Friday Feels: Moving House Is VERY STRESSFUL
Moving house is one of the most stressful things in life.
I hate moving house. If you are lucky enough to never experience moving house, let me tell you, it is very stressful.
Recently I moved again after 6 years.
The first move was quite a story. We were living in an old flat house on the 4th floor. No lift, dark corridors, frequent water shortage issue, dodgy neighbourhood but hey, the rent was cheap.
But what really pushed us (me) over the edge was:
1. Collapsed ceiling in the first room that was thankfully empty
2. Part of plaster ceiling in my room collapsed, thank God I wasn't home when it happened
3. Blocked toilet - How to live in a house where you cannot berak? is it even a house?
This second move is even more stressful.
I was supposed to get the key to the new place a week before I moved out from my current place. That gives me sufficient time to settle things, deal with the management office, applying a permit to move in/out.
But you know, shit happens and whatever can go wrong will go wrong.
I only got the key 1 1/2 days before 1st Dec.
Landlord Puaka?
I asked the current landlord if I can extend 3 more days to give me more time to pack, clean the house and get the electrician to come check the main switch in the master room that decided now is a good time to stop working.
You would expect that after renting the unit for 6 years, paying rent, bills & fees on time, took care of the house like it's my own, she would have some empathy or understanding to give me few more days to properly move out.
But nope. She only got back to me a few days after I asked and say
"Sorry, I already have a new tenant on 1st Dec"
Can you believe it?
How do you find a tenant if you have not seen the current condition of the unit? She doesn't even have the current picture of it.
The unit that I rented was actually quite basic. No fridge, kitchen cabinet. Sinki pun sinki cap ayam sis.
It is also in a very competitive property area. There are a lot of new apartment complexes nearby with better facilities, better environment at a similar rate compared to this unit that is in an older building with a basic facility (yes I'm referring to you, old musty gym with broken equipment).
Well, of course on the day itself after I return the key, she uploaded a status looking for a tenant 👀
Kalau dapat tenant puaka dari neraka, haruslah saya berpesta 7 hari 7 malam parti bertemakan "Karma Is A Bitch"
Why Moving House Is Very Stressful?
It was such a stressful process. You know sometimes when you are under stress but you don't realize it because you are on overdrive mode?
That happens to me. My mind was constantly working, worrying and anxious 24/7. My body is dead tired but every night for 1 week, I can't sleep (I usually have no issues with sleep).
Not only was I physically stressed but I'm emotionally stressed too. Aside from feeling betrayed by the landlord, I have to adapt to a new place, how to get around, where to buy groceries, where is the nearest ATM and things like that.
Constantly thinking, figuring things out and my anxiety is going over the roof!
And I also felt lost for quite a while. Being a creature of comfort and familiarity, all these changes and new environment throws me out of balance. I feel adrift, unanchored. Like I don't know who myself is anymore?
Is This Relocation Depression?
Never knew it's a thing but there really is a depression related to relocation. When you relocate, a chapter of your life is coming to a close. You are also facing this fear of the unknown, loss of familiarity, and security.
If you are like me, you most likely experience these symptoms too:
- Hopelessness
- Isolation
- Fearfulness
- Forgetfulness
- Agitation
- Aggression
- Lack of interest in pleasurable activities
- Loss of interest in sex
- Finding it difficult to concentrate
Relocation depression is heightened when the move is rushed or forced. And being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSPs), moving is extremely unsettling because HSPs process experiences more deeply than others.
It was really overwhelming trying to process all these new and unfamiliar sensory inputs.
Undeniably, change is hard because our brains crave the familiar, and want things to stay the way they were. I guess it will take time to feel like myself again.
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