Every year numerous people leave Poland, deciding to emigrate. This comes as no surprise to anyone – nowadays it is relatively easy to plan a trip, carry out the necessary paperwork and find employment in a place even hundreds of kilometers away. But what to do when the initially exciting vision turns into constant stress and irritation? How to prepare ourselves mentally for emigration, so that it does not negatively affect our health?
Who emigrates?
Currently, people of all ages, with lower and higher levels of education, living in villages and major cities are choosing to emigrate. Wondering who emigrates from Poland, we can’t give a clear answer, pointing to demographic data. The idea of leaving appears in people entering adulthood at eighteen, families with young children, as well as people in their forties.
A clear new trend seems to be expatriates with higher education, rich resumes and high language skills. A lot of global companies need employees from different parts of the world and with online work you can work virtually anywhere.
Emigration – where to go?
The final decision to leave is made up of many interacting factors. It is a very individual choice, based on, among other things, financial opportunities, employment offers, expected wages, the presence of other family members. Often our attention is also drawn by the distance separating a given place from Poland – the closer it is, the easier it is for us to come to our hometowns for vacations and vacations. For some, the decision to leave is even combined with the opposite reasons – people want to leave to get away from family and loved ones.
Emigration to Germany
A great many Poles decide to go to our western neighbors – moving to Germany seems to be a proven and safe option. There is a large group of Polish people working there, and on the Internet we can quickly find reviews and helpful first-hand information, which further facilitates the process of applying for particular jobs, renting an apartment or arranging other formalities.
Emigrating to Germany is a popular choice for many people who want to start a new life in Europe. With its strong economy and friendly culture, Germany offers many advantages to those who choose to make it their home. Emigration in Germany is at an all-time high, and many of our compatriots want to live there for a few years or put their lives back together.
Country-emigration. What problems are associated with emigration?
A number of different difficulties arising from planning and carrying out the departure, as well as negative feelings after the move, are always a huge challenge. It does not matter how far away our destination is – whether we are facing emigration to Berlin or emigration to the United States, some of the following psychological problems may be born.
Anxiety about the new
Even before we leave, we may notice that although a change of environment was previously an attractive idea to us, the closer we get to it, the more we resist. We no longer see everything in bright colors, and with each passing day our fears grow. Most eagerly, we would cancel all plans and stay with what is familiar and proven. We begin to question our decision, and even though everything is buttoned up, we don’t feel any satisfaction. We realize that when we arrive at the destination, we will find many surprises and challenges, through which we may lose ground. The day of departure approaches inexorably, and we are afraid that we will forget something, fail to meet the growing number of responsibilities, do something wrong. We are frightened by the lack of control and detachment from the established rhythm. We are afraid of the unknown and uncertain future that emigration brings. Our lives are about to change, and we doubt whether we will be able to cope with the changes taking place.
New place, old worries
We often think that by leaving the country, we will change our lives for the better and forget about the nagging worries. This new and fresh start looks in our minds like a fairy tale picture – there is no room for misfortunes, and everything goes our way. However, there comes a moment when we collide with the brutal reality and the bubble bursts. Idealizing change does no good. Contrary to our hopes, the gloom and overwhelm does not go away, whether we find ourselves in rainy autumn Warsaw or on a sunny Spanish coast. For it turns out that unfinished business still does not let us live in peace. If something has long been a difficulty for us, even a brand new reality will not make it go away. Negative thoughts, feelings of exhaustion, depressive states, fears and phobias do not disappear as if by magic just because we have changed our environment.
Many problems are rooted deep within us and leaving the country is not a prescription for all worries. No matter where we stay, bad habits and behaviors repeated over the years continue to negatively affect our overall well-being and lead to a diminished quality of life.
Homesickness
Leaving friends, close family, colleagues in the country and a complete change of environment make us feel a strong longing. We can no longer go to our favorite café at the market, walk through the wild park we used to wander through every day on our way home from work, or drop in for an unannounced dinner at our parents’ house. We now don’t have at our fingertips the people we were able to see regularly not so long ago. Rare visits and contact via the Internet can’t replace those long face-to-face meetings we now recall. What nails us is that we can’t see our loved ones celebrating joyful moments together, reaching milestones, growing and achieving success. We are separated from them by an invisible barrier of hundreds or thousands of kilometers.
The difficulty of finding our place
Another country is also a completely different reality. Even if we have decided that emigrating to a neighboring country is a good choice because of its relatively short distance from Poland, big changes await us there. Each country means different holidays, traditions, laws, a different language and a distinctive culture. The new situations we encounter may come as a culture shock. Despite finding a lot of information and interviewing friends experienced in the subject of emigration, nothing can fully prepare us for what is coming.
Once we find ourselves in another country, even though we like the climate and there is stunning architecture and numerous breathtaking attractions all around, we may feel uncomfortable. We wonder if this is really the place for us – if we are sure we fit here and have what we were so looking for. Strong longing and a sense of mismatch make even the most beautiful place on earth lose its charm. Looking around, we don’t notice the advantages, because we’ve become too consumed with finding the negatives. Seeing only what is flawed, different and inferior to us, we will not feel any pleasure from the trip.
A sense of loneliness
A new place often evokes a sense of abandonment in us. Whether we left alone, with a partner or the whole family is of little importance here. We don’t have a wider circle of friends around us, and most familiar faces are many hours away. Because of the language barrier, it is not necessarily easy for us to make new contacts among neighbors or co-workers, which further worries us.
