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Can too much change in a short span of time lead to depression?

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Posted 12/28/2011 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
My parents were constantly changing my environment while growing up. I never had a sense of stability. My psychiatrist told me that my condition came about from changing too many cultures too rapidly.

I struggle with a sense of rootlessness and not having a sense of belonging.

The issue is associated with problems in acculturation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acculturation


My symptoms that I suffer from are dissociation, amongst other issues:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociation

I am here to heal, support others in a similar boat. I am here to understand and be understood. I am here for support and nurturance. But I have a feeling most people won't acknowledge my condition.
Posted 12/28/2011 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
I can't say that I know what you have experienced since I have been living in the same town since birth. However, it does make sense to me that you would feel this way. Constantly being in new situations can be very stressful, and not being able to maintain long-term friendships beyond the relationships with your parents can be difficult to deal with when constantly moving around.

Do you currently have friends or other relationships that can help you adjust to the area in which you are living now? It's good that you are seeing a psychiatrist to help you work through some of these feelings. Do you still live at home with parents or are you on your own now? I don't think anyone here will tell you that you don't have a condition. We are all here to listen to and support you on your quest for information and healing.
Posted 12/28/2011 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
I am sorry that you have to move so much. Are you going to be where you are very long? How old are you now? It is very unsettling to be moving all the time. You get displaced as I would call it. Know that we are here to support you. Take advantage of it if you can. Know that you have had lots of experience with this. Use it to your advantage. Are you good at making friends? Even if you can't have them for very long because of moving? You can always write and email. My girlfriend went through that. Had to learn to make friends quick. Many schools were at different levels so it was hard to learn. Some schools were far more advanced. But she did okay. She is a smart cookie. So there can be good sides to everything. Look for the good side if you can.

We are all here for you. We understand how hard life can be at times. Keep your chin up.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 12/28/2011 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for your support. I really appreciate it.

I am what they call a Third Culture Kid (TCK) or a Global Nomad. A lot of my experiences and the pain I have gone through are similar to what other TCKs and Global Nomad's have gone through:
http://www.worldweave.com/procon.htm#anchor5249130

The world is changing at a very fast pace. Traditionally, the Magellan's, Marco Polo's and Christopher Columbus's did all the travelling and sailing all over the world while the rest of us stayed in the towns and villages we are born in. The world is increasingly mobile. Familiies are getting displaced all over. We consider change to be a normal, natural and desirable part of our lives.

But too much change brings about it's own problems. And I feel that few people understand or appreciate this.

For someone like me who left my country when I was 12 with my parents and have been living by myself since the age of 14 without parents or relatives around me, this change has been a very difficult experience. As the years have gone by I have found it increasingly difficult to feel a sense of home, comfort or belonging anywhere.

Anyway, the experiences of the girl in the link that I posted above talks about having very similar issues and problems that I struggle with.

Post Edited (CulturalVacuum) : 12/28/2011 9:24:02 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/28/2011 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi CulturalVacuum,

Try not to let this all get you down. In the future you will have your own place to call home and you will be happy. These experiences are hard right now, but it is going to make you who you are in the future.

So even though it seems like a bad experience at the time being doesn't mean you wont grow from it and develope into a wonderful person that you are. I hope that you will be feeling better soon and that things will work out for you. We are here to help you through in the meantime. I will look at your link and post more for you.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 12/29/2011 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your positive and kind words and best wishes, Karen. It's people like you that make the world a more beautiful place.
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