What is culture shock? Culture shock is a mental state that a person can experience after coming into contact with a completely new, different cultural environment. This condition causes stress, anxiety, frustration and confusion because the previously known rules and cultural norms cease to apply. It is then easy to lose the sense of control in everyday, seemingly simple, situations.
Stages of culture shock
The phenomenon of culture shock usually proceeds in four stages.
- The honeymoon stage, otherwise known as the excitement phase
This time usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks and is associated with fascination with people, surroundings, tastes, architecture. Everything new seems to be interesting and exciting. This stage is accompanied by positive emotions such as: euphoria, delight, joy and optimism, resulting from the desire to experience adventure. A person then perceives the differences of cultures as fascinating.
- Shock proper, i.e. the stage of crisis also called the breakdown/frustration phase
This stage begins when the new ceases to excite and various problems in everyday life appear, such as: difficulty in communication, incomprehensible gestures, bureaucracy. This time is full of difficult emotions such as: longing, irritation, fear, a sense of isolation or even anger towards a new culture. There are physical symptoms such as headaches and fatigue.
- The adaptation phase, also known as the regeneration phase
It occurs when a person begins to regain balance and find himself in a new reality. A gradual understanding of local customs and advanced language learning begins. Problems become easier to solve, a group of new friends appears. Self-confidence and a sense of humor return.
- Stabilization stage or adjustment
A person who has gone through a shock is now able to function freely in a new society, finds peace and a sense of stability.
How to deal with culture shock?
Dealing with culture shock takes time and understanding that it is a process. It is worth remembering about its four-stage course. The key to success is to take care of your mental comfort and actively learn about the new reality. It is worth learning local gestures, observing the facial expressions and body language of the natives, polishing the language, learning the local rules of etiquette and reading a little about the history of a given country. You can also find a support group for foreigners and people who have been through the same path and, above all, open up to the locals and look for contact with them and contact.
Psychotherapy as a support in the treatment of culture shock
The help of a psychotherapist is recommended when culture shock leads to a long-term decrease in mood, strong homesickness, a sense of helplessness and, as a consequence, social isolation. In such a situation, the support of a specialist is sometimes necessary and focuses on several key areas, such as:
- understanding the mechanisms of adaptation, where the therapist presents the phases of culture shock to the patient and discusses them with him,
- symptom relief, which consists in working on the feeling of alienation, misunderstanding and loneliness,
- building a new identity without losing the sense of self.
- working on relationships, i.e. learning to resolve conflicts and build new acquaintances.
