The Psychology of Moving into A New Home

Barcelona real estate Blog

Lunedì 18 Aprile 2011 10:48

As adults, we think about moving in a very practical way; How we are going to get everything organized in a timely manner, how much everything is going to cost in dollars, and which moving company we are going to go with. It is not the same with children however. Children look at it in terms of everything they will be leaving behind, if they will be able to make new friends, and if they will end up in a safe and familiar environment.

Although on the exterior us adults tend to think about the practical stuff, on the inside we are more like the children - even though sometimes we fail to notice it. That is because the underlying psychological issues dealing with moving are filled with symbolism, the hope for a fresh start or a new beginning, crushing disappointments, loss anxiety and fear.

People that move very frequently and people that virtually never move can experience the move very differently. In fact people that move very often and have a hard time staying in one spot usually moved around a lot as a child. Some therapists even use the term "pulling a geographic" (an Alcoholics Anonymous Term) because they may be trying to fix internal problems externally.

People that rarely ever make the move may be stricken with complete panic and fear. This is with good reason as packing and sorting through a life's worth belongings can be pretty emotional. This is especially true if one is moving because of divorce or loss of employment - two things that moving is considered to be right up there with in terms of stress level.

What Can You Do to Relieve Stress?

First off, if you are planning on moving, then you should plan on starting to get organized for the move at least 8 weeks in advance. You should start packing everything in boxes with clear and detailed labels, leaving your essentials as the last thing that you have left to pack.

Asking for help is another way to relieve stress. Most everyone has moved in their life, and knows what you are going through. Friends and family can help take the extra load off, and even a moving company can help take a lot of the pressure off of you.

Moving With Children

Children at different ages will be effected differently by a move. Children under 5 are the easiest to move with as the only thing they are dependent on is their parents. This chart shows how children at different ages might act:

Young children

• Use baby talk
• Constant clinging
• Wet the bed
• Start sucking their thumb

Older children

• Refuse to eat
• Twirl their hair constantly
• Become suddenly shy
• Show aggressive behavior
• Suffer from insomnia

School age children

• Struggle at school
• Have trouble concentrating
• Have stomach aches or headaches
• Change their sleeping patterns

School and friends are a big part of a child's life, especially for teenagers. That it is why it is important to talk to children as much as possible during the move and ensure them that everything will be OK. Neglecting your emotional needs is also something you should avoid. Things like eating junk food to save time and working constantly will only make the move more stressful, as you will be mistreating yourself in a time when you will need your health and time to relax the most. Moving can be stressful, but asking for help and early planning can help ward off some of the problems that it causes.