Tips for coping with homesickness
Homesickness is a common experience for many people and it can be overcome! You’re moving away from familiar places, comfortable roles and relationships and
heading into the unknown! Who wouldn’t be nervous?! “How do I know I’ll make friends and fit in here?” ; “Will I get along with my roommate…?” “What if I can’t handle the classes?” Serviço de Psicologia da UMa, 2017
… is often seen as an exciting time. However, it can also be a challenging time for students who may have moved away from their social support base and are learning to adapt to a new environment. The first days are of adjustment. The adaptation for some of you can be easier and exciting! But, for others it can be an anxious time!
Can involve a sense of loneliness, sadness, confusion, fear, and preoccupation with thoughts about home.
* Do something . Don’t wait for it to go away by itself. Buried problems often emerge later disguised as
headaches, fatigue, illness, or lack of motivation. * REMEMBER: Most students feel homesick at one time or another. It’s OK to feel sad and homesick and also to learn to enjoy your new lifestyle even though your family and friends are absent. * Be patient! Give yourself time to adapt. Don’t rush into any major decisions straight away about returning home or staying here.
* Look at this time as an exciting opportunity to develop skills in coping with challenges and to learn new things!
TALK about feeling homesick with someone.
MAKE FRIENDS. If you are an International student, it can also be helpful to have contact with other students from your country.
Have REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS of yourself and of the life at university.
Write down all the POSITIVE THINGS about being away from home – for example, having more freedom, etc. Remind yourself of all the reasons why you chose to study and think about the ways in which your studies will enhance your future career prospects. Try to achieve a BALANCE between STUDY and LEISURE. It is important to take care of your physical needs, eat healthily, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. BE ACTIVE. Familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. You will feel more in control. Invite people along to explore. Send home some photos so that your family and friends can get an understanding of your new life. Try to make your ACCOMODATION feel more like home. Bring familiar items from home to your new location (Photos, plants…)
Keep in REGULAR CONTACT with people at home, but put a limit on calling.
Plan some time to visit home for a break or holiday.
If it’s possible, ask family members to VISIT you from time to time and spend some time showing the surroundings. References: University Counselling Services (s/d). Overcoming homesickness and adjusting to university life. Curtin University of Tecnology | Student Counseling Centre (s/d). Adjusting to University life & study. Nanyang Tecnological University
During the process of adaptation you may encounter some problems that are not so easily resolvable or your usual ways of handling the problems aren’t working well for some reason. Homesickness or adjustment problems can affect many areas of your life including
your mood, your studies and your relationships.
If you feel difficulty to adapt to this new reality and you feel uncomfortable,
anxious or confused about something you can contact a psychologist to talk about it! The psychologist will help you to deal and cope with this problem! Seek us if you need.
Serviço de Psicologia da Universidade da Madeira (Psychological Unit) Site: http://scp.uma.pt | Email: servico.psicologia@mail.uma.pt | Phone: +351 291 20 94 98 / + 351 91 81 59 467 | Facebook: ServicoPsicologiaUMa YOU CAN FIND US AT: Colégio dos Jesuítas (Monday to Friday :: 9 a.m – 12:30 p.m and 2 p.m – 5:30 p.m) Campus Universitário da Penteada, Room 1.8 floor -1 (Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m-12:30p.m)
Serviço de Psicologia da UMa, 2017