The experience of going to study through an Erasmus program is often seen as a privilege. One of those experiences that shape the happiest years of the European university student. It makes sense that this happens: it is a very good way to see the world and, in the process, establish contact with interesting people from other cultures.
However, the reality is that There are many people who suffer from stress problems when going on Erasmus ; Let’s see what its most common variants are and how to deal with them.
Every year, more than 50,000 Spanish students embark on the adventure of carrying out an Erasmus. The Erasmus program facilitates the academic mobility of students within the European Union, allowing them to study between three and twelve months in another country and another university, with the option of requesting a financial scholarship for the cost that living abroad may entail.
However, what for some people may be a very fun experience may be too stimulating or even overwhelming for others. If this is your case, don’t worry! Here you will find general advice on what to do about stress problems during an Erasmus.
Pre-Erasmus stress
Some people talk about Erasmus anticipatory stress, referring to the emotions experienced a few weeks or months before the start of this experience. Right now, Feelings of nervousness or fear appear, doubting whether the decision made was correct or whether they may regret it in the future once the school year begins.
Furthermore, in the weeks before an Erasmus, you have to organize yourself to be able to say goodbye to your friends and family, along with preparing your luggage and making sure that you have all your documentation in order for your arrival and start of the course.
These are several keys to managing your roller coaster of emotions when preparing for your new adventure:
1. Control paperwork
The amount of paperwork related to university, renting a room or plane tickets can overwhelm you. Therefore, it is recommended that you have them all under control, organize them and make sure they are okay. Once this is done, you can forget about this part of the process until you head to the airport to catch your plane. Little things like these are what overwhelm us unconsciously, so It is a good idea to get rid of them as soon as possible to move forward without panic.
2. Ask other people about their experience
If your fear of facing an experience like this does not completely go away, turn to friends or acquaintances who have done an Erasmus before. Asking about their experience and commenting on your fears can be very good for you to learn about experiences that may be a little similar to yours right now.
3. Until you do it, you won’t know
It is normal to think that something can go wrong, since an Erasmus encompasses many different aspects of your life. But just as it can go wrong, it can also go right. Until you expose yourself to real situations, you won’t find out and avoidance is not a good coping technique for things that scare you.
Once you arrive at your new destination, everything will be very stimulating. Here you will find different situations that can cause you stress, so that you can take them into consideration and prepare ways to deal with them if you experience them.
1. Adaptation
It is normal that your first days in this destination and your adaptation to your new environments can overwhelm you. Stress will always accompany you in situations that are uncertain, and can make you feel uneasy and insecure.
To solve it, it is best to prepare yourself for your new situation and give yourself the time you need to adapt to it. Using relaxation mechanisms or techniques can help you during moments that may overwhelm you to help you think more objectively and connect with your emotions honestly.
2. Loneliness
Many times, Erasmus is presented as an experience based on sociability, and it is normal for you to be afraid to think about the possibility of not making friends, not fitting in, or, on the other hand, missing your loved ones and feel alone. Don’t worry, Erasmus organizes many activities that are very easy to access so you can get to know other people and the environment that surrounds us. In addition, social networks and online platforms offer us alternatives to meet people with whom you can share tastes or hobbies.
3. Finance
It may be that going on Erasmus is your first experience managing your personal finances. Managing expenses, such as opening a foreign bank account or understanding foreign currency fees, can be a stressful challenge. It is better that you take it early and, most importantly, that you seek advice. You are not going to be the first person to do an Erasmus in the destination you are in, you will be surrounded by people in the same situation as you, and a shared problem will always be less. Seek help from your host university and the Erasmus host groups will always be of great help.
Enjoy getting to know yourself in this new context
The most important thing is that you let yourself go and enjoy the experience. An Erasmus is a very stimulating new experience, and it is normal for you to have difficult moments or to miss your loved ones. But the positive thing about novel experiences is that they are the ones that make us learn the most, and surely, whatever the case, you will learn new things from an experience like this.
