Ulysses syndrome describes the chronic stress and grief experienced by many migrants under conditions of great pressure. The name refers to Ulysses, who wandered for years far from his homeland. The term was proposed by psychiatrist Joseba Achotegui to describe not a mental illness, but a normal reaction to abnormally difficult circumstances.
Imagine someone living in a foreign country, struggling with the language, loneliness and uncertainty, while carrying guilt for those they left behind. They may develop insomnia, headaches, sadness and constant worry — signs that the mind is trying to cope with a burden that is truly enormous.
Psychologically, we are talking here about multiple, simultaneous losses: of family, language, landscape, identity, and the sense of belonging. This grief often stays invisible, because the migrant feels they must cope and has no time to mourn. So the burden becomes chronic and shows up in the body.
Recognising this pain is the first step: you are not ungrateful or weak because you suffer far from home. A safe space to speak about what you left behind helps turn silent sadness into grief that can move. See how working with grief and loss can help.