Coping with Culture Shock

1. Coping with Culture Shock presented by Kim Hays and Gail Trimpe Morrow Student Counseling Services

2. Overview • About Culture Shock • U.S. Culture Tips / Observations • Resources at Student Counseling Services • Questions you hope we address?

3. What is Culture Shock • Feeling of disorientation experienced when you are exposed to an unfamiliar culture, way of life or attitudes. • Symptoms may include: • Feeling Disoriented • Confused or Anxious • Sleep Difficulties • Digestive Difficulties

4. What is Culture Shock • Stress from not knowing what to expect • Developing a new perspective • On yourself • On others • On the environment

5. Signs of Culture shock • Stress that cues you rely on to guide your behavior are gone! • Your values are not valued by others • Feelings of anxiety, depression, or hostility • “Idealizing” how things were back home

6. Unfolding in Stages • Honeymoon • Overwhelmed • Reintegration • Balancing • Increasing Comfort

7. Unfolding in Stages • Honeymoon– curious and excited to learn more • Overwhelmed – Missing familiar cues to guide behavior. Feeling inadequate, blaming self • Reintegration - Begin picking up the new cues! Feeling annoyed with new culture

8. Unfolding in Stages • Balancing - Beginning to see both the good and bad in both your home culture and your new culture • Increasing Comfort - Feeling comfortable and fluent in both cultures

9. Coping • Be patient with yourself • Learn some things about the culture: HANDOUT • Reach out to others in the environment • Use Student Counseling Services

10. Student Counseling Services

11. Phone: 309-438-3655 • Free, Confidential • Ask for an INITIAL APPOINTMENT • Some paperwork, then meet with a counselor. • Group Therapy • Individual Counseling • Brief Structured groups for Meditation, Anxiety, Depression

12. Student Counseling Servicescounseling.illinoisstate.edu/outreach/voices.shtml