Loneliness in exile is a common and very annoying problem. We have no one to talk to, no one to confide in about our problems – and these can be many: from complicated official matters that have fallen on us already on the spot, to difficulties at work, to the multitude of duties related to arranging a new apartment. We feel that no one understands us and doesn’t know how to put ourselves in our place. We are afraid that this state will never change again…
What emotions can we experience when we emigrate?
Of course, the ideal scenario assumes that during the preparation for emigration and already after departure we will be accompanied by only positive emotions. In reality, however, throughout this process of revolutionary change, it is easy to experience anxiety, fear, sadness, irritation, annoyance and anger.
Very often there is a situation in which, instead of joy and fulfillment at appearing in a new place, we feel deep disappointment. It seemed to us that a different environment is the start of a completely different life – one in which there are no more worries and we enjoy every moment. It occurs to us, however, that even in a place commonly referred to as “paradise,” there are glimmers and shadows. What’s more, these shadows can completely obscure our earlier positive perceptions. “After all, it was supposed to be different” is a thought that doesn’t give us peace of mind.
Emigration – is it worth it?
The decision to emigrate can be very difficult for us. Impending changes cause anxiety and uncertainty, and we dream all sorts of scenarios at night. Sometimes, however, it is a necessity for us, or a goal we have been striving for many years. We must not forget that this is a potential way to change our lives and gain valuable experience.
Only time will tell what effects this decision will have on us, but if we have already decided that we want to try life abroad and have made the necessary steps to do so, it is worth taking advantage of the trip. We don’t have to let ourselves be consumed by negative thoughts – these usually stem from fear.
How to prepare for emigration?
There is no denying that emigration can be one of the most difficult and biggest stressors we face. It is not uncommon for people abroad to face negative emotions, depressive states and anxiety. Therefore, we may wonder how to prepare ourselves mentally for emigration and make it easier to adapt in a new place.
Let’s not let fears overshadow goals
It is worthwhile in this rush to stop at least for a moment and remind ourselves why we decided to leave. In the fervor of running errands, packing and performing a series of duties from an ever-lengthening list, it’s easy to forget what our goal is. Do we see in leaving the hope of better wages, living conditions, career advancement? Maybe we’re moving to a place we’ve dreamed of for years? Or maybe part of the family is already there and we will finally have them with us?
The best way to mentally prepare for emigration is to gather information and plan ahead. Learn as much as you can about the country you are moving to, its culture, laws and regulations. This will help ease the transition to a new life elsewhere. In addition, before you leave, make sure you have the necessary documents to make the adaptation to the new place go smoothly. Finally, contact friends or family members who have already gone through the emigration process for advice and support if needed.
It’s good to realize that even if emigration scares us, it represents the beginning of a new phase. It’s natural to have fears, and we don’t need to be ashamed of them – it’s good to realize them and be understanding to ourselves. However, we should not surrender the reins of our lives to fear and uncertainty.
Psychotherapy in exile – a path to change
Overwhelm and frustration can come to us at any time: before leaving, while adapting to a new environment, and already after many months spent abroad. Even in a country that was supposed to be the fulfillment of our dreams and the realization of our most beautiful dreams, we can struggle with depression, stress, anxiety, panic attacks or addictions. Relationship problems, existential crisis, marital crises and breakups can also reach us.
Feelings of loneliness, lowered mood, lack of motivation and anxiety are signals that should worry us. It is not worth waiting and living in the hope that everything will pass on its own. By trying to forget that something is wrong, we don’t give ourselves a chance to get to the root of the problem. Choosing the right specialist and participating in psychotherapy means a beneficial change for us – and although our lives have already turned 180 degrees due to the decision to emigrate, the possibility of transformation on a psychological level may be even more important. Online psychotherapy does not involve traveling hundreds of miles, it is a path to better functioning. It is worth embarking on it by taking the first step of contacting a professional and setting up an appointment.
Help in Polish – why so important?
Getting help in the native language is a significant facilitation of the therapeutic process while being abroad, which is often used by Polish immigrants in Germany – Polish psychologist Berlin. During meetings, various topics are discussed, with the primary goal of getting to the beliefs underlying negative emotions and behavior. In this way we have a chance to deal with established patterns that negatively affect our present and prevent us from enjoying life to the fullest. In the case of expatriates, accepting the uncertainty that comes with departure and new realities is also often important in the work. Such deep conversations require full attention and understanding, which is not easy to achieve when there is a communication barrier between us and the therapist. It is in our native language that we are most accurately able to formulate thoughts and put into words the emotions that accompany them. It then comes easier for us to open up. We also know that the person to whom we are speaking is familiar with our culture and can better identify with our problems.
Opening up to help will make emigration an easier experience. If you have any problems, don’t push them aside. We are here to listen to you, understand you and, above all, provide you with the support you deserve.
Online psychotherapy is a beneficial solution both before you move and while you are adapting to your new place. Visits take place no matter where you are, and the number of visits is flexibly adjusted to your needs and abilities. This creates convenient conditions for the realization of a professional interview and the implementation of proven methods. The use of modern technology does not adversely affect the course of such a process, and is often the only option to be in regular contact with a Polish specialist.