How to move house, mindfully Moving house can be a massive life-change, and may bring up a whole raft of emotions – not to mention the stress involved. But if you’re facing an upheaval, and feeling daunted or overwhelmed, know that you don’t have to face it alone. Here, a psychodynamic psychotherapist shares her advice to help your move through the physical and emotional changes Writing | Vicky Reynal
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nyone who has been through a house move knows how stressful it can be. For the most part, a move can be an exciting
Illustrating | Rosan Magar
new beginning, but sometimes experiences that we haven’t dealt with can hold us back, and prevent us from really enjoying it. Having been through a dozen moves myself, and working as a psychotherapist with many expat clients, I’m curious about what makes them so difficult?
There are those who had to cope with a lot of uncertainty growing up, so the unknowns that come with moving evoke early insecurities, and create a sense of unease. What will my new boss think of me? Why can’t I get along with this new co-worker? There can be insecurities about performance, belonging, trust… Or others who felt they never belonged in their family/school/social groups, and moving to a new place triggers fears of not fitting in. And with moves come goodbyes, which can be particularly hard to deal with. Moves can also put a stress on present relationships. People have different approaches and coping strategies when it comes to dealing with change, and as these emerge people can find that they clash.
