Immigration & Trauma Part 2: How Does Immigration Trauma Show Up?

How Does Immigration Trauma Show Up?

As we saw in the Part 1 of the Immigration & Trauma series, many different forms of trauma can stem from the process of immigration.

Whether the trauma stems from the stress of the immigration process itself or the ongoing challenges of adjusting to a new life in an unfamiliar place, these experiences can manifest in ways that influence immigrants’ mental health and well-being long after the physical move has been made.

Immigration Trauma and Its Impact on Mental Health

For many immigrants, the emotional and psychological burden of migration is often internalized, making them feel different or rejected. This can lower confidence and lead to excessive self-criticism.

Immigrants might censor themselves, afraid their actions or words will make them stand out as outsiders. Over time, these experiences can leave lasting impacts and cause further trauma, contributing to a persistent sense of isolation and disconnection.

Just like any trauma, the effects of immigration can have a ripple effect, where causes and symptoms intertwine, creating a complex cycle.

Racial trauma

One of the most challenging aspects of immigration is the constant experience of discrimination and oppression. Racialized immigrants, especially, often need to not only survive and adapt to the new environment, but also actively anticipate and respond to the microaggressions and overt racism they encounter. This daily battle to adapt, educate, distract, stay vigilant, and deflect can be exhausting.

Such struggles lead to a stress response and exhaustion, which we call racial battle fatigue, leaving many immigrants hypervigilant and feeling unable to fully relax in spaces dominated by White, Western norms. The weight of this continuous battle can be overwhelming, leading to emotional, mental, and physical strain.

The mental health challenges that arise from the immigration process and racial trauma often mirror the symptoms of other types of trauma. Yet, studies show that migrants and refugees are more likely to experience mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use, at higher rates than the host country’s general population. This makes it clear that the mental and emotional burden of immigration and racialized experiences is something that should not be ignored.

Immigration and racial trauma are often complex and chronic. The exposure to repeated threats—whether social, political, or cultural—over long periods means that for many immigrants, trauma becomes a continuous experience. Just like other forms of trauma, this can keep the body and nervous system in a state of heightened alert, leading to a persistent sense of being unsafe.

To survive, many immigrants may choose to hide or change their behaviors to fit into the new world safely. Yet, living in such survival mode can lead to an array of symptoms: an inability to rest, difficulty managing emotions, a lack of interest in once-enjoyed activities, and overworking or “sacrificing” to create a better life. All such responses may lead to neglecting one’s own needs, which can even cause burnout and physical health problems, such as hypertension, autoimmune disorders, and chronic fatigue.

The chronic stress and neglect of self-care can also lead to symptoms comparable to PTSD, such as intrusion symptoms (nightmares, repeated memory), avoidance, hypervigilance and/or being in a dissociative state, which we sometimes call race-based traumatic stress.  

The Impact on Relationships and Family Dynamics

The trauma of immigration not only affects individuals but also relationships, particularly within families. A common example is the tension between first-generation immigrant caregivers and their children, especially when they are from a collectivistic culture. Children who adjusted rapidly to the host country’s culture may feel as though their autonomy and independence are not respected by their caregivers and feel misunderstood and restricted.

On the other hand, caregivers may feel as though their children are abandoning them, their heritage, or disrespecting their sacrifices (e.g. becoming “too Canadian”). This generational tension can be further exacerbated by language barriers, which complicate communication between caregivers and children. 

If these issues are not addressed, they may lead to deep emotional wounds, including guilt, shame, and resentment. Over time, these unresolved issues can cause estrangement, leading to a breakdown in family relationships and creating another layer of trauma.

Additionally, children of immigrants who had to take on adult responsibilities early in life may struggle with asking for help, feel overwhelmed with guilt, or have difficulty setting healthy boundaries. Anxiety, depression, perfectionism, shame, impostor syndrome, difficulty with self-compassion, and self-criticism may also occur.

Cultural Bereavement: Grief and Identity Struggles

Immigrants can also experience what is known as cultural bereavement—the grief of losing parts of their original culture and identity. This sense of loss is not just about physical things. Losing parts of our culture can mean we get disconnected not just from ourselves and our roots, but also from others, even if they may be our family or someone from our culture. 

When I spoke to someone who was born and grew up in Korea, despite speaking the same language, I realized that our experiences were very different, and that disconnect caused feelings of grief and shame. It’s a reminder that no matter how similar we may seem on the surface, the cultural experiences we have lived through shape who we are, and losing that can leave our identity feeling fragmented.

For many, this grief can lead to a sense of "in-betweenness," where they no longer feel fully connected to their home or their host country. Such a sense of isolation, as though they belong nowhere, can exacerbate feelings of loneliness, rejection, and low self-esteem.

This disconnect can lead people to constantly feel that they must reorganize their self-image to fit in somewhere, which can impact their sense of identity and self, leading to feelings of being misunderstood or invisible.

Intergenerational Trauma

The effects of immigration trauma are not always contained within one generation. Caregivers who struggled to survive the stresses of immigration may unintentionally pass on their emotional burdens to their children.

Whether it’s through emotional outbursts or emotional withdrawal, the unresolved trauma of the parents can create a ripple effect, impacting the next generation’s mental health and well-being. This cycle can perpetuate itself, causing ongoing stress and emotional challenges across generations.

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The trauma associated with immigration is multifaceted and deeply ingrained in the experiences of those who have had to adapt to new, often hostile environments. Understanding the signs of such trauma—whether they show up as physical symptoms, emotional struggles, or relational issues—is an important step toward healing.

The healing process takes time, and it can benefit from support from mental health professionals who are trained to understand the unique challenges faced by immigrants.

As a community, we can better support these individuals by fostering understanding, providing resources, and offering spaces where they can begin to process their experiences and their sense of self.

In the next part of the series, we will look at: Immigration & Trauma Part 3: Mental Health Care for Immigrants.

Jiwon You is a psychologist specializing in working with adults in trauma therapy and self-esteem therapy. She is passionate about helping people heal from racial trauma and self-criticism so they can feel better and live more fulfilling lives. Jiwon provides affirming online therapy in Calgary and across Alberta for all folks 18+ and can provide services in Korean and English.