318 338
HEALTH&FITNESS
318
June14
N
ew expats can face a steep learning curve when
it comes to staying healthy in Singapore: how to
protect the family against foot-and-mouth, dengue
and other tropical diseases; how to keep fit in this
relentlessly hot and humid climate; where to shop for fresh,
nutritious, preferably organic yet affordable produce in a
country that grows only a minute fraction of what it consumes.
(Not to mention finding shoes or shorts or swimsuits that fit,
and managing your suddenly demon-possessed hair.)
While change is exciting, it’s also stressful – and stress
is known for taking a toll on mental health. Seeking
psychotherapy or counselling may or may not have been a
likely option in your home country. However, says
Shrimathi
Swaminathan
, a clinical psychologist with over 20 years of
experience in various clinical settings, living away from home
means that we have to manage the stress of an unfamiliar
cultural, socio-political and work environment without the
usual resources of family and friends.
Says Shri: “It takes conscious hard work to make new social
connections, to continue favourite hobbies and leisure activities
or develop new interests and thrive in a new environment.”
Anxiety and depression are common in the expat
community, and it’s obvious that long working hours and a lot
of business travel can place an enormous strain on marriages
and relationships. What we don’t always realise is that even
common life challenges experienced in the context of living
in a foreign country can leave one feeling lost and confused.
For example, a couple might have their first baby here
and struggle through the first year of parenting without the
extended family. A breadwinner might enter middle age and
question why he or she has been in the same job for 20 years,
or an empty-nester might miss grown-up children who have left
home to study or work abroad. Teenagers might be missing
their best friends deeply, and struggle to make new friends.
Working with a psychologist can be an effective way to
resolve stresses and overcome challenges, believes Shri.
However, it can equally be a dynamic and positive path to
personal growth and development. For instance, simply talking
about your life experiences allows you to process the meaning
they hold for you and create a vision for a wonderful future.
“Psychotherapy is not always about problems and treatments,”
she adds. “It’s also about propelling you out of your comfort
zone by enhancing your unique strengths and talents!”
Mens sana in corpore sano
, as the famous Latin
phrase goes – a healthy mind in a healthy body.
VERNE MAREE asked several Singapore-based
psychologists about some of the issues that
particularly affect expats.