Homesickness in College A Guide for Students and Parents

Homesickness in college students is relatively common. When a student first strikes out on their own, they may feel excited about launching their life as an adult. However, its also normal to experience a range of other emotions, including anxiety about what the future holds or missing their families.When negative feelings are strong, students might long for their old life at home. For students, this can be incredibly distressing, potentially leading to anxiety, depression, or other emotional states. For parents, knowing that your student is homesick can be heartbreaking, particularly if you dont know how to help.Heres a look at what homesickness in college is, the signs of homesickness in students, and tips for students and parents that can make overcoming homesickness easier.Contents1 What Is Homesickness in College?2 Signs of Homesickness3 How to Deal with Homesickness in College3.1 Personalize Your Space3.2 Get Involved on Campus3.3 Keep in Touch with Loved Ones3.4 Talk About You r Feelings4 How to Help Someone Who is Homesick4.1 Offer the Homesick Student Support4.2 Encourage Exploration4.3 Be Reassuring4.4 Recommend Getting HelpWhat Is Homesickness in College?Homesickness is a term used to describe the emotional and mental distress that can occur when someone is separated from home. In this sense, home doesnt necessarily mean a physical building. Instead, it can encompass a range of things that make an area feel comfortable, such as specific people, a standard of living, a routine, or a sense of familiarity.In college students, homesickness can occur when they choose to go away to college. Not only is the physical environment new, so is the culture. This can be a shock, as the way of life in their new home is unfamiliar and might be dramatically different from their family culture. Plus, unless they head to their new school with friends, their support systems might not be local, making them feel alone.Ultimately, homesickness in college occurs because head ing to school is a significant life transition, and that isnt always easy to navigate.Signs of HomesicknessWhen a student is homesick at college, it usually shows. While some students may come right out and say they are experiencing those feelings, others may not be so forthcoming. By understanding what the symptoms of homesickness are, you can increase your chances of spotting it.The signs of homesickness can vary from one student to the next. However, certain indications are more common, including:AnxietyDepressionFeeling like they dont fit inDecreased motivationLonelinessSadnessIrritabilityLonging for a connection with someoneA sense of grief or lossEssentially, being a homesick college student is distressing, and it can negatively impact their lives. For example, they may skip classes because they feel too sad or depressed to attend or could struggle to remain focused, causing their grades to tumble. Avoiding social activities or isolating themselves are also potential signs of homesickness.Its important to understand that the signs of homesickness in college above can also be symptoms of other health conditions, including some that are potentially serious. Telling the difference between homesickness and other conditions, particularly depression, isnt easy, so you dont want to assume that homesickness is the root cause. If you or your student is struggling with any of the emotions above, its wise to seek guidance from a medical professional. They can help identify the underlying cause and create a treatment plan to address the health issue.How to Deal with Homesickness in CollegeDealing with homesickness doesnt seem like an easy task, particularly if it leaves a student feeling sad and unmotivated. However, that doesnt mean it cant be overcome.Above all else, understand that the feelings a homesick college student feels are normal. Many students experience them as they adjust, so students arent alone in this struggle.In many cases, figuring out how to cure homesickness is mostly about taking actions that allow the campus to feel like home. Typically, this involves increasing a students comfort level with the area and building a suitable support system.If you are trying to figure out what to do when homesick so that you can feel better, here are some tips.Personalize Your SpaceWhen a space feels like you, its almost always more comfortable. When you decorate your dorm room, make sure you bring items that feel familiar. These can include decorations, pictures, bedding, knickknacks, or anything else that makes you happy and helps you personalize your space.Get Involved on CampusBy getting involved on campus, you are creating opportunities to become more familiar with your environment and make new friends. Since knowing your local area can make you more comfortable, fully exploring your campus is wise. Plus, by joining in on activities, you can familiarize yourself with the culture, and that makes a difference, too.Getting to know other students is also essential. By cultivating a social circle, you are forging a local support system. If you look for clubs, study groups, or other gatherings that focus on your areas of interest, you can find likeminded individuals who enjoy what you do. With a bit of time, you can build connections that can turn into friendships, making your campus feel more like home.Keep in Touch with Loved OnesStaying in touch with friends and family is important. Schedule regular phone calls, connect on social media or otherwise find ways to keep up with everyones lives and to tell them about yours. That way, you can maintain this support system.Just make sure you dont spend too much time visiting your loved ones. If you leave campus at every opportunity, you might have a harder time establishing the school as your new home, making your homesickness worse instead of better.Talk About Your FeelingsA lot of students are probably dealing with the same feelings of homesickness you are experiencing. By talking about it, you can more easily process your emotions. Plus, youll learn pretty quickly that you arent alone and might be able to craft stronger bonds that lead to friendships.Discussing your feelings also ensures you arent ignoring them. Bottling up what youre going through usually makes the situation worse, not better, so find a way to express them.If you are having difficulty figuring out how to deal with homesickness as a college student, its best to get help from a medical professional. Mental health services can be incredibly beneficial. Plus, if homesickness is a symptom but not the root cause of the issue, a medical professional can help identify the core condition and develop a proper treatment plan.How to Help Someone Who is HomesickAs a parent or family member, it may seem like helping a homesick college student is simple. You might be tempted just to have them come home, as that looks like a logical solution. In other cases, you might think that frequent visits are a great option. However, in both scenarios, that isnt always the best approach.If your student comes home too often or you visit too much, your student might be less likely to develop a support system at school. This can make the situation worse, not better. Similarly, if they visit you regularly, they might not view their college as their new home, and that can also make their transition more challenging.Instead, you want to focus on being supportive, reassuring, and encouraging without being too present. Its a tricky balance, but it might yield the best results.Offer the Homesick Student SupportIf you are trying to figure out what to say to someone who is homesick, focus on being supportive. Listen to your students concerns, first and foremost. That way, you can identify areas where your student is struggling, allowing you to focus your response in the right areas.Next, you can make recommendations that help them turn their college into their home. You might want to suggest th ey participate in social activities to help them build a strong social circle or sign up for activities that they enjoy. You might help them evaluate clubs on campus or encourage them to join study groups. Advising them to keep an eye on bulletin boards to learn about events is also wise.Encourage ExplorationFor many freshmen college students, the school itself isnt the only new environment they are facing; theyre in a new town, too. Living in a new city can be intimidating. Plus, if they are experiencing stress in other areas of their lives (like challenging classes), their negative feelings might amplify the sense that they dont belong.If your student is struggling, encouraging them to explore their new city can be a good idea. This can include getting to know their campus, finding the best restaurants for lunch, or learning where the best park is so that they can thoroughly enjoy a sunny day.As they get comfortable with their new surroundings, its easier for the student to take o wnership of their new home. This can potentially make dealing with homesickness easier.Be ReassuringAs you speak with your student, make an effort to be reassuring. Let your student know that homesickness is common and, to a degree, normal on occasion. Remind them that others around them likely have these feelings, too, and that they arent alone.You can also tell your student that these emotions tend to diminish with time. As they get to know their new home, get active on campus, and build a social circle, they will likely start to feel better. Encourage them to focus on the positive aspects of their college experience and to cultivate the relationships they need to have a suitable amount of local support.Recommend Getting HelpIf your students homesickness symptoms are significantly interfering with their daily life, its wise to recommend they get help from a medical professional. This is especially true as the signs of homesickness can also be symptoms of serious health conditions, including major depression.Most campuses have services for students, including some for mental health. Ignoring depression or other mental health concerns can have severe consequences, so its always best to recommend your student seek out help if they are struggling to figure out how to get rid of homesickness or with other negative emotions.Pin14RedditShareLeave a Comment