Feeling of isolation can be harmful

Being an expat in a city, faraway from one’s country of origin, can bring a unique sense of loneliness and lead to stress and anxiety, according to Dr Rasha Bassim of Priory’s Wellbeing Centre in Dubai. “Like any expatriate community, moving to a new place without one’s family, and, in some cases, friends, can be somewhat lonely. Life, irrespective of where you reside, can have its challenges,” she said. “Experiencing these challenges without your backbone support network of friends and family can be overwhelming and lead to a feeling of isolation.”

Many people, she added, are too self-critical, and too quick to compare their lives to other people.

“It could simply be everyday issues that are troubling us,” she said. “However, instances in which we compare our relationship to others, look at others’ social media photos wishing we had that life, or convincing ourselves that we should be further along the career ladder than we are, can be harmful.”

According to Dr Bassim, many expats, who are without their traditional support networks, “tend to repress their emotions and push their fears inward until these feelings absolutely overload them.”

“Those feelings develop into mental ill health, whether it’s stress, anxiety or depression,” she said. “Sometimes people are alert to this and do hurry to get professional help, at least in the form of seeking counseling or advice, to nip their problems in the bud and prevent them from developing further.”

“Unfortunately, the global stigmas attached to mental health lead to many waiting too long, in denial, or in the hope the problems will fix themselves,” she added.

When asked what advice she would give lonely, stressed, anxious or depressed expats, Dr Bassim responded simply that “it is okay to be afraid.”

“It is okay to be ill. The most important thing to realise is that feelings like depression and anxiety are eminently treatable.”

bernd@khaleejtimes.com

It is okay to be ill. The most important thing to realise is that depression and anxiety are treatable.” Dr Rasha Bassim, Priory’s Wellbeing Centre, Dubai