Re-Entry Stress

Re-entry stress can also be called "reverse culture shock". It is closely related to the intensity of the experience away, indicated by the following:
*How much they enjoyed living overseas;
 *Whether they feel ready to leave or return;
 *How much they integrated into society whilst overseas;
 *Whether they experienced /witnessed any traumas whilst overseas.

Re-entry stress (RES) is described like this: "After an initial couple of days of euphoria, many returned aid workers experience feelings grouped around a number of major themes. These are mainly feelings of loss, bereavement and isolation. You can feel that no one really understands what you have been through and, what's more, most people aren't that interested. You may feel frustrated that you just can't seem to communicate the magnitude of the experience you have undergone - or the sense of loss that you now have." ---- Aid Workers Network

In different people this can lead to:

*Withdrawal and unwillingness to talk or socialise;

*An increased potential in substance abuse;

*Severe mood swings or bouts of depression;

*Over, or under, eating;

*Disinterest in work or home life and/or low motivation;
 *Lower standards of personal hygiene;

*Overt cynicism or negativity; and

*Increase in risk-taking. 


 Many of these symptoms are also the same as general depression and of grief, and it is important to recognise people experiencing re-entry stress are actually grieving for the lost of their previous experience. They may even be grieving for people and friends left behind. This grief is often compounded by having gone from a strong social network of a team, back to a place where perhaps no friends or family know the people or places for which the individual grieves.

Ways to help a person re-adjust:
 Don't be too pushy, a person experiencing re-entry stress may like to be on their own quite a bit to reflect on their experiences, it is important to give them space to do that.
At the same time;
*Encourage people to talk about their experiences and to describe what life was like when away
*Find ways to ‘replay’ their experience such as scrap-booking and photo collages: giving memories a 
firm place in their home life can help ease the sense of loss;
*Suggest cooking local dishes from the country they visited;
*Suggest going out simply to walk around towns or shops:
*Be prepared to suffer the occasional mood swings with good humour, people may be a bit snappy or irritable – try not to take it personally;

 If symptoms persist or start to become destructive, encourage the person to talk to a professional. Contact the school to arrange a time to meet with Miss Smoker (msmoker@rehoboth.wa.edu.au) or another staff member if needed.