Odysseus Syndrome: A Modern Problem

Odysseus syndrome, also known as “immigrant syndrome, with chronic and multiple stress”, is observable in people who have left their home country and moved to a new place.

It is about more than the suffering that is typical of people who are in a strange place.

Odysseus syndrome is very similar to other disorders. Therefore, one can easily confuse it with other mental disorders. Sometimes the symptoms are so severe that they are diagnosed as psychosis.

But in reality, they are just a form of extreme stress reaction.

It was in 2002 that the psychiatrist Joseba Achotegui at the University of Barcelona coined the term “odysseus syndrome”. He had studied the subject thoroughly in Spain, which is one of the countries to which many choose to emigrate.

According to his estimates, around 800,000 individuals in Spain suffer from this syndrome.

Migration and odysseus syndrome

Migration is a complex issue and some countries do not have the necessary resources to complete the immigration process for all immigrants. In addition, there are many different forms of migration.

Not all migrants suffer from odysseus syndrome. The individual’s life history and personality play a major role, in addition to the migration conditions and the environment the person migrates to.

The individual’s personality is important, because it affects how independent and adaptable he is. Starting a life in a new country requires a lot of psychological strength and resilience.

It is not easy to start over in a completely unknown place and such a change can often give rise to disturbances and bring underlying problems to the surface.

Migration conditions also play a crucial role. Having to flee a war is not the same as simply hoping for a better life or trying to make the most of an opportunity.

Furthermore, some people are forced to leave their families behind while others immigrate with their loved ones.

Environment and symptoms

One of the most important factors is the person’s new environment, which either simplifies or complicates the adaptation process. Then the recipient country can also be more or less ready for immigrants from a socio-economic point of view.

In other words, immigrants may have better or worse opportunities to find a job and receive outside support.

Odysseus syndrome occurs when a person feels that she has reached her extreme limit without having found a way to process or express it.

It often happens when the person in question imagines that she will fail in the new country or end up in a more difficult financial situation. In this way, the stress builds up until the victim feels completely paralyzed.

This is when the symptoms of the syndrome become noticeable and these include:

• An outside feeling. The person feels alienated from their surroundings and experiences everyone else as strangers. This creates fear and a deep sense of vulnerability.
• Constant depression. The victim begins to long for home and constantly feels upset.

• Health problems. It is common for the person concerned to have physical problems, such as migraines, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, etc.
• Stress and anxiety. This is the most obvious symptom. The affected person is in a state of constant anxiety, as if she expected something terrible to happen. She may also have trouble sleeping and may feel extremely insecure among other people.
• Isolation and self-esteem. The person begins to shield themselves from the new environment because it is perceived as threatening. This also affects the self-image and self-esteem.

In some cases, the odyssey syndrome can also lead to more serious problems. Some people develop addictions or engage in illegal activities in their frustration at not meeting their expectations. For them, the problems are often so severe that they need to see a psychologist.