Unsheltered-And-Displaced
UNSHELTERED-AND-DISPLACED: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCE OF EXPATS, IMMIGRANTS, AND REFUGEES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
Are you an expat, immigrant, refugee or bicultural individual, feeling lonely, anxious and depressed in times of isolation?
During this difficult time, we at INTERCULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY are aware of the impacts of COVID-19 on expats, immigrants, and refugees. The levels of stress may be increased by the fact that most do not have a support system in place anyway, having migrated on their own.
During this difficult time, we at INTERCULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY are aware of the impacts of COVID-19 on expats, immigrants, and refugees. The levels of stress may be increased by the fact that most do not have a support system in place anyway, having migrated on their own.
“With the pandemic there is an increasing feeling of “mobility loss” and “feeling stuck”. This often brings a state of frustration, anxiety and powerlessness”.
You might be concerned and feeling powerless because your family “back home” is in vulnerable areas around the globe, and you are not there to support them. You are probably, unable to seek comfort for yourself. If you have elderly parents, fears of not being able to see them again is painful. The inability to touch the ground of your homeland can be deeply traumatic, and the use of technology has been the only way you are able to connect with their homeland.
The impossibility of being able to cross borders to be with your loved ones “back home” may increase feelings of being “in-between-worlds”. Hence, anger, sadness, homesickness, hopelessness, confusion, and a deep feeling of not belonging. If you feel that you do not belong, it’s difficult to be present and “feel at home”. The saying “Home is where the heart is…”, is true and if your heart is split between two worlds it’s hard to feel present and focused.
The experience of being “sheltered-in-place” is new to most of us. If there is no sense of feeling sheltered and safe, psychologically and depending on the case, physically, the experience is of being unsheltered and homeless. When one is emotionally “displaced”, or “out of place”, or “in-between”, it’s unsettling and traumatic. In the perspective of immigrants, expats, and refugees,it would be more appropriate to call this pandemic as being “unsheltered and out of place” or “unsheltered and displaced”.
INTERCULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY is offering support for expats, immigrants, and refugees during the pandemic. Learn more here.
We would like to offer our expertise and help you get through these challenging times.
