Moving from a place to another can cause a lot of difference in a person’s life. Some people deal with moving like it is nothing, while for others it can be tough. Follow this article and know more about the psychological effects of moving frequently and how moving frequently affects a child’s development.
We all have experienced moving from one place to another at least once. Although it is a different experience for everyone, the most usual feeling is sadness. We do not wish to be parted from a place where we have spent so much of our time. It is natural to feel attached to your house where you grew up and where you have so many memories. It can be strenuous for a person to leave everything behind, especially children, who get attached easily.
It is not easy for them to pack everything and leave with you. Moving frequently can affect their physical and mental development. A child will be affected the most when you are moving frequently, regardless of what your reason is. They have to leave their school, friends, their house, and everything that holds importance to them behind. This will affect them in the worst way, not all the children but most of them.
Follow this article and know more about the psychological effects of moving frequently and how moving frequently affects a child’s development.
Table of Contents
What are the psychological effects of moving frequently?
Moving frequently from one place to another can be tough for you and your family, especially when you are moving to a location where you do not know anyone. It is like starting from level one, you have no aim of how you are going to settle there, you only know that it is essential for you to move. Moving frequently can have visible psychological effects on a person. Following are the psychological effects of moving frequently.
- Lack of focus
- Anxiety
- Stress and worrying
- Not being able to make good decisions
- Adjustment insomnia
- Lack of organization
- Routine disruption
- No close connection
- Depression
Lack of focus:
Moving frequently can affect a person’s ability to focus. A person would find it tough to pay attention to certain things like work, organizing their house, taking care of their kids. Everything will be happening so quickly that you would find it tough to pay attention to one thing. Everything would go haywire and it would get tough for you to deal with all of the things happening at once.
Anxiety:
When you are moving frequently from one place to another then, there is a possibility for you to feel anxious about each and everything. You would find it tough to pay attention. You will constantly worry about everything, a fear will develop in the back of your mind that something will not go down well and you will face problems in your new home.
Stress and worrying:
The constant anxiety will cause you to stress and worry about every single thing, especially when there are children with you as well. You will stress about their mental health and their adjustment before you get a chance to worry about yourself.
The stress will not let you settle in your new home peacefully and you will feel out of place. You would want nothing but to leave your new home and go back to your old life. The change will keep you on the edge and you will be unfit to focus on anything.
Not being able to make good decisions:
When a person is constantly worrying and stressing about their new place then, they would not be fit to make any good decisions about their life. This is also known as decision fatigue, when a person becomes too tired and stressed from their environment that they are not fit to make decisions for themselves. They do not arrive at any conclusion and their mind is filled with what ifs.
Adjustment insomnia:
Moving frequently from one place to another can also cause a person to have an adjustment insomnia. You will not feel sleepy for a couple of days because of a new environment. You need time to adjust and this will also affect your kids. Sleeping in a new environment can be strenuous, especially when you are battling with stress and anxiety. You have many thoughts in your mind and emotionally you are still stuck in your old life, this will make it tough for you to adjust in your new home.
Lack of organization:
You have no charge over your emotions, your kid’s emotions., and your house. You do not know how to control everything and your house is still not organized. You are battling with so many things at once and nothing is going in your favor. It is legitimate to feel anxious in a situation like this. You have no aim of how everything is going to fall into place and that has been causing you stress and anxiety.
Routine disruption:
Another major effect of moving frequently is disruption in your routine. Your entire schedule gets messy, whether it is internal or external. Change in your environment can also cause your body’s schedule to be disrupted. You will feel changes in your sleeping patterns, your digestive system, even your eating schedule will be disrupted. It will take some moments for you to adjust to your new surroundings and come to terms with your new lifestyle.
No close connection:
You will feel isolated because you will not have any close friends or family with you. You will feel lonely sometimes and you will have no aim of how you are going to deal with this. You will feel isolated and this will lead to depression. You will find no pl;easure in doing things that you used to like and this can be extremely emotional for you.
Depression:
Following stress, anxiety, insomnia, and decision fatigue, you will start getting depressed. You will have so many chores on your mind and all of this will become too much for you to take in. you will feel alone and this will lead to depression. You would have no person to talk to as you will have no close connection with you at your new place. You don’t know anyone and organizing everything has taken up so much of your time.
How does moving frequently affect a child’s development?
Moving frequently from one place to another can have a weighty effect on a child’s development. Although it affects both adults and children. Children are affected more because they are fragile and they are still developing both physically and mentally. Following are some ways through which moving frequently will affect a child’s development.
- Social detachment
- Behavioral issues
- Bad school performance
- Physical issues
- Sleeping issues
Social detachment:
When you are moving frequently, it will directly affect your kids. They will start to detach themselves, nothing will interest them. Losing their old friends and their school can be tough for them. Adjusting in a new place will not be easy for them and they will start to socially distance themselves from others.
