There are currently thousands of people relocating from the mainland to our beautiful island of Puerto Rico. Many of them have become Pravan members, and we have noticed how challenging the relocation process can be. Some people are doing better than others, so we decided to put together this blog in order to give some perspective for those going through this process.

Relocating can be one of the most exhilarating decisions you ever make. Few things are more mentally and physically challenging than packing your belongings and moving to a new place. You are leaving the comfort of the familiar to engage in a new environment with its own culture and history. As you prepared for all the tearful farewells, the thrill of this new adventure was always in the background. Even as you bid your old home goodbye, you felt the rush of possibility and new beginnings. However, once the initial excitement of living in a new city wears off, gnawing feelings of doubt, uncertainty, loneliness and all the stress that come with moving can start to creep in. You might get lost trying to find your way to the supermarket or you might have difficulties communicating with an important vendor. You might find yourself really missing your favorite coffee shop and long lunches with friends. You planned every aspect of your move, except for this. Let’s talk about what to expect once you start settling into your new life.

There are currently thousands of people relocating from the mainland to our beautiful island of Puerto Rico. Many of them have become Pravan members, and we have noticed how challenging the relocation process can be. Some people are doing better than others, so we decided to put together this blog in order to give some perspective for those going through this process.

Relocating can be one of the most exhilarating decisions you ever make. Few things are more mentally and physically challenging than packing your belongings and moving to a new place. You are leaving the comfort of the familiar to engage in a new environment with its own culture and history. As you prepared for all the tearful farewells, the thrill of this new adventure was always in the background. Even as you bid your old home goodbye, you felt the rush of possibility and new beginnings. However, once the initial excitement of living in a new city wears off, gnawing feelings of doubt, uncertainty, loneliness and all the stress that come with moving can start to creep in. You might get lost trying to find your way to the supermarket or you might have difficulties communicating with an important vendor. You might find yourself really missing your favorite coffee shop and long lunches with friends. You planned every aspect of your move, except for this. Let’s talk about what to expect once you start settling into your new life.

How are you feeling?
We recently closed the book on an incredibly challenging year, and many of us are still catching our breath. If the thought of scrolling through your feed and seeing one more piece of bad news is almost too overwhelming, you are not alone.

In the past year, the boundaries which separated the different areas of our lives blurred or seemed to disappear. We took on a variety of roles as some of us became teachers, made-to-order cooks, and household managers on top of our usual work and family responsibilities. We honed the art of multitasking. We bought masks, scoured medical blogs, and watched the news relentlessly. We took great measures to protect and nurture our physical health.

As weeks became months, many of us began to feel the emotional toll of a very atypical time that included the double punch of a global pandemic and a divisive election, both on the island and the United States. Almost out of necessity, many of our conversations moved from the merely superficial to a different level of openness as we acknowledged the cumulative psychological effect of what we have experienced. It has become clear that mental health has to a be a priority if we want to make it through to the next chapter of our story and thrive.

How are you doing?

It’s been a rough few months, and most of us are likely some version of drained. As much as we focus on physical health at Pravan, we have always recognized the critical roles mental and emotional health play in keeping a person well.

With everything going on, we want to support you in all the ways we can. Whether through self-care support or a more hands-on approach, we want you to know that we’re here for you.

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive approach used to normalize brain wave patterns in order to function more efficiently, improve our emotional state and increase cognitive performance.  Thanks to the neuroplasticity of our brain, improvements can be seen regardless of age.  Neurofeedback helps teach you the connection between your emotions and your body.  When your brain is functioning better and is more aware and connected to your emotions, you can live a calmer, more productive and happier life. 

"Often times, we imagine our brain as a dark room we don't have access to.  Neurofeedback helps you get to know your brain and make it work for you not against you."

The goal in life is to be happy.  Anything that is interfering with your happiness should be attended to.  It is important to take care of your mental health to be able to enjoy the small things in life and be effective in the many roles you play in your family, relationship or workplace.

If when you evaluate your current state of mind you are feeling unhappy, how unhappy do you feel?  Is it something that can be easily fixed, or do you need further help?