The Emotional and Psychological Impacts of Immigrating

I want to preface this blog post with the fact that I am not a mental health professional, this is based purely on my personal experiences and those of friends, family and clients.

When I first chat to potential clients about their immigration pathways, I often make the comment that immigrating will potentially be one of the most difficult things they ever do. Most clients brush this aside in the excitement of the moment, but nearly every one of them will ultimately comment somewhere along the way about how stressful the process is. The reality though, is that the emotional rollercoaster doesn’t stop as soon as you land in New Zealand. Immigrating to a new country can impact us in ways we never expected.

Immigrating can be an emotionally challenging experience, as it often involves leaving behind one’s home, family, and friends. This experience can be compared to losing a loved one because it involves a significant change in one’s life and a sense of loss.

Just as losing a loved one requires one to let go of familiar people and places, immigrating can mean leaving behind one’s hometown, childhood friends, and family. This can lead to feelings of sadness, loneliness, and grief, just like losing someone dear.

Moreover, immigrating to a new country can also involve leaving behind one’s culture, language, and way of life. This can make it difficult to adjust to a new environment and may lead to a feeling of disorientation and isolation.

In both cases, you may experience a range of emotions, including grief, sadness, anger, and anxiety. You may also find yourself having to go through a process of adjustment and acclimatization to your new circumstances.

Because of this, it’s common for new migrants to experience the following seven stages of grief:

1. Shock and Denial: The first stage is often characterized by shock and disbelief. You may find it hard to believe that you are leaving behind your home, family, and friends. This stage can be particularly intense if your move is sudden or unexpected.
2. Pain and Guilt: As the reality of the move sets in, you may start to feel a sense of loss and pain. You may also feel guilty for leaving loved ones behind or for not being able to take them along.
3. Anger and Bargaining: In this stage, you may start to feel angry with yourself or others about the move. You may also try to bargain with yourself to try and find a way to avoid the move.
4. Depression, Reflection, and Loneliness: You may start to feel depressed as you come to terms with the fact that you are leaving everything you know behind. You may also reflect on your life and the experiences you have had so far. Loneliness is also common during this stage as you may feel isolated from your support system.
5. The Upward Turn: This stage marks the beginning of your adjustment to your new country and way of life. You may start to feel a sense of hope and optimism as you begin to make new friends, explore your new environment, and find ways to adapt to your new way of life.
6. Reconstruction and Working Through: As you become more comfortable in your new surroundings, you may start to build a new life for yourselves. This may involve learning new skills, finding a job, or pursuing new interests.
7. Acceptance and Hope: The final stage involves acceptance of your new reality and a sense of hope for the future. You may start to feel a sense of belonging in your new community and can find that your new life brings you happiness and fulfilment.

It’s important to note that not everyone will go through these stages in the same order or with the same intensity. Additionally, the length of time spent in each stage can vary widely. It’s important to seek support from family, friends, or professionals during this transitional period to help manage the range of emotions that may arise. It’s also important to realise that those around you may also be experiencing these stages and it’s important to acknowledge this.

When our family decided to immigrate to New Zealand in 2016, like most, I feverishly researched the process. It was during this time that I unearthed an article from a psychologist (one of those you wished you had saved at the time) that touched on this specific topic. The article went on to discuss that research showed that the average time it takes to work through the seven stages when immigrating is two years. I can tell you from personal experience and those of friends and clients that is a very similar timeframe that we experienced. Once the honeymoon phase has passed, it takes a decent period of time to acclimate to your new life.

I write this article not to dissuade you, but to prepare you for what lays ahead. As I said at the beginning of this blog, immigrating to a different country can be very stressful. But for most, it will also be one of the most exciting experiences of your lives. Recognise the different stages of the journey, support each other through them, and one day you will wake up in your new life and realise that you can’t imagine it any other way.

Good luck to each and every one of you with your immigration adventure!

Stuart Scrimgeour (GDNZIA)
Licensed Immigration Adviser