In general, when you're planning to study abroad you get all sorts of reminders about issues like culture shock, reverse culture shock, and homesickness as common causes of depression and anxiety during and after your journey. These alerts are all valid and if you continue to feel anxious or have difficulty dealing abroad you will certainly take them into account. Yet those of us with pre-existing mental health problems need to be cautious in making the best of our overseas research experiences to not turn them into extended periods of misery.

Once it comes to living overseas, there can be infinite list of issues that could intensify your anxiety. The challenge of uncertainty, restricted access to friends and relatives, poor coping abilities, a new and daunting world, a daily routine, everything will be different from the life you built up at your home university, And you would also need a lot of planning and foresight to get to a point where you actually feel relaxed enough to enjoy much of the journey.

The majority of host institutions have an international student’s center. Don't be afraid to approach them. It's their responsibility to help! If you are given student assistance by your host institution, use it to your benefit and keep in touch.

Always stay in touch with relatives and friends. Facebook, Skype and WhatsApp are just a few examples of how today's technology can help you stay connected with everybody back home. When there are other students in the world with you from your home university try to find them out. If you don't already know them, it can be daunting, but there is safety in numbers and they probably have to do all the tedious things you've got to do too. When you have planned all that is necessary before going abroad, it is important to develop a routine when classes begin in your host country.

Those tips shed some light on how to handle an amazing time overseas, no matter what my mental health problems are. You will conquer some of my biggest obstacles, and still enjoy traveling and working abroad in your time. Again, this is not a technical recommendation but just a exchange of knowledge. Be sure that you still speak to the people you most trust to be sure you have both a fun and healthy experience abroad.