S2E6: "No, I'm not going home for the holidays": a journey to self-acceptance

08/22/23 • 14 min

We are here, too - on mental health abroad

Ever sat alone in a foreign place during the holiday season, wrestling with the decision of whether to go home or not? You're not alone. Join me as I bare my soul and share my own rollercoaster of emotions - the initial fear, the white lie to protect my joy, the dread, and the eventual acceptance - that came with my decision to stay abroad during the holidays.
In this personal journey, I unpack the feelings and tough conversations that followed my choice - conversations that tested the bonds of family traditions and expectations. But it's not all gloom. You'll hear how I've evolved from those moments, learning to communicate my truth with compassion, understanding my needs, and ultimately finding a sense of calm and ownership over my life. So plug in, let's traverse these emotional landscapes together, and perhaps, you may find your own path to peace, autonomy, and reconciliation, too.

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We are here, too is a podcast about mental health and life abroad, hosted by Francesca Lo Verso, an Italian counsellor living in Scotland.
We are here, too exists thanks to the support of friends, family and those of you whose testimony of life abroad inspired me. Thank you!
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Host and editor: Francesca Lo Verso
www.francescacounselling.com
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Email: [email protected]
Cover illustration: Candela Sánchez
www.candelasanchezart.comIG: @delasre_draws
Music: Su San
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Previous Episode

S2E5: Understanding homesickness

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What if your feelings of homesickness could reveal deeper insights about your personal values and life stages? As I, your host Francesca, grappled with an overwhelming sense of homesickness on my recent trip to Sicily, I discovered just how multifaceted this emotion truly is. This episode takes you on my personal journey as I try to comprehend my longing for home, and how it reflects the shifts in my values and outlook on life.
Tune in as I dissect the complicated facets of homesickness, stemming from my own experiences and intense feelings of missing home. This heartfelt episode promises an emotional rollercoaster, as we explore how homesickness is not just about missing a place, but also about recognizing the shifts in our personal values and life stages. Listen in, as we redefine homesickness, understand its cyclical nature, and discover ways to cope.

Next Episode

S2E7: Seven signs you are experiencing reverse culture shock

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Going on holidays to your home country or returning home after living abroad can feel like stepping into a parallel universe. As your host, Francesca, I reveal how I navigated my own journey through this disorienting maze in an episode dedicated to the fascinating subject of reverse culture shock. With the backdrop of an Italian native living in Scotland, I take you through my personal experiences of readjusting to life in a familiar place that somehow feels unfamiliar. Together, we'll explore the emotional turbulence, social challenges, and cultural puzzles that come with this complex experience.
But rest assured, there's light at the end of this maze, and I share actionable tips on how to work through reverse culture shock in the least traumatic way possible. No, it's not about racing through, but rather taking it slow, and integrating habits and customs from your host culture into your newfound reality. We'll delve into how to manage the struggles and conundrums of reverse culture shock, underscoring the importance of understanding that each individual's experience and circumstances are unique. Have you lived abroad and now find yourself back home, feeling like a stranger? This episode is your guide to making the transition as smooth as possible.

We are here, too - on mental health abroad - S2E6: "No, I'm not going home for the holidays": a journey to self-acceptance

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:02.823

I remember the anxiety and palpitations I had the time that I had to tell my family no , I'm not coming home for these holidays .

Speaker 100:00:25.620

Welcome to another episode of we Are here Too , a podcast about mental health and life abroad . Before starting , just thank you , thank you . Thank you . Thank you for listening to this podcast and connecti