How do you fight the blues while working abroad?

@zorlone (411)
Philippines
February 22, 2009 9:34am CST
I know several people who work abroad and a lot of them get depressed once in a while. Missing their new born babies, a fiance, family, friends, or a lot of other stuff from their homes. Sometimes, being with the company of other nationalities and living in their laws and cultures cause loneliness. I asked them, what do they do to fight the blues? Are you also working abroad or you know people who do? How do they cope up with depression? What do they do to fight it?
2 responses
jhoannejoj
@jhoannejoj (963)
• Philippines
22 Feb 09
Hi zorlone.. You bet I am. Its really true that depression is part of the struggles of people working overseas. Personally I experience couple of times wherein I cried and really want to go back home, yet so many reasons push me to continue soaring as high as I can. What I do is I keep myself busy all the time. After work, I log in to some sites wherein i keep myself busy like socializing networks, mylot and some blog sites. Blogging also helps me to overcome my sadness that sips into me once in a while. Once a month I try to call my parents so as to keep updated though after talking to them I really feel so homesick. Maybe good thing too that my sisters and my boyfriend are also here that keeps me feel so at home after all.
zorlone
@zorlone (411)
• Philippines
25 Feb 09
Sorry to reply just now. I have been busy with some stuff. thank you for sharing. I have been talking to a lot of my overseas friends and asked them what they do to overcome loneliness. you would be surprised that a lot of them (Filipinos) are resilient from depression. There are a of things to do and a lot of activities to join in to distract yourself from sulking in a corner of your room. Blogging! That's good! I didn't see your link on your myLot page, I would like to visit it some time. Even parents at home (age 50 and above) are starting to learn the advancement of technology. Chat! Free voice calls to their loved ones abroad and they could send emails pictures and anything else. This generation is just awesome! If this was the setting a few decades ago, then we would only be able to read thoughts of other people from the newspapers and magazines. Of course, it takes a long time for that to happen. Letters would have to travel overseas and you would have waited for a reply for weeks! Hope to hear from you again! Zorlone
jhoannejoj
@jhoannejoj (963)
• Philippines
25 Feb 09
My blog is private though i post some blogs to socializing network like friendster and multiply.. Its true, my parents now are starting to learn how to use the computer and how internet works. That will be an advantage to us as to minimize the cost of phone calls. Happy mylotting!
neo_matrix
@neo_matrix (884)
• India
20 Dec 09
well many of my friends and colleagues have gone abroad to US,UK,australia,ireland etc.and i never heard anything remotely hinting towards depression.it may be because for most of the Indians concepts of quality of life doesn't exist. the amount of money they earn there is many a times more than they get in India.they have the mental preparedness and have the survival instincts.now a days you get Indian communities in abroad.so in total they are enjoying the new found freedom of money. it cannot be generalised for each Indian but it does apply to my circle.for they actually say that they are leading content life and occasionally miss home.