About College Homesickness: What Is College Homesickness

Read about college homesickness and why it is a bigger problem that once thought of. Depression not only affects the person who is going through it, but also everyone around them, including friends, family, loved ones, spouses, and children.

College homesickness

Homesickness is an emotion caused by either anticipated separation or when actual separation occurs. Separation from loved ones and a specific home environment are often followed by anxiety and depression. This condition can be mild or severe.

Going to University naturally more often than not generates excitement in anticipation of the college life that is ahead' meeting new people' achieving your dreams' and when the parting day draws closer' reality strikes that you are going to be away from home and your loved ones. Some students go to Universities which are thousands of miles away and in the case of some' they go overseas to start college life which means they do not get to come home for Christmas or Thanksgiving and other special days. It might be a year or even more before they return home' depending on the affordability of air travel. This thought can be daunting to say the least.

Separation from loved ones and a specific home environment are often followed by anxiety and depression. Some students settle in quickly especially if they have already had short term separations in preparation but for others it takes longer with evidence of `somatization’ symptoms which causes ulcers' cramps' diarrhea' headaches' tense muscles' tears' vomiting' crying and withdrawal. Usually there is a yearning to be with their family and misses the home routine. Some students settle in without any problems but might experience homesickness middle of the academic year especially during special events of the family or during Thanksgiving' Easter or Christmas knowing that this special day is the beginning of many other special days that they will miss. Birthdays of family members will be no better.

Those who go through homesickness experience feelings of depression' anxiety' obsessive thoughts and minor physical ailments. In homesickness sufferers find university awful and home like heaven' while sufferers who go through depression find university and home both awful.

Homesickness is even worse for those who are unable to go home for breaks and especially for international students who are not able to go home even annually. If the decision to come to a university so far away from home was not the decision of the student then the situation is much worse. Cultural changes and inability to make friends easily will contribute to homesickness and the thought that the family may also be going through similar emotions will not make the situation any better.

What might help the situation is:

1. If you are homesick' talk to a tutor' supervisor' chaplain' nurse or counselor.
2. Keep in touch with your family on a daily basis or even several times a day if that is possible.
3. Get involved in the University work. Find other activities of interest to do.
4. Whenever possible go home or encourage your family to visit you.
5. Be encouraged by the thought that you are not the only one who is gong through these emotions.
6. Get enough food and sleep.
7. Make friends. There will be many new students who would have joined this semester.
8. If the situation worsens and you want to quit college life and return home' get professional help. You will regret this decision years later.

Homesickness is not an incurable disease. It just needs time and some adjustment to get it under control.