They enjoy a view where the sun shines brightly and sandy beaches abound, as well as excellent food thanks to the Mediterranean diet. Thousands of Britons have sought radical change a more relaxed and bright life in Spain.

Around 307,000 Britons live in Spain, according to figures provided by epdata. The majority of them, seniors aged between 50 and 60 when they moved, are located in Andalusia and the Valencian Community, according to Statista, followed by the Canary Islands.

However, behind the beauty of the changes lies a less beautiful reality: the silent struggle with loneliness that many British expats face when settling in Spain. Many of the 72,000 Britons living on the Costa del Sol are isolatedaccording to the British Embassy in Spain.

An article published in EuroNews, entitled “Trouble in paradise: Loneliness and isolation may stalk Britons in Spain”, highlights an under-explored aspect of the experience of moving abroad. Traditional narratives that paint life in southern Spain as a carefree dream are being challenged by personal stories of people facing loneliness and isolation.

Kelly Hall explained that upon arrival in Spain, “they were very happy for a while.” “But then something happened, for example the partner dies or experiences health problemswhich puts them in a very dangerous position and can trigger a range of mental health problems, such as loneliness and isolation.

Cultural differences between Spain and England

Transitioning from the familiar, socially embedded environment of the UK to a new country can be challenging in many ways, but it is loneliness that is a major struggle for many expats. Language barriers, cultural differences, and lack of a strong support network contribute to feelings of isolation can affect mental health and emotional for those seeking a new life abroad.

This article highlights the testimonies of British citizens who share their personal experiences, from the initial excitement of moving to the harsh reality of facing loneliness in an unfamiliar environment. The lack of social connections and how it can negatively impact the quality of life is depicted and how some people face the difficult decision to return home or find creative ways to build community in their new environment.

Additionally, the report explores possible solutions and resources available to address this growing problem. From expat groups and language classes to local community initiatives, the steps Britons are taking advantage of to tackle the challenge of loneliness in the Spanish paradise.

One of them is ‘Support in Spain’ which has its own website. Neil Hesketh, one of them, stated that “Spain is a large country where there are many organizations that help society but people sometimes get a little lost“.

[Este es el consejo que ‘The Sun’ ha dado a los turistas británicos sobre lo que no deben hacer en España]

He claimed it was in Spain the welfare system is not as large as in England. He added: “Traditional cultural places, like ‘pubs’, don’t speak English.” “Spanish people can be very frustrated and confused when they find poor English people suffering from dementia in their gardens,” says Hesketh.