimental emotional, bodily, and mental impact. This makes navigating a change much more difficult. There are a variety of stressors that can lead to depression, anxiety, mood swings, impatience, and a lack of energy and motivation.
There are numerous strategies for dealing more effectively with the changes brought on by a new culture. Some suggestions are as follows:
Spend time listening and conversing with people who can explain prevalent Australian behaviors, language, and customs.
Get to know other international migrants (They may be going through, or have gone through, comparable conditions).
Keep your home comforts, such as foods, pastimes, and routines, close to your heart.
Getting involved in community activities might help you make new friends and feel more connected to your surroundings and culture.
Allow yourself some time and remind yourself that it won’t last forever.
If needed, seek expert assistance.
When Do I Need to Seek Help?
Feeling lonely a lot of times
Feeling sad or anxious a lot of the times
Crying more than usual
Sometimes for no apparent reason having a rise in unexplained bodily problems
A significant change in sleeping and/or appetite
Many parts of your life are out of your control because you are feeling tense and pressured.
If you are in distress, do not hesitate to seek expert help. Attempting to deal with such situations on your own may be more destructive to your mental health than you realize. Individuals seeking professional help can better cope with life challenges, traumatic experiences, troubled relationships, anxiety, and other emotional issues arisen due to cultural differences.
Remember, you’re not alone, culture shock is a common reaction when entering a new country. Patience and gradual adaptation of new culture can readily solve the problem. You can reach out to MindTribe for assistance from our team of qualified psychologists.
Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.
About MindTribe.in.
MindTribe Founder Dr. Prerna Kohli, India’s eminent psychologist, established the company to leverage the strength of the online to make counseling affordable and accessible to everyone. MindTribe provides counseling, workshops, support groups, forums, and eLearning.
About the Author.
Pratibha Gangwar is a psychologist at MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.
Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.