Notes on living abroad
Small reflections from my own years abroad and my work as a psychologist, for wherever you are right now: planning a move, settling in or heading back home. Take whatever feels useful, and leave the rest.
Moving back home after living abroad: what I'd try instead of forcing myself to fit in
Coming back can be harder than people expect. Here’s what I’d try if I’d just moved back, instead of forcing myself to fit in.
Losing your confidence after moving abroad (I have a slightly different take)
If you’ve felt less like yourself since moving abroad, I have a slightly different take on where that confidence might have gone, and how it could come back.
Common advice for living abroad, rated by a psychologist who has lived it
I got a lot of advice when I first moved abroad. Here’s my honest, slightly unscientific rating of the advice we hear most, from both sides of the chair.
What years of living abroad taught me about identity and belonging
What I’ve learned, slowly and over the years, about identity, belonging and the person you quietly become when you live between places.
How to know if therapy could help while living abroad
If you’ve been wondering whether therapy might help while you’re living abroad, these are the small signs I’d pay attention to, and what a first step could look like.
Why your brain overthinks in a new country (and what might actually be happening)
If your thoughts have felt busier since you moved, I’d love to share what your brain might be doing, and why it makes more sense than it feels.
Things no one told me about living abroad
Living abroad changed more than my address. These are some of the quieter shifts I didn’t see coming, and that you might be noticing too.