In general, when you're planning to study abroad you get all sorts of reminders about issues like culture shock, reverse culture shock, and homesickness as common causes of depression and anxiety during and after your journey. These alerts are all valid and if you continue to feel anxious or have difficulty dealing abroad you will certainly take them into account. Yet those of us with pre-existing mental health problems need to be cautious in making the best of our overseas research experiences to not turn them into extended periods of misery.
