Moving Always Stressful

Whether the situation surrounding a move is positive or negative, moving is always stressful.

“Moving disrupts daily life, and there is comfort in routines,” said Irene Goldenberg, a family psychologist at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute in Westwood. “The farther away you move from a culture you’re used to, the more difficult moving is.”

Moving is more than changing residences, agrees Newport Beach therapist Joanie Heinemann. “Moving is considered a major life stressor, because it represents a loss of a particular way of life,” she said, noting that a person’s state of mind also determines how a move will affect him or her.

“If you’re satisfied with your life and your outlook is good, it’s going to be easier to move than if you are going through a rough time emotionally,” Heinemann said.

In some instances, adults and children may suffer from adjustment disorder, which occurs within three months of a move, says Heinemann. Symptoms of this disorder include bed wetting (in children), depression, mood swings, nightmares, personality changes and sleeping difficulty.

If any of these symptoms appear and persist after a move, consult with an expert.