Tips on how deal with homesickness
Feeling homesick? It’s a totally normal feeling for anybody spending time away from home. Making big life decisions, like studying in a different country and leaving the safety of where you grew up, can be stressful and bring on feelings of sadness and nostalgia.
Here, we’ll explore exactly what homesickness is, what the symptoms are, and how you can ease your homesick feelings.
What is homesickness?
According to ChoosingTherapy.com, “homesickness involves feelings of distress (emotional or physical) that can happen when a person is separated from home and their loved ones.”
Most people experience homesickness to some degree, but for those who have moved away from home permanently, it can be a recurring feeling. Students can begin feeling homesick from the very moment they confirm their university placement.
Sometimes feelings of homesickness can exasperate deeper feelings of anxiety or depression, which can start impacting your mental health. With the rise of student living costs, homesickness and the want for home comforts becomes even more prominent.
Homesickness symptoms
Everyone responds differently to feeling homesick, but there are some common homesick symptoms.
- Depressed mood
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Isolation from peers
- Difficulty concentrating
- Low motivation or energy
- Difficulty sleeping
- Headaches
- Increased or decreased appetite
- Stomach problems
Homesickness can impact many different areas of your life, so it’s important to try to strike a balance between missing home and embracing your new one. Sometimes feelings of homesickness are temporary and go away on their own. Other times, your homesickness can start impacting your ability to function at uni, and you may need a little extra support.
What to do when you are feeling homesick
The most important thing to remember when fighting feelings of homesickness is that it’s completely normal. You might think you’ve made the wrong decision at first, but be patient with yourself and give yourself enough time to settle into your new situation.
Wondering how to stop feeling homesick? Try the following tips.
- Practice self-acceptance. Try mindfulness and meditation exercises to help practice self-acceptance and tolerance for intense emotions. Check out our guide on how to manage stress for more tips.
- Find a positive outlet for your feelings. Talk to someone you can trust about your feelings. Try something creative like painting or writing. Alternatively, get physical with yoga or team sports.
- Explore your new hometown. If you’ve moved to a new country, embody a tourist and explore new sites and attractions.
- Keep an item that reminds you of home. This could be a picture of your family, a piece of jewellery or a stuffed animal.
- Stay connected to family and friends. Schedule regular video calls or write letters to loved ones.
Engaging with your new environment can alleviate homesickness. For guidance on building new connections, read our article on how to make friends at university.
What not to do when you are feeling homesick
When dealing with feeling homesick, you don’t want to tire yourself out and feel even worse. There are a few things we recommend you avoid doing when homesick.
- Making rash decisions without thinking things through
- Disconnecting from loved ones and peers
- Giving up your hobbies or interests
- Neglecting your physical health
- Stopping any prescription medications without speaking to a healthcare professional
If you find that you’re really struggling with feelings of homesickness or feeling a lot sadder than usual, try chatting to your GP or texting Shout for support.
How to comfort someone who is homesick
If you know someone who is struggling with homesickness, there are a few things you can do to help them.
The most important thing is to be present so they can express their feelings in a safe place. Being a good listener can help them process their feelings and provide comfort when feeling homesick.
You can also take them out and about—show them local attractions and fun spots, as this can help them feel more at home. Also, encourage them to get involved in their community or try new hobbies so they feel more connected to their new home.
If you believe that they might be engaging in unsafe behaviour or their overall demeanour is worrying as a result of feeling homesick, gently encourage them to reach out to a medical professional or student representative.
FAQs on homesickness
Does homesickness ever go away?
How long homesickness lasts is different for everybody. Homesickness is not a permanent feeling and can sometimes go away in a few days. It tends to pop up at random times when something reminds you of home, or you recount a happy memory.
What triggers homesickness?
Many things can trigger homesickness - it doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t feel comfortable in a new environment. Sometimes feelings of stress can trigger homesickness, such as when have a heavy workload or get sick.
Homesickness can also be triggered by certain events, such as birthdays or anniversaries, or over the Easter or Christmas holidays when you’re used to certain comforts. Another cause of homesickness could be if you have a long distance relationship.
Is homesickness just anxiety?
Homesickness is a feeling of anxiety but is not classified as a mental disorder. However, severe homesickness can indicate an underlying mental health issue such as an anxiety disorder or depression.
Unfortunately, there’s no detailed guide on how to get over homesickness - it’s a normal feeling that should be embraced with patience and self-love. If you ever feel like talking about feeling homesick (or anything else for that matter), don’t hesitate to chat with your student rep or somebody in the iQ team who can point you to the right support.
