What 8 Years as an International Student Taught Me About Mental Health

Hey, I am Victória, I’m a master’s student in International Relations in Brno, and I want to talk about something people rarely consider: the mental health of international students. From the outside, family and friends assume you’re having the best time of your life. Meanwhile, there’s a double pressure: making the sacrifice worth it, whether it’s your parents’ investment, your own money, or your emotional energy, while living far from the people you love. This isn’t meant to discourage anyone from moving abroad. But it’s a reality, and it deserves attention. In my opinion, it is so much easier to fall into a mental trap when you are living under the pressure I just described later. 

This also explains a lot of what Benjamin said. We live in a world where we only show the pretty stuff: achievements, trips, new apartments. I work with social media and I love a good screen moment, but after a lot of therapy I realized we live in a desperate immediacy. You open your phone and see people you’ve never even met (you have no idea about their finances or their family situation) buying cars, traveling, owning a thousand skincare products. And it’s not just strangers! Friends and family do it too. Just like I only post my best moments, so do they. The comparison cycle never ends. Watching my friends’ lives in Brazil made me feel behind so many times.Like I should have done more or better. And when you’re lost without a solid support system (old friends, family), that can be a dangerous combination.  

Nowadays I recognize that life is not that simple, and when I look back I feel really proud of my journey - although sometimes I try to sabotage myself haha. I am doing my Masters, while I am a volunteer, intern, homeowner-of-my-own-little-life, plus all the “adult things.” For some people that does not look so scary, but I can guarantee: it is demanding and I admire all my international students colleagues for that. Having this in mind: I could lie and say “the secret to doing it all is organization and discipline. Well, yes… Discipline and determination do matter, but it’s not the whole truth. I think we’re forgetting that life isn’t made only of moments. I once saw a video of a girl documenting months of work on a successful project, and the caption said: “The internet makes us forget that things take time.” That’s it. That’s the post.  

Because in the end, we are living in a society that is progressively forgetting that success is a product of not only hard work, but of a long trajectory of mistakes, detours, and failures as well - and there is nothing wrong with that, that's just life, silly :) 

1. It’s impossible to be productive every day. Rest and leisure are what recharge you so you can keep chasing your dreams. 

2. NEVER let anyone make you believe you’re “just a student.” Hold my hand and listen: your life is not only studying. You’re building a life from scratch: adapting to a new country, making friends, learning new habits and weather, and, most of the time, working (because every adult has to work someday to be independent, yay). So no, you’re not here to study. You’re here to LIVE, and living and growing up isn’t always flowers. 

3. Leaving your comfort zone is hard!! If it were easy, everyone would do it. Your brain, in a new and UNCOMFORTABLE situation, will want to go back to what it knew. When that happens, hug yourself tight and breathe, for real. Every time I thought about giving up, my psychologist would ask: “Remember the Victória from before? What did she want?” Did you want this badly? Then it’s okay. Chasing success isn’t supposed to be easy. And if you’d stayed and given up on your dreams, would you be happy with yourself? 

4. Have a little patience sometimes. I know you are probably a high achiever human-machine, but we are not supposed to do everything perfectly all the time. MISTAKES  HAPPEN! I remember Benjamin (the guy I mentioned in the start of the text) also told me that - ““The biggest secret in life is patience.” I HATE that sentence, but mostly because now, at 25, it makes a little sense.  

In summary: After this journey of studying and living abroad, I recognized taking care of my  mental health was extremely important if I wanted to keep chasing my dreams and aspirations in life. Does that make me a superior being? No. Am I emotionally enlightened and no longer suffering? NO (I probably cry more than I should, but that’s because I’m a Cancer).  

But if you’re an international student, or want to be, and you’re scared or going through what I’ve been through: you’re not alone. Reach out to your university’s support center. Talk to friends. Do therapy if you can, and if you can’t, look for social programs that might offer a more accessible option. There is nothing wrong with asking for help.  

In case none of this is an option, I would also recommend writing… A lot of people judge this one, me included. In the past, I used to get angry watching journaling videos. “Of course it’s easy to film your cozy life and list three things you’re grateful for, pfff.” Three years later, if I have time, I do it too, haha! So if you feel like there’s no way out, write it down. Getting the intrusive, racing thoughts out of your head helps as well. So… Are you breathing? No? Then breathe - I’m serious -  because your life has only just begun. Things eventually will be alright, I promise. If it is not the case right now, please, look how far you’ve already come. Just imagine what else you’ll do if you keep taking it one day at a time.