Just as you experienced culture shock once arriving in your host country, you may also experience it again as you return home.
Reach out to trusted adults or mental health professionals if you feel you need help.
Stage 1: Disengagement | This stage may begin while still abroad. One might begin to disengage while thinking about returning to the U.S. soon and leaving their new friends behind.
Stage 2: Euphoria | After returning home, you may see people you haven’t seen in a long time. They might not want to listen to your stories or you may feel as though they won’t understand.
Stage 3: Alienation | In this stage, you may feel like an outsider. Things at home may be different from when you left and you might have a hard time adjusting.
Stage 4: Gradual Readjustment | In this stage, life begins to return to the normalcy you felt before you left for your study abroad trip.
If you feel as though any of these stages are too difficult or are exacerbating pre-existing mental health issues, reach out to family, friends, or trusted mental health professionals.