Behavioral issues:
Moving frequently will also affect your child’s behavior. They will appear more rebellious and aggressive. They will not listen to anything that you have to say. They are suffering both emotionally and mentally. Even their behavior at school will start to cause problems for them and for you.
Bad school performance:
When you move frequently from one place to another, your children are the ones who are actually suffering a lot. As an adult you might gain your focus back but a child will not be fit to focus on anything, especially when they are being moved from one place to another frequently. This will start affecting their school performance. They will not fit in with the crowd and they will not pay attention to anything that has been happening around them.
Physical issues:
Another major issue that a child will face is being physically unfit. We know that moving frequently will affect a child mentally, but it will also affect a child physically. They will start getting sick and their body’s schedule will be disrupted causing them to have problems while sleeping, eating, and digestion.
Sleeping issues:
Just like an adult, a child can also suffer from adjustment insomnia. It is not simple for them to sleep in a new environment. Their brain’s sleeping schedule will be disrupted and it will take some moments for them to adjust to their surroundings. It will be best to not force them into accepting this major change and let them handle their emotions.
How can you cope with everything after moving to a new place?
Inspite of the fact that it will take some time, you will be fine. Here are some of the notions you can try to deal with your troubles after moving to a new place.
- Do your research
- Have a positive attitude
- Prepare a checklist
- Declutter
- Get your children involved in moving
Do your research:
It is paramount for you to gain information about the city you are moving into. Do research about your new home and your neighborhood. Find a way out from all of your questions. Check the security measures before you move forward, this will relieve you from some stress.
Have a positive attitude:
Do not think bad about moving and do not stress yourself. Keep your attitude positive and believe in yourself. Always remember that being in a new place can bring so many new opportunities for you. Do not let anything at all bring you down and do not stress your brain too much. Your attitude will contribute a lot when you are at your new home.
Prepare a checklist:
The most supreme thing that you have to do is to create a checklist. Write down each and everything that you need for you and for your kids at your new home. Write down the chores that you need to do when you shift into your new place. This will stop you from panicking and save you a lot of time. When you know what you entail to do then, your brain will not panic and very calmly you will get everything done.
Declutter:
It is legitimate that you would want to take everything from your old place with you. You have so many memories and you do not want to leave anything behind. But it is paramount for you to declutter things before you pack. Only take things that are excessively important for you and leave the things which you know you will not use over there.
Get your children involved in moving:
When you are shifting to a new place with your children, it is natural that you would worry about them as well. The best way to deflect their attention is to make them involved. Ask them to set their room or ask them to pick out furniture for their room by their choice. This will make them perceive like they are a part of this process. This will also take things off their brain and they will be able to adapt in their new home.
How can you help your children adjust in a new place?
It can be strenuous for a child to adjust in a new place as compared to an adult. They will be disturbed mentally, physically, and emotionally. To help them, the following are some things that you can try.
- Prepare them beforehand
- Lead with example
- Do not force them
- Make them feel comfortable
- Be open with them
Prepare them beforehand:
Do not tell them that you are moving at the last moment. Prepare them, so when the time comes they are mentally prepared to face the situation. If you drop the bomb on their heads at the very last moment, they will become aggressive and rebellious. They will be mentally and emotionally disturbed and this will not let their brain digest the situation.
Lead with example:
Do not isolate yourself, if you do that, you are indirectly giving your children a chance to detach themselves socially as well. Take them out and explore the new city. Do things together, this will make them look forward to going out and enjoying their time. This will also make them adjust in their new home quickly. Make friends in your neighborhood, this way your child will also think about going out and playing with the neighbor kids.
Do not force them:
Forcing them and being on their head will only make them more rebellious and aggressive. Give them some time and space. Let them handle their emotions on their own and do not intervene. If you do that, you will compel them to be frustrated. It is paramount that you let them fight this battle on their own and let them adapt to this new environment in their own time.
Make them feel comfortable:
When you are always pushing them and forcing them to accept their new environment then, it is natural that they will not feel comfortable. They would try to run away from the situation. You have to realize that they are still a kid and they are trying to make the best out of this situation. Give them some time and make them feel comfortable. Let them know that they are paramount and all of your time is for them.
Be open with them:
You must always remember that conversation is the key. Talk to them and let them know about your feelings as well. This will help them to open up with you. Talk to them about your worry and anxiety. Let them perceive how you are feeling with this change and in a new environment and ensure them that they are not alone.
Conclusion:
Moving to a new home can be incredibly challenging, especially when children are involved. The process can lead to feelings of anxiety and stress, particularly when things seem to spiral out of control. Frequent moves can also have psychological effects, such as increased anxiety, depression, insomnia, and fatigue. With so much to manage, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and mentally exhausted.
Additionally, your daily routine will be disrupted, which can add to your frustration. To alleviate some of these issues, creating a checklist can be extremely helpful. Outline all the tasks you need to tackle once you settle into your new home and follow your list to stay organized. Involve your kids in the moving process to keep them engaged and help them adapt more smoothly to their new environment.
