Community support can help migrants with Ulysses syndrome overcome the forced isolation that contributes to the condition. — Filepic
At night, Alex Mercado could feel the walls closing in.
The 28-year-old living in Dallas, Texas in the United States, far from his family in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, struggled with insomnia.
The move to the big city of Dallas for a better job left him feeling isolated and restless, far away from loved ones.
Mercado, like many immigrants, experienced what’s known as Ulysses syndrome.
“I always wanted this, but maybe it wasn’t what I was expecting,” he said.
“But I was already here, and I had to work hard because I wanted to be with my girlfriend, now my wife.
“I had to adapt.”
A new environment
Ulysses syndrome is a condition marked by chronic stress and anxiety due to the challenges of adapting to a new environment, according to Spain’s University of Barcelona psychiatrist and professor Dr Joseba Achotegui, who first described and named the syndrome.
Named after the hero in Homer’s Odyssey, this syndrome highlights the journeys that migrants endure, much like Ulysses’ long trip back home after the Trojan War, according to Prof Achotegui.
Mercado, a US citizen raised on the El Paso border, moved to North Texas for a better life for himself and his wife.
He struggled with the change in culture, weather and food.
Ulysses syndrome is a stress response to the grief and challenges that accompany migration, according to Prof Achotegui.
The condition is understudied and undercounted often because it can look like other conditions and typically affects a highly migratory population, he said.
The US receives 2.6 million authorised immigrants each year from various countries, according to the country’s Department of Homeland Security.
“It’s important to clarify that this is not a disease, but rather, a natural reaction or adaptation to the profound loneliness many migrants experience,” Prof Achotegui said.
He explained that while anyone might feel sadness or worry during such transitions, Ulysses syndrome represents a more intense stress picture.
Key stressors
Prof Achotegui said the stressors that might lead someone to experience the syndrome are loneliness, fear of new people and things, and a loss of attachment, affection and security.
Attachment and affection are fundamental human needs for connection, which can affect emotional well-being, he said.
“I was away from my girlfriend, now my wife, my parents, and everything I knew,” Mercado said.
Prof Achotegui said that being in an unfamiliar environment can increase fears and concerns about personal safety, which can affect mental stability.
Mercado said that being in El Paso, which is just across the US-Mexican border from Ciudad Juarez, allowed him to visit familiar places in the latter if he couldn’t find something in the US.
But in Dallas, he had to navigate things on his own.
The symptoms of the syndrome – sadness, worry or nervousness, irritability, difficulty sleeping and headaches – can often be confused with depression, Prof Achotegui said.
People end up taking medication they don’t need if they are misdiagnosed.
“Educating healthcare professionals about Ulysses syndrome is vital to prevent stigmatisation and ensure appropriate support,” he said.
“If not, it can be confused with depression, and [medication] will affect the patient instead of helping them.”
He said that it’s essential to differentiate the symptoms from depression, which involves symptoms like apathy and thoughts of death, as those with Ulysses syndrome are proactive and actively look for opportunities and solutions.
Look for support
Mercado found that attending therapy, focusing on his work, and receiving visits from his family and wife, were key to overcoming his struggles.
“Migrants are resilient and strong, but navigate an odyssey of challenges with unfamiliar healthcare system, language and culture,” Prof Achotegui said.
Individuals without access to a healthcare professional can be helped and have their symptoms reduced, according to him.
“To reduce the forced isolation, individuals can look for community support in activity groups where they can have more social interaction,” he shared.
“Also, knowing what are the legal and social support systems they have as migrants can help to mitigate the mental stress that is one of the common biggest fears.” – By Maria Salette Ontiveros/The Dallas Morning News/Tribune News Service
