Being away from home is an interesting experience, but it is a natural part of life. College, starting your own family, a career, and basic training are just some of the reasons why you may leave the safeness and comfort of your parents' home to start your own life and make a difference in the world. Naturally there will be a bazillion emotions about the new experience and among those is homesickness, sadly. Being homesick is a very normal response to this change, but that does mean that it is any easier. With homesickness comes depression, anxiety, isolation, physical illness, and uncertainty. Homesickness is a foreign emotion for a large amount of people, which makes it harder to understand and accept. I have gathered some things about being away from home that may help as the transition takes place.
1. Homesickness may happen the second you leave home or it may happen a few weeks after you have settled into your new life.
There is no right time to feel homesick. Every person who is going through the change will experience something different. It depends on the relationships with your family, friends, coworkers, distance you traveled, and how ready you were to leave. If you were not as ready as someone else you will probably feel the homesickness harder and quicker than someone who was running out of the door. Neither of these reactions are wrong or not normal; there are just two different outlooks on the future adventure.
2. Friendships take time.
Do not get discouraged if you get to your new destination and you do not become best friends with every person you meet. Quality friendships take time. Give it a few weeks for everyone to get settled into their own schedule and familiar with the new dynamic. After things calm down and people start to find their interests friendships can start to be worked on. Give it time.
3. FaceTime and Skype really do help.
If you are feeling down, anxious, tired, terrified, excited, happy, or just blah, FaceTime or skype with your family or friends. Seeing familiar faces and getting to tell them about your experiences make them seem closer and can help lift your spirits to continue with the day or week. Sometimes you just need someone to be there to pick you up when you are upset and celebrate with you when something amazing happens.
4. Get involved, but don't do something you do not want to do.
Getting involved in any sort of activity is a great way to fight against homesickness, but do not go party if you do not feel comfortable doing so. Find people who have similar interests as you. Sometimes it is hard to find those people at first, but they do exist. Stay true to yourself. You do not have to party to enjoy your college years and you do not have to stay out late drinking with your coworkers in order to have them as friends. By being completely yourself you will attract real friends which is what you are looking for anyways.
5. Admit that you are homesick.
A lot of people think that homesickness means that they do not like what they are doing with their lives and at some points during the transition it may be that way, but honestly, homesickness is just a feeling that eventually will pass. Just because you miss home, your family, your friends, and the comfort of it all does not mean that you dislike the progress you are making, the information you are learning, or the place you are. It simply means that you are a normal person experiencing a normal reaction.
Keep on keeping on and these feelings will pass. Reach out for help, love, and guidance when you need it and maybe even when you do not think you need it. Having support will make this all easier.
