About Homesick: What Is Homesick?

Read about being homesick and how it can affect a person's lifestyle. Depression not only affects the person who is going through it, but also everyone around them, including friends, family, loved ones, spouses, and children.

FAQ’s about homesickness

Leaving home can be exciting and adventurous until homesickness gets into them. Almost everyone has a strong connection with the place they call home and being separated from the familiar home environment' their parents' siblings' spouse' children' relatives' friends and pets can cause homesickness which are often followed by anxiety and depression which may range from mild to severe. There are many questions asked in general.

Q: What causes homesickness?

A: Separation from loved ones and the home environment.

Q: Is homesickness uncommon?

A: Certainly not. Everyone experiences homesickness at some stage of their lives.

Q: Is there medication for homesickness?

A: No.

Q: When does homesickness occur?

A: Could be before an impending travel away from home' immediately after leaving home or for some others it could be a few days or after sometime after leaving.

Q: How long does it last?

A: It varies from person to person.

Q: Does homesickness reflect a weak character?

A: No it is like any other emotion such as love' hate' pain etc.

Q: How can you deal with it:

A: Accept that it is normal to feel like this and that it will pass with the passage of time.

• Be prepared for homesickness;

• Find someone to talk to;

• Have a hot water bath' read a book' watch TV' take a nap;

• Be in contact with your family often;

• Bring with you personal photographs;

• Eat well and sleep well because when you are hungry' things can be much worse;

• Be positive and don’t allow negative thoughts to take control of you;

• If you have been homesick in the past' do not let that deter you from going again because the more you go you will find at some stage you will not feel it so badly.

• If you feel you cannot handle it' speak to a friend' a nurse' a counselor or preacher.

• Build a network of friends to support you.

• Make a list of positive things you are going to achieve through this separation.

;Q: Does homesickness lead to depression?

A: Yes it does and that will require medical attention.

Q: What is the difference between nostalgia and homesickness?

A: Nostalgia is a longing for the past and seeing only the positive side of the past and homesickness is a longing to return to your home and to your loved ones.

Q: Is homesickness a singular sickness or are there sub types to it?

A: Has still not been determined.

Q: How do you combat homesickness when you are overseas either in a university of relocated for work purposes.

A: Find your countrymen. Find out where they usually congregate and make friends but be cautious and careful before you make the choice of friends. Don’t get involved in alcohol and drugs. You will know in an instant that these are not the right friends for you. Find a place of worship. Churches are very helpful to foreign students or in general to any foreigner who is alone in a new country. Get involved in some form of sport.