Key points

• Major life changes, like migration or trauma, can trigger cognitive immobility.
• Staying present and building connections with others can help reduce feelings of entrapment.
• Practising gratitude and maintaining physical health are effective ways to counter cognitive immobility.

Cognitive entrapment in the past resonates with individuals who have migrated or undergone life transitions. In a recent paper published in Diaspora Studies (Olumba, 2024), we suggested that feeling psychologically “stuck” in a place or experience in the past may stem from relocation or significant life changes. Below are common scenarios that could contribute to this condition and strategies to help alleviate it. Cognitive immobility can arise not only from relocating but also from trauma, broken relationships, bereavement, abandonment, loss of a place called ‘home’, and other life disruptions.

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For some, moving from their homeland to a new country may eventually trigger a stressful sense of entrapment linked to the homeland. This entrapment to the homeland can lead individuals to repeatedly revisit memories, both positive and negative, potentially creating feelings of loss, regret, anger, stress, and even depression. Such relocations may occur for work, love, or due to war.

Cognitive immobility occurs when a person cannot remain in a desired location due to uncontrollable restrictions or conditions, whether internal or external, stemming from circumstances in their current or intended place (2023). War frequently results in displacement, and when people are forced to move, their bodies may leave, but their minds often remain in the original location. In a study conducted in Türkiye, two students who fled the war in Syria shared the following reflections:

Although both students are refugees living in Türkiye, they expressed that, despite their physical presence there, they still feel as though they are in Syria. One described their “soul” as still being in Syria, while the other stated they are “spiritually” in Syria. Both appear to be cognitively entrapped in Syria, preventing them from living in the present, as reported in the study’s findings. If untreated, this situation may lead to severe depression, anxiety, and insomnia, ultimately resulting in severe mental health issues; these are among the symptoms of cognitive immobility.

_{“I am still in Syria. My soul is there. I always have memories of my dead cousins. This affects my getting used to here. Those days will never come back” (F7). “I left my homeland, my nation, my relatives, everything in Syria. I was physically here but spiritually there. This affected my getting used to here” (M4).}

Similar to the Syrian students in Türkiye who feel their “soul” remains in Syria due to stressful reconstructions of past experiences, people who have undergone life transitions may become entrapped in the past if they continually reminisce about how things once were. When we experience trauma, whether in childhood or adulthood, it can linger in our thoughts for years. Repeatedly revisiting these episodes may entrap us in those traumatic experiences, affecting our present lives and potentially leading to symptoms of cognitive immobility.

We often remember the person who first broke our hearts. While this alone may not cause cognitive immobility, if we invested so much in that relationship and held high hopes for it, its end can lead us to reminisce about both the good and bad times shared. This reminiscing might serve as solace during current hardships or a reminder of past difficulties. Either way, continuously engaging in this form of reflection can lead to feeling entrapped. Experiences like bereavement or abandonment by friends or family may also lead some people to become stuck in the past.

Some situations may be too complex for these tips alone, but it is better to start somewhere than not at all. Those familiar with Stoic philosophy may recognise some of these recommendations. Alleviating cognitive immobility requires focusing on the present and resisting the urge to retreat into the past.

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Staying focused in the present means appreciating and embracing what we have now. Engaging with family or community helps create new memories and keeps us grounded in the present. Journaling what we are grateful for, whether our own actions or the kindness of others, can also reinforce this focus. Finding a job or volunteering can foster a sense of community and purpose. Keeping the mind and body healthy is essential, so paying attention to diet and regular exercise is beneficial. Starting today is key – let us begin now.