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[struelle]

The common advice is to say some variant of, "Returning home isn't easy because of your experiences abroad and getting used to different ways of life, but you can adapt and re-integrate back home over time."

Such a view is, of course, valid but most advice doesn't touch upon the complexity and, in my mind, turmoil, of this experience. I found a site that touches on more detail and nuance about reverse culture shock, however:

http://www.amideast.org/publications/aq/Back_Issues/1994/w94-html/W94Process.htm

In particular, this part really stood out. In context, the article talks about 'fight or flight' responses to re-entry, where flight usually comes first.

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Flight is untenable for returnees. They cannot escape others permanently, sleep away their days, or go back overseas again. They remain trapped in a painful situation that appears hopeless. At this point, a second reaction usually develops�"fight" behavior or aggression. While perfectly normal under the circumstances, many returnees are confused by their own aggressive behavior. Some even feel guilty, especially returnees to the United States, where anger is often equated with irrationality.
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I recently blew up at family members over a very trivial thing, then felt so guilty and remorseful about it. Looking back, however, I needn't have been so hard on myself given the complexity and stress of re-entry.

Why is re-entry so much more difficult than regular culture shock? Let's see what the article has to say about it:

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In an overseas culture, host nationals expect newcomers to make mistakes and be different. Most intuitively understand that the sojourner will experience stress adapting to the new physical and social environment and will long for friends and family back home. At home, everyone expects the returnee to fit in quickly. They are much less tolerant of mistakes and have little empathy for the difficulties of reverse culture shock�such problems are not expected or accepted. The honeymoon period may last only a few days or hours.
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That makes a lot of sense!

Are there other helpful resources out there that deal with this issue?

Steve

[Glenski]

Art of Coming Home, by Craig Storti

Strangers at Home: Essays on the Effects of Living Overseas and Coming "Home" to a Strange Land: Essays on the Effects of Living Overseas and Coming "Home" to a Strange Land
Carolyn D. Smith

Mind you, I have no experience with "coming home", but these seem like very good reference books. I've only read the first one.

[blue jay